PREFACE

Alhamdulillah,
Praise to Allah S.W.T because finally I completed my solar observation report and submit
in time. I would like to say thank you to all my fellow comrades who help one way or another in
the report of Solar Observations Practical.
Big thanks to our lecturer in subject Field Astronomy (SUG 417), P.M. Sr. Dr.Azman Bin
Mohd Suldi in giving us guidance and advice in everything related to this report. Without him,
we know nothing about what astronomy is and how it use in land surveying purposes.
Thank you to members and their cooperation. Most of all I would like to say thanks to all
my comrades especially my observe partner, muhamad ikmal alif for dedication, commitment,
and hardworking in completing this solar observation report. And also thanks to all people who
gave their cooperation during our hard times.

INTRODUCTION
1

Azimuth is a term which tends to be somewhat loosely used to denote the direction of a
given line with reference to some other datum direction. This datum direction is sometimes true
north or true south, or something close to these, or even some quite arbitrary direction selected to
suit the needs of a particular project.
The azimuth is the angle between the north vector and the perpendicular projection of the
star down onto the horizon. Azimuth is usually measured in degrees (). The concept is used in
navigation, astronomy, engineering, mapping, mining and artillery.
The determination of the line is a very important and common operation for the surveyor.
In most cases they will commence their survey from operation previously established points, the
records of which will give an initial azimuth to carry forward. Situations do arise, however when
the absence of such old points or their unreliability, compels to set up own initial station and
determine the azimuth of the first line radiating from it by observation to the sun.
In such a case a reasonably accurate azimuth, in term of the local survey projection is
needed to enable the surveyor to locate other nearby marks shown on existing survey plans. A
quick sun observation in these circumstances will often save a great deal of time, provided with
the Sun Almanac, a pocket calculator, sun glasses for the theodolite eyepiece, and moderately
accurate local time on wrist watch, a knowledge of the place to a minute or so of arc is also
necessary, but this can usually be obtained from a map which the surveyor would normally have
with the term.

PURPOSES / OBJECTIVE
2

1. To understand the importance of solar observation and to obtain the true bearing for the
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

best results of survey work.

To find the azimuth.
To locate a title boundary will accumulate error for a long traverse.
To check its bearing as brought forward by other means.
To understand the important of solar observation and to obtain the true bearing.
To familiar with solar observation.
To get the true bearing or the final bearing from datum.
To get the best result of the survey works such as compliance to the survey rules and
consistency.

INSTRUMENTATIONS
1. 1 x Total Station
2. 1 x Plumb Bob
3. 1 x Tripod Stand
3

4. 1 x Sunglass
5. 1 x Tripod Floor Spider (if necessary)
6. 1 x Analog wrist watch
METHOD OF OBSERVATION
I.

Instrument/Tools Set Up
Setting Up the Tripod:
Extend the tripod legs to a proper length, and set the tripod approximately over
the marked survey point. The tripod head should be levelled and each leg should make
approximately a 60 angle with the ground. Feel free to lift the tripod and redo the above
if necessary. Avoid having a tripod leg coming at you; that might cause some
inconvenience.
Carefully take the total station out of the carrying case. Mount it on the tripod,
and fasten the tripod screw. Make sure the tribrach base and the tripod head (both
triangular) are parallel and share the same centroid to permit maximum translation in any
direction, which will be needed later on. Remove the lens cap, put it back into the
carrying case, and close the box.

Setting Up the Total Station:

(1) Rough Centering:
Secure the front tripod leg. Hold and move the two other legs to roughly center the total
station by locating the ground mark via the optical plummet. Use the right foot placed
near the mark as a guide.
(2) Rough Levelling (use the circular bubble as the guide):

By adjusting the length of one tripod leg at a time while keeping the other two still, the
circular bubble can be levelled without causing disturbance to the previously
accomplished centering (check the optical plummet to see this is true).
(3) Precise Levelling (use the plate bubble as the guide):
Rotate the total station until its plate bubble is parallel to any two footscrews (A and B),
then adjust A and B to center the bubble. The left thumb rule applies as usual (bubble will
travel in direction of left thumb). Now rotate the total station body by 90, and center the
bubble with the third footscrew (C) only. Repeat this procedure for each 90 revolution of
the instrument until the bubble is centered for all four positions. Now check the optical
plummet: adjustment of the footscrews has probably disturbed the centering.
(4) Precise Centering
Loosen the tripod screw, and slowly translate (do not rotate) the theodolite around until it
is exactly centered over the survey point, then tighten the screw.
(5) Repeat (3) and (4) until levelling and centering are both accomplished precisely.
THE BEST TIME FOR SOLAR OBSERVATIONS :
In the morning from 7.00 am to 9.30 am
In the afternoon from 4.30 pm to 7.00 pm
1. The observation is best done in the morning and the evening and above because the sun
altitude is around 15-30 degree which is the best position to get the best azimuth.
2. It is often a very great convenience to the surveyor to be able to make their observations
for the azimuth to stars are bright enough to render this possible if the observations are
done in the late afternoon.
3. The observation can also be done in the early morning, but with the disadvantage that the
time available is rapidly curtailed by increasing daylight.
4. The capability of equipment around that time is in good condition.
5. The human being factor to do the survey work with the comfortable situation.

CALCULATION

Afterthesolarobservationisconducted,therearecalculationstobedonetocalculatethe
azimuth.
1) Meantime:

Time 1+Time 2+Time 3+Time 4

4

2) Meantosun:
FL Reading 1+ FL Reading 2+ ( 270FR Reading 1 )+(270FR Reading 2)
4
3) MeantoRO:
1 st RO Reading+(2 nd RO Reading180 )
2
4) MeanVertical:

( 90 Reading 1 ) + ( 90 Reading 2 ) + ( Reading 3270 )+(Reading 4270 )

4
5) AdjustedVertical( a :

Mean verticalRefractionParallax( almanac )

6) Latitudestation( :
Lat . of Origin [ ( NorthingCoord . of Origin Northing Coord . of Station )0.03256]

7) Convergence:

[ ( EastingCoord of OriginEasting Coord of Station )0.03246 ]sin

8) Declinationattimeofobservation:
( Mean time8 hr)
( Declination at 6 hr UT Declination at 0 hr UT )
6 hr
9) Polardistance:
90 Declination at time of observation

10) Computedazimuth:
cos Azimuth=

cos psin sin a

cos cos a

11) TrueRO:
Mean
Mean RO( Sun)Comp . Azimuth
12) GridBearingRO:

True RO+ Convergence

13) MeanGridBearingRO:
Grid Bearing RO 1+Grid Bearing RO 2

RESULTS

Table of summary of Azimuth

Set

Date

17/4/2015

17/4/2015

17/4/2015

12/5/2015

15/5/2015

15/5/2015

2/6/2015

3/6/2015

3/6/2015

10

3/6/2015

11

3/6/2015

12

3/6/2015

13

5/6/2015

Azimuth 1

Azimuth 2

16
1
16
1
16
1
16
1
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
0
16

16
1
16
1
16
1
16
1
16
0
16
1
16
3
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
1
16
0
16

0
2
0
2
0
3
2

18

5
3
5
3
5
9
5
8
5
9
5
9
5
9
5
9
5

48

22
32
30

13
59
52
06
4
7
09
22

0
1
0
2
0
3
2
5
4
0
8
2
2
5
8
5
8
5
8
0
8
5
9
5

5
6
3
4
5
2
3
8
2
8
2
5
1
2
4
4
5
3
2
6
2
0
5
7
8

Mean
Azimuth
16
1
16
1
16
1
16
1
16
0
16
1
16
2
16
0
16
0
16
0
16
1
16
0
16

0
2
0
2
0
3
0
2
5
4
0
11
5
8
5
8
5
8
3
5
9
5

Difference
in Azimuth
0
7
2
9
4
3
3
6
9
4
8
0
5
4
8
5
9
4
5
4
3
3
3
4

00 0
0
00 0
0
00 0
0
00 0
0
00 0
0
00 1
5
02 2
2
00 0
0
00 0
0
00 0
0
00 9

22

00 0
0
00 0

48

Remarks

11

NOT
CLOSED
CLOSED

20

CLOSED

08

CLOSED

20

CLOSED

12

08

NOT
CLOSED
NOT
CLOSED
CLOSED

13

CLOSED

38

CLOSED

13

NOT
CLOSED
NOT
CLOSED
NOT

14

46

14

5/6/2015

15

5/6/2015

0
16
0
16
0

7
5
8
5
8

38
25

0
16
0
16
1

8
5
9
0
0

3
4
9

0
16
0
16
0

7
5
8
5
9

5
5
1
3
7

0
00 0
0
00 0
2

25
24

CLOSED
CLOSED
NOT
CLOSED

ANALYSIS

After all the observation, Ive managed to achieve my objective which is to obtain the
initial bearing or datum for a triangulation network and traverses. I get 8 out of 15 azimuth
reading that are close within the permissible range of 20. The other 7 solar observation is not
closed reading are due to errors which are external error, instrumental error and observational
error.
Moving on to the errors, the external error is due to the little wind or shaking on the
ground that affects the precision reading of the angles when recording. Then, the instrumental
error are caused by the total station which werent perfectly aligned causing the angle reading to
deviate more than 30. After that, observational error which were caused by the imperfect
leveling and centering of the total station caused the reading to deviate a little.
There are few suggested precaution steps in order to avoid or reduce the error as minimal
as possible. Firstly, to reduce the external error, wait until there is very minimal or absence of
wind to take a reading. The cloudy day can disrupt you to observe the solar. Next, to avoid

instrumental error, inspect the total station before conducting the solar observation to ensure the
instrument is perfectly aligned. Finally, to reduce observational error, level and center the
instrument to its utmost precision and check the leveling and centering of the instrument
periodically to ensure both are centered perfectly.
In Malaysia, the procedure for sun altitude practiced by most surveyors for solar
observation is between 15 to 30. Furthermore, it is also important to know that the best time to
conduct solar observation at morning is during

8.00 a.m and

5.30 p.m for afternoon

observation. This is due to the fast and apparent movement of the sun during the noon, plus the
altitude will be too high for solar observation. In addition, if we observe the sun when the
altitude is too low, the atmosphere refraction effect will exist. Thus, the abovementioned details
are crucial for solar observation.

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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

To conclude our report, we can say that we have achieve our main objective, which is:
1. To compute the azimuth.
2. To take the correct reading when we observe the sun.
3. To find the azimuth calculations with using Star Almanac and parallax and reflection
table.
4. From the solar observation we can find azimuth from our position. As we know that the
azimuth is very important data to us to do the survey work.
5. To learned that the main use of the azimuth determined by astronomical observation is to
obtain the initial bearing for a triangulation network and traverses Cadastral Surveying.
6. To know how to handle total station correctly and how to use it.
Our recommendation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Make sure observer set up the instrument correctly.

Read and record data with accurate.
Handle instrument with care.
Focus on your work hardworking to finishing the solar observation.
Repeat until get the result.

REFERENCE

11

1. The book of Unsur-unsur Astronomi Praktik UntukKegunaan Ukur Tanah, Haji Abdul
Hamid Bin Mohd. Tahir, JMN , UNIT PENERBITAN AKADEMIK UNIVERSITI
TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA SKUDAI, JOHOR DARUL TAZIM 1990.
2. Prof Madya Sr. DrAzman Bin MohdSuldi as a Lecturer of FSPU, UiTM Shah Alam.

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