CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT CE12 Geomatics Laboratory (Fall 2004)

Total Station and Angle Measurement Lab Exercise

Discussion This lab exercise is designed as an introduction to the use of total stations for surveying. Specifically, we will use total stations to measure horizontal angles by the closing the horizon method. Topcon Total Stations will be used. Because this is the 3rd lab, it is more involved than the previous labs, so take your time, take neat and careful field notes, work as a team, and think! Teams will consist of 4-5 individuals as assigned by the instructor or teaching assistant. However, each member of the team MUST actually set up and level a total station, measure angles with it, and take notes (details below). Objectives 1. Gain proficiency in the use of total stations. 2. Measure horizontal angles with a total station instrument. 3. Properly record observations by measuring angles using the closing the horizon technique. 4. Calculate mean angles and evaluate misclosure. Equipment Field notebook, pencil, calculator, and straight edge for sketching 1 50 fiberglass tape 1 Topcon total station and a tripod (one group will have a Pentax total station) 5 taping pins 1 wooden stake with pin to set up instrument over Lab Exercise Instructions Each team will be required to drive a wooden stake and place 5 taping pins approximately 50 away from the stake at random angles around the central stake. While we have teams for this exercise, each member must set up the instrument, level it, and complete angle measurements by closing the horizon around your teams central stake. The entire team must stay for the duration of the lab. At the end, you will each obtain the angles measured your teammates and compute means values for each angle in your set up. 1.
Field As

a team, carry your equipment to the open area east of the Cook Building. Drive in your wooden stake, place a pin in the top, and place 5 taping pins approximately 50 away from the stake at random angles around the central stake. The stake will be called point A and your team should designate the pins as B, C, D, E, and F clockwise. a. Set up your tripod over the stake, mount the instrument to the tripod, level it, and center it on the stakes pin (see pg. 2-2 of Topcon manual). Once the instrument is level, turn it on (see pg. 2-3 of Topcon manual). b. Point the instrument toward B (backsite) using the collimator (this is called collimating a point). Lock the instrument using the horizontal motion clamp. Fine-tune your sighting by looking through telescope and centering cross-hairs on 1

2.

Field [NOTE this should be REPEATED for each member of the team]

3.

4. 5.

6.

taping pin A using the horizontal tangent screw. Set the horizontal angle for AB to zero by using [F1](0 set) and [F3](yes) ( see pg. 3-1 of Topcon manual). c. Rotate the instrument (clockwise) to collimate and sight on point C (forsite). Record the angle BAC. d. Backsite on C and set horizontal angle to zero. e. Repeat steps b. thru d. in order to measure all the angles around the horizon until you return to point B (angles measured BAC, CAD, DAE, EAF, and FAB). f. Finally, be sure the horizontal and vertical motion clamps are tight, remove the instrument from the tripod, place it in the case, and take down the tripod completely. g. Now, the next person can start at step a. above. Field Upon closing the horizon, putting away the instrument, and breaking down the tripod, perform a check of your angles by summing all the angles and comparing to 360 (which is what it should be. Field After all your team members have completed their run around the horizon, write down all angle measurements in a table. Office- For each angle around your stake, compute a mean of each of the angles using all measurements taken by yourself and your teammates. Then, in your lab book, answer the following questions, briefly: a. Given the difference between the sum of your angles and 360, how might you use this information to adjust your horizontal angles? b. Given all the angles measured by your team and the computed mean, is there any value in repeating angle measurements? Office - A complete set of field notes will be submitted by each team member by 4 pm, two days after their lab session. Number all pages in the book. IMPORTANT: In this lab, each of you will record your own angle measurements and obtain your teammates measurements as well as include a sketch. All calculations within the office sections above should be done individually.

[Sample field notes on next page]

Sample Closing the Horizon Angle Notes Angle Instrument @A BAC CAD DAE EAF FAB Sum(angles) Should be Difference 73 42 86 26 64 30 73 05 62 16 359 59 360 01 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Measured Angle Johns Marys Jims Donnas Mean

Note: The Xs above represent angle measurements computed by your entire team. Be sure to include a nice sketch(s) on the right hand page(s) similar to the one below. In addition, dont forget to compute and include in your field books all quantities required in the office activities above on an individual basis.

Cook Building