TOPIC 1 :

ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASUREMENT

(EDM / TOTAL STATION)
 HISTORY
• First introduced in the late 1950’s
• At first they were complicated, large, heavy,
and suited primarily for long distances
• Current EDM’s use either infrared (light
waves) or microwaves (radio waves)
• Microwaves require transmitters / receivers
at both ends
• Infrared use a transmitter at one end and a
reflecting prism at the other and are
generally use more frequently
 HISTORY OF EDM
• Development of this type of technology started during World War II
with the development of RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging)
• Radars returned the distance to an object (and later versions the
speed of the object through the Doppler shift) by timing the length of
time the from the transmission of a pulse to its return. Accuracy was set
by timing resolution (1µsec=300meters)
• In 1949, Dr. Erik Bergstrand of Sweden introduced the Geodimeter
(Geodetic Distance Measurement) that used light (550 nm
wavelength) to measure geodetic quality distances (instrument
weighed 100kg)
 HISTORY OF EDM
• Distance range was about 10km during daylight and 25km at night.
• Greater range during daytime was achieved by using radio waves,
and in Dr. T. L. Wadley, South Africa introduced the Telluometer in
1957.
• Instrument used X-band radio waves (~10GHz)
• Receive and transmit ends looked similar (receiver actually re-
transmitted the signal) (The Geodimeter used one or more corner
cube reflectors.)
• Distances up to 50 km could be measured in daylight with this
instrument and later models.
 EDM PROPERTIES
• They come in long (10-20 km), medium (3-10 km), and short range (.5-3
km). Range limits up to 50 km
• They are typically mounted on top of a theodolite, but can be
mounted directly to a tribrach.

Total station = Theodolite with built in EDM ± Microprocessor

 EDM CLASSIFICATIONS
• Described by form of electromagnetic energy.
• First instruments were primarily microwave (1947)
• Present instruments are some form of light, i.e. laser or near-infrared lights.
• Described by range of operation.
• Generally microwave are 30 - 50 km range. (med)
• Developed in the early 70’s, and were used for control surveys.
• Light EDM’s generally 3 - 5 km range. (short)
• Used in engineering and construction
• EDM is very useful in measuring distances that are difficult to access or long
distances.
• It measures the time required for a wave to sent to a target and reflect back
 PRINCIPLES OF EDM
• Operation : A wave is transmitted and the returning wave is measured
to find the distance traveled
 GENERAL PRINCIPLE OF EDM
 Electromagnetic energy
• Travels based on following relation :

• Intensity modulate EM energy to specific frequency

 EDM CHARACTERISTICS
• 750-1000 meters range
• Accurate to ± 5mm + 5 ppm
• Operating temperature between -20 to +50 degrees centigrade
• 1.5 seconds typical for computing a distance, 1 second when tracking.
• Slope reduction either manual or automatic.
• Some average repeated measurements.
• Signal attenuation.
• battery operated and can perform between 350 and 1400 measurements.
 ACCURACY
• Distance is computed by (no. of wavelengths generated +
partial wavelength)/2.
• Standard or Random errors are described in the form of ±
(Constant + parts per million).
• Constant is the accuracy of converting partial wavelength to a
distance.
• ppm is a function of the accuracy of the length of each
wavelength, and the number of wavelengths.
EDM ACCURACY
 SOURCES OF ERROR IN EDM
• Personal :
• Careless centering of instrument and/or reflector
• Faulty temperature and pressure measurements
• Incorrect input of T and p
• Instrumental :
• Instrument not calibrated
• Electrical center
• Prism Constant
• Natural :
• Varying ‘met’ along line
• Turbulence in air
 EDM INSTRUMENT OPERATION
1. Set up
• EDM instruments are inserted in to the tribrach
• Set over the point by means of the optical plummet
• Prisms are set over the remote station point
• The EDM turned on
• The height of the prism and the EDM should me measured

2. Aim
• The EDM is aimed at the prism by using either the built- in sighting devices on the EDM
• Telescope (yoke-mount EDMs) will have the optical line of sight a bit lower than the
electronic signal
• When the cross hair is sight on target the electronic signal will be maximized at the
center of the prism
• Set the electronic signal precisely on the prism center