ANGULAR MEASUREMENT

Covers measurement of angles in Horizontal plane

and Vertical Plane
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V

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Horizontal angle
Vertical angle

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

Theodolite

Designed specifically for the measurement of Horizontal and Vertical

angles in surveying and construction work.
most versatile of survey equipments.
Capable of performing other tasks setting out of lines and angles,
levelling, Plumbing tall buildings and deep shafts, electromagnetic
distance measurement
Types
(i)
Optical, the angles are read against graduated scale
(ii)
Electronic, the angle value displays in digital form
Extremely accurate piece of equipment
Capable of reading to 20, 10, 1, 0.1

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

Classified according to the smallest angle of reading.

The types of theodolite used depending on its intended application.
The size of an angle subtends over a distance is considered.
0.2 secs of arc Precision theodolite
1 secs of arc
Universal Theodolite used in extreme angular
accuracy and over long distance up to 2km
20 secs of arc
General purpose (Ideal for general survey work)
up to 103 m
1 minute
Builder theodolite
(comparatively low order of accuracy)
Which theodolite would you choose if you are measuring angles over
distances of about 50 m and your tolerance is about 5mm?

Smallest angle reading

10 mm
Distance
Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

About 400 years ago

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

BASIC CONSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES OF OPTICAL

THEODOLITE

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

Essential components of optical theodolite

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

TRIBRACH (Levelling Head)

Prime purpose is to facilitate the levelling up of instrument, so that

readings are taken in truly horizontal and vertical planes. The levelling up
operation involves making the vertical axis of instrument properly vertical.
Triangular bracket at the base of the theodolite
Incorporates footscrews which allows levelling up of the instrument .
Fixed and Detachable ( to permit interchange of instrument and
accessories without disturbing centring over a station).
Optical plummet a small telescope built into the base of the theodolite.
Provides a line of sight down the vertical axis of the instrument. Replaces
plumb bob and line. The horizontal view being deflected through 90by a
prism.

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

Bottom and Top plate and Horizontal circle

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

Bottom plate the first disc, directly above the tribrach. This plate is
equipped with a clamp which is used to clamp the horizontal circle to the
bottom plate. Unclamped, the horizontal circle is free to rotate
independently of the bottom plate. The clamp is fitted with a tangent or
slow motion screw enabling fine adjustment after the clamp is tightened.

Horizontal Circle the second disc. Made up of glass with graduation lines
and numerals etched on the surface. The circle is divided into
conventional sexagesimal degrees and fraction (360).

Top Plate (Alidade) is the third disc. This plate is also equipped with a
clamp however this does not clamp to the vertical axis but clamps the top
plate to the horizontal circle. It is also fitted with slow motion screw. The
top plate carries a bubble tube (the plate bubble) which is used for
levelling up the instrument.

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

Upper part of the theodolite - Alidade

The top plate supports the two frames called standards.

Supporting between the two standards is the trunnion or transit axis.
Attached to the trunnion axis are the telescope, circle reading telescope, micrometer
screw and vertical circle.
Features of telescope similar with the level instrument. It can be clamped in the
vertical plane and a slow motion screw is provided for the fine vertical movement.
Circle reading system consists basically of a microscope eyepiece located alongside
the telescope. A small mirror is located on one standard to direct light into the
instrument and, then prisms system to deflect the light to illuminate the graduations
on the glass circles.
Generally one standard is bulkier since it encases the vertical circle. The normal
observing position when looking through the telescope is to gave the vertical circle
located at the observers face left-hand side and this described as observing with
face left.

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Setting up of theodolite (i) Centring of Instrument

Theodolite in use must be centred over ground mark

Traditionally by plumb-bob and string or alternatively
use the optical plummet
Centring is achieved by appropriate movement
(laterally, or by extending or shortening) of one or
more tripod legs, until the plumb-bob is exactly over
the ground mark.
The final fine adjustment being made by unclamping
the tribrach and sliding it across the top of the tripod
head.
Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Setting up of theodolite (ii) Levelling up the plate level or fine

levelling

Setting up of theodolite (iii) eliminating parallax

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Observing horizontal and vertical angles

To observe horizontal angles,

requires a telescope that can rotate
the vertical axis.
To observe vertical angles, requires a
telescope that can rotate the
horizontal axis.
The amount of movement of the
telescope in the two planes can be
read from the two circular scales.
To record and measure the amount of
movements, the scales must be
engraved in appropriate units.

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Reading Horizontal angles

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Observing vertical angles

Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Circle reading

Open and turn mirror until illumination of circles as seen in reading

microscope is uniformly bright.

Turn eyepiece of reading microscope until circle graduation lines and

double index lines are in sharp focus. The circle graduation is interval of
1. In the right hand window is the micrometer. It is digital with numbers
every 6. Upper window is the vertical circle and lower window is the
horizontal circle.

To read the horizontal circle, turn the micrometer knob until a circle
graduation line is exactly in the middle of a double line index. Read the
degrees graduation line. The centre of the micrometer window is indicated
by a black pointer. Read the minutes and seconds against the pointer. It is
possible to estimate half a micrometer interval, i.e 3, if the pointer is
between two numbers.

To read the Vertical readings are taken in exactly in the same way.
Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Measuring angle AOB

Step 1 set micrometer to read 0000 and turn FL.

Step 2 release both upper and lower clamps, turn the horizontal circle
until 0appears in the micrometer window. Clamp the upper plate and by
means of upper plate slow motion screw, set the 0 index mark to its true
position.
Step 3 While on FL, sight target A by using the lower clamp and tangent
screw. ( check to ensure that the micrometer reading for the horizontal
circle is still 0 0000 ).
Step 4 release upper plate, turn the instrument and sight target B with
the fun sight. Clamp upper plate and bisect target by means of upper plate
tangent screw. Book the FL circle readings.
Step 5 transit or plunge the telescope to FR position, release the upper
plate and resight target A, adjust the micrometer to read 0000 and turn
the upper plate tangent screw to set 180. Book the FR circle reading.
A

O
Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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Lect 1:Introduction to theodolites - RMJ

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