EXPERIMENT 1

TO DETERMINE THE HORIZONTAL ANGLE

Aim: To determine the horizontal angle by using Repetition method.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Transit theodolite
Tripod stand
Plum bob
Ranging rods

Theory: This method is used for very accurate work. In this method, the same
angle is added several times mechanically and the correct value of the angle is
obtained by dividing the accumulated reading by the no. of repetitions.
Procedure:

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1. Set up the theodolite at starting point O and level it accurately.

2. Measure the horizontal angle AOB.
3. Loosen the lower clamp and turn the telescope clock wise until the object
(A) is sighted again. Bisect B accurately by using the upper tangent screw.
The verniers will now read the twice the value of the angle now.
4. Repeat the process until the angle is repeated the required number of times
(usually 3). Read again both verniers. The final reading after n repetitions
should be approximately n X (angle). Divide the sum by the number of
repetitions and the result thus obtained gives the correct value of the angle
AOB.
5. Change the face of the instrument. Repeat exactly in the same manner and
find another value of the angle AOB. The average of two readings gives the
required precise value of the angle AOB.

EXPERIMENT 2
TO DETERMINE THE HORIZONTAL ANGLE
Aim: To determine the horizontal angle by using Reiteration method.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Transit theodolite
Tripod stand
Plum bob
Ranging rods

Theory: This method is adopted when it is required to find more than one
horizontal angle at a station. Several angles are at the station successively and
finally the horizon is closed. In this method errors are equally distributed among
all the measured angles.
Procedure:
1. Set the instrument over O and level it accurately.
2. Set one vernier to 3600 and bisect A accurately.
3. Release the upper clamp and turn the telescope clock wise to point B.
Bisect B accurately with the help of upper tangent screw.
4. Read both the verniers. The mean of the vernier gives the angle AOB.
5. Similarly, bisect the point C and D by recording the reading of both
verniers.
6. Finally sight the object A the reading of the vernier should be the same as
that of initial readings.

Result:
The horizontal angle between the lines __________________

SURVEYING LAB MANUAL

7. Similarly repeat the procedure by changing the face.

EXPERIMENT - 3

TRAVERSING BY FAST NEEDLE METHOD

Aim: To determine the Direct method in which the telescope is transited.

Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Theory:

Theodolite
Tripod stand
Trough compass
Tape
Arrows

In this method also, the magnetic bearings of traverse lines are

measured by a theodolite fitted with a compass. However, the direction
of the magnetic meridian is not established at each station but
instead. The magnetic bearings of the lines of the lines are measured
with reference so the direction of magnetic meridian established at the
first station.

Procedure:

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1. Set the theodolite at P and level it. Set the vernier A exactly to zero
reading. Using lower clamp and tangent screw.
2. Point the telescope to magnetic meridian.
3. Loose the upper clamp and rotate the telescope clockwise to sight Q.
Bisect Q accurately by using upper tangent screw. Read verniers A which
gives the magnetic bearing of the line PQ.
4. With both the clamps clamped, move the instrument and set up at Q,
using the lower clamp and tangent screw.
5. Transit the telescope. The line of sight will now be in the direction of PQ
while the instrument reads the bearing of PQ,
6. Using the upper clamp and tangent screw, take a foresight on R. Read
vernier A which gives the magnetic bearing of QR.
7. Continue the process at other stations.

EXPERIMENT 4
TO DETERMINE THE VERTICAL ANGLE
Aim: To determine the vertical angle
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Theodolite
Tripod stand
Plum bob
Ranging rods

Procedure:
1. With reference to the altitude level, level the instrument exactly over
station O
2. Set the zero of the vertical circle vernier to coincide with zero of the
vertical circle.
3. Set the altitude bubble to the centre of its run by means of clip screw.
4. The vertical circle reads 00.
5. Turn the telescope to the object and bisect it exactly by operating vertical
circle clamp and tangent screw.
6. Read both verniers. The mean of two vernier reading gives the value of
vertical angle.
7. Repeat the same procedure by changing face of the instruments.
8. The mean value of the two vertical angles is the required vertical angle.
Calculations:
Measure the vertical angle to A and B separately and their algebraic
difference gives the required vertical angle.
1

= Vertical angle to A to O (Elevated angle)

= Vertical angle to B to O (Depression angle)

1

SURVEYING LAB MANUAL

Let

EXPERIMENT 5
TO FIND THE HEIGHTS AND DISTANCE WHEN THE OBJECT BASE IS
ACCESSIBLE
Aim: To find the heights and distance when the object base is accessible
Apparatus:
1. Theodolite
2. Tripod stand
3. Tape
Theory: Let it be required to find the elevations of the dam or TV tower or a tall
building etc. accurately. In such case vertical angles are to be observed and using
trigonometry the heights and distances are determined.
Procedure:
1. Set up a theodolite at a convenient distance from the object (TV. Tower)
and measure the horizontal distance between them accurately by steel or
invar tape. Let this distance be D meters.
2. Centre the theodolite be over the station point exactly and level it by
mean altitude bubble and plate levels the line of collimation.
3. The line of collimation of the theodolite is then made horizontal by
adjusting the verniers of the vertical circle to read zero.
4. Loosen the lower clamp and vertical clamp and rotate the telescope in
horizontal plane and vertical plane till the top of the tower is bisected.
5. Read both the verniers C and D and find the mean of these two readings
gives vertical angle 1.
6. Now loosen the vertical clamp and bisect the bottom of the TV. Tower
exactly using vertical tangent screw. The mean of the two readings the
vertical angle

2.

H1 = Dtan 1
H2 = Dtan 2
Height of the TV Tower
+

H2 = H = Dtan 1 + Dtan 2
= D (tan 1 + tan 2)

SURVEYING LAB MANUAL

H1

EXPERIMENT 6
TO FIND THE ELEVATION WHEN THE BASE IS INACCESSIBLE
Aim: Suppose the R.L of the top of hill Q is to be determined.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Theodolite
Tripod stand
Plum bob
Staff
Chain

Procedure:
1.

1.

The BS reading taken on BM be S1.

2.

is

measured. The BS reading taken on BM be S2.

The difference of elevation of two instrument axis = S2 S1
D is the horizontal distance between A and Q
b is the horizontal distance between two instruments
h1 = Height of the point Q above the instrument axis at A
h2 = Height of the point Q above the instrument axis at B
Q1 = The projection of Q on the horizontal line through D
Q2 = The projection of Q on the horizontal line through R
When the height of theodolite at R is higher than at B :

h1

---------- 1
---------- 2

SURVEYING LAB MANUAL

h1
1
h2 from the triangle RQQ2 = (b + D)
By subtracting 2 from 1
h1 h2
1 (b + D)
2
h1 h2 = S2 S1 = S
1
2
2
2
1 2)

EXPERIMENT 7
CURVE SETTING BY LONG CHORDS
Aim: To set out a circular curve with offsets from the from long chords
Apparatus:
1. Chain
2. Ranging rods
Procedure:
1. Erect ranging rods at T1T2.
2. Divide the long chord T1T2 in equal parts of suitable length.
3. Calculate the lengths of the offsets corresponding to distances from the
mid-point of the chord.
4. Erect perpendiculars with the help of an optical square and measure the
calculated offset distances.
Calculations:

R = radius of the curve

Oo = Mid ordinate
Ox = Ordinate at distance x from the mid point of the chord
T1 and T2 = Tangent points
L = Length of the long chord actually measured on the ground
Oo = R -
Ox =

( R - Oo )

SURVEYING LAB MANUAL

Let

EXPERIMENT 8
CURVE SETTING BY TANGENTS
Aim: To set up the curve by taking offsets from the tangents.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Chain
Tape
Ranging rods
Arrows

Procedure:
1. Fix ranging rods T1,I,T2 and O
2. Measure a distance x along T, I and fix a point M
3. From M measure a distance equal to the calculated offset length along the
line joining the point M and the center of the curve O
4. Similarly locate other points on the first half of the curve.
5. The other half of the curve is similarly set out from the forward tangent
T2I.
Calculations:

Let Ox = Radial offset DE at any distance x along the tangent

(R + Ox)2 = R2 + x2
R + Ox =
Ox

Approximate Expression for Ox =

SURVEYING LAB MANUAL

X = T1M = Measured distance along the tangent