Department of Civil Engineering

College of Engineering
Visayas State University
Baybay, Leyte
GEng 111, Exercise 7

MEASUREMENT OF VERTICAL ANGLES

TITLE
Name: Joycelyn H. Uy
2012
Course and Year: BSCE-3
2012

Date

Performed:

June

16,

Date

Submitted:

July

24,

I Introduction:
The vertical circle and the vertical vernier of a transit are used
for measuring vertical angles. A vertical angle is the angle between
the inclined line of sight to an object and the horizontal. It may be
an angle of elevation or an angle of depression.

II

Objectives:
1 To learn how to measure vertical angles with a
theodolite or an engineers transit.

III

Instruments:
Theodolite or engineers transit, pegs and hubs, range
poles

IV

Procedure:
1 The theodolite (or transit) was set up and leveled at a
convenient point and called this point O.
2 The instructor assigned points around the vicinity of the
instrument. These points were called as A, B, C, D and
E.
3 In measuring the first angle AOB, the upper and lower
clamps were released/opened and the vertical scales
were adjusted by turning the instrument on its spindle

until the horizontal circle reading was zero (or near

zero).
4 The upper and lower clamps were tightened and the
upper tangent screw was turned until the index reading
was exactly zero. The lower clamp was released/opened
and the telescope sighted approximately to point A
(telescope in direct position).
5 The lower clamp was tightened. Then, the upper clamp
was opened and sighted to point B. The upper clamp
was clamped and adjusted the vertical cross hair using
the upper tangent screw.
6 The reading microscope of the theodolite was viewed
(vernier A of the transit) and the vertical angle was read
to determine the value of angle AOB and then it was
recorded as its measured value.
7 The procedure in measuring the remaining angles was
just repeated.
V

Results and Discussion:

ANGLE

OBESERVED
VALUE

AOB
BOC
COD
DOE
EOA

2 6
4 15
17 4
6 15
4 49

When the telescope is pointed in the horizontal plane

(level), the value of the vertical angle is zero. When the
telescope is pointed up at a higher feature (elevated), the
vertical angle increases from zero and is called an angle of
elevation. These values increase from 0 to +90 when the
telescope is pointed straight up. As the telescope is depressed
(pointed down), the angle also increases in numerical value.
A depressed telescope reading, showing that it is below the
horizontal plane, is called an angle of depression. These numerical
values increase from 0 to 90 when the telescope is pointed
straight down.

VI

Conclusion:
Therefore, in measuring vertical angles, the transit must be
set upon a definite point and level it. The plate bubbles must be
centered carefully and the line of sight is turned approximately at
the point; the horizontal axis is clamped. Then, the horizontal
cross hair is brought exactly to the point by means of the
telescope tangent screw.