Welcome to the presentation on

TOTAL STATION

From,
Shashank R Javalagi.

BASICS OF
SURVEYING

Surveying is the most important, oldest practice carried

out, which includes, taking of measurements on, below or
above the surface of the ground and to plan the course of
further actions, based on the findings of the survey.
The linear measurements and angular measurements are
measured with the aid of few instruments, viz., tape,
chain, staff, dumpy level, theodolite, etc
All the readings are noted in field books or survey records
and kept as a hard copy and the calculations are done
later in office
With such surveying instruments, survey work will be slow
and tedious.

INVENTION OF MODERN
SURVEYING

As an outcome of continuous technological development, in the last

few decades, new varieties of electronic instruments have been
invented.
With these inventions, modern surveying practices came into
existence.
Hence with modern surveying instruments, survey work will be
precise, faster and less tedious.
All the readings are recorded automatically by the electronic
instruments in a microprocessor and based on these readings;
critical values are calculated by the microprocessor, at real time.
Hence, the data collected in microprocessor is directly transferred
and stored in the computer as a softcopy.
Hence modern surveying instruments are becoming more popular
and they are gradually replacing old surveying instruments such as
compass and Dumpy level.

MODERN SURVEYING
INSTRUMENTS
EDM-Electronic distance
measurement

Digital level

Auto level

Total station

INTRODUCTION TO
TOTAL STATION

The total station is an improvised version of modern

surveying instruments such as EDM Electronic distance
measurement, auto level and digital level.
Total station is a combination of an electronic theodolite and
an electronic distance meter (EMD).
This combination makes it possible to determine the
coordinates of reflector by aligning the instruments cross
hair on the reflector and simultaneously measuring the
vertical and horizontal angles and slope distances.
On board micro-processor in the instrument, takes care of
recording, readings and the necessary computations. The
data can be easily transferred to a computer where it can be
used to generate map.

ROBOTIC
TOTAL STATION

The improvised total station by name ROBOTIC

TOTAL STATION allows the operator to control the
instrument from a distance via remote control.
This eliminates the need of an assistant staff member,
as the operator holds the reflector and controls the
total station from the observed point.

ROBOTIC
TOTAL STATION

FUNCTIONS OF TOTAL STATION:

Coordinates determination:
Total station determines the coordinates of an unknown
point relative to the known coordinate by establishing a direct line of
sight between the two points. Angles and distances are measured
from the total station to points under survey and the coordinates of
surveyed points relative to the total station position are calculated
using trigonometry and triangulation. Some total stations have
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which does not require
direct line of sight to determine coordinates.

Distance measurement:
A total station has a small solid state
emitter within the instruments optical path. They generate
modulated microwave or infrared signals that are reflected by a
prism reflector or the object under survey. The modulation pattern in
the returning signal is read and interpreted by the computer in the
total station. The distance is thus determined by emitting and
receiving multiple frequencies and determining the integer number
of wavelength, to the target, for each frequency.

Angular measurement:
Most of the modern total stations have digital barcodes on rotating glass cylinder that are installed within the
instrument. Angle measurements is done through electro-optical
scanning of these digital bar-codes.

Data processing:
The data recorded by the instrument may be downloaded
from the theodolite to a computer and the application software in
turn generates a map of the survey area. Many advanced models of
total station have built-in micro-processor to record and compute
distances, horizontal and vertical angles.

ADVANTAGES OF TOTAL STATION

Most accurate and user friendly.

Gives position of a point (x, y and z) w. r. t. known point (base
point).
EDM is fitted inside the telescope.
Digital display.
On board memory to store data and compatibility with computers.
Measures distance and angles and displays coordinates,
Auto level compensator is available.
Can work in lesser visibility also.
Can measure distances even without prismatic target for lesser
distances.
Is water proof.
On board software are available.
Total solution for surveying work.

APPLICATIONS OF TOTAL STATION

IN VARITIES OF FIELDS:

Mainly used by land

surveyors.
Used by archaeologists to
record excavations.
By Police, crime scene
investigators, private accident
re-constructionists and
insurance companies to take
measurements of scenes.

IN CIVIL ENGG FIELD USED

FOR:

General purpose angle

measurements.
General purpose distance
measurement.
Provision of control surveys.
Contour and detail mapping.
Setting out and construction
work.

AUXILIARY EQUIPMENTS REQUIRED:

Targets or Prisms to accurately define the target point of a direction

measurement.

A data recorder if one is not integrated into the total station.

A download cable and software on a PC to capture and process the

captured digital data to produce contour and detail maps.

CONCLUSION

Total station makes the measurements more accurate.

Total station records the data on its inbuilt data recorder and
generates maps within a fraction of time.

Hence time consuming will be less and Total station made survey
work easy.

Hence TOTAL STATION IS A TOTAL SOLUTION FOR SURVEY

WORK.

END

THANK YOU