INTRODUCTION

Stadia tacheometric survey is one of the survey parts which have to measure the height
and earth level which can get indirectly from calculation. Stadia tacheometric survey is a branch
of surveying in which horizontal and vertical distance of points are obtained by optical
measurement avoiding ordinary and slower process of measurement tape. Stadia tacheometric
surveyor usually performed to contour and details plans for further work or to produce
coordinates for area and volume calculation.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this laboratory is:

• To introduce the traditional technique of collecting the stadia data such as stadia readings
to plot a topographic map.
• Plot a simple topographic map.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Stadia is a method of surveying in which distances are read by noting the interval on a graduated
rod intercepted by two parallel cross hairs (stadia hairs or stadia wires) mounted in the telescope
of a surveying instrument, the rod being placed at one end of the distance to be measured and the
surveying instrument at the other.

Principle of Stadia hair method is that the ratio of the length of perpendicular to the base is
constant in case of similar triangles.

• Fixed Hair Method

In the fixed hair method, the cross hairs of the diaphragm are kept at a constant distance
apart and the staff intercept varies with the horizontal and vertical position of the staff
with respect to the Theodolite.

In this method, the angle at the instrument at A subtended by a known short distance
along a staff kept at B is made with the help of a stadia diaphragm having stadia wires at
fixed or constant distance apart. The readings are on the staff corresponding to all the
three wires taken.
 The staff intercept, i.e., the difference of the readings corresponding to top and bottom
stadia wires will therefore depend on the distance of the staff from the instrument. When
the staff intercept is more than the length of the staff, only half intercept is read.

For inclined sight, readings may be taken by keeping the staff either vertical or normal to
the line of sight. This is the most common method is tacheometry and the same ‘stadia
method’ generally bears reference to this method.

• Movable Hair Method

In this method the staff intercept between the lower hair and the upper hair is kept
constant by moving the horizontal cross hairs in the vertical plane.

This method is similar to the fixed hair method except that the stadia interval is variable.
Suitable arrangement is made to vary the distance between the stadia hair as to set them
against the two targets on the staff kept at the point under observation.

Thus, in this case, the staff intercept, i.e., the distance between the two targets is kept
fixed while the stadia interval, i.e., the distance between the stadia hair is variable. As in
the case of fixed hair method, inclined sights may also be taken.

APPARATUS
• Theodolite
• Tripod
• Staff
• Nail
• Spray
• Hammer
• Tape

PROCEDURE

• The area for survey has been choose.

• The base line near the feature that to be survey was created which is 5-4.
• The bearing was defined which is 195o50’ and distance for base line was measured.
• The theodolite was set up at point 5 and was target to back station (R.O).
• The bearing was set to reading 195o50’ and aimed to back station.
• The height of instrument was measured and the stadia data was recorded about 15 points.
Instrument Instrument Bearing Reduce level Distance (m) Back station
station height (m) (horizontal (m)
angle)
5 1.1 195°50’00” 100 92.79 4
RESULT AND ANALYSIS
Poin Horizontal Vertical Stadia Horizontal Vertical Reduc Remarks
t angle angle distance distance e level
top
middl bottom
e
1 195°50’00” 356°31’40” 0.435 0.359 0.283 15.2 -0.919 99.82 Street
light
2 341°9’40” 354°31’00” 0.675 0.629 0.583 9.2 -0.875 99.60 Signboard
3 345°58’20” 359°42’40” 2.255 2.19 2.215 13 -0.0655 98.84 Tree
4 332°59’40” 359°42’40” 2.363 2.219 2.075 28.8 -0.148 98.73 Tree
5 13°58’4” 359°42’40” 2.783 2.688 2.593 19 -0.0976 98.31 Tree
6 28°14’40” 359°42’40” 2.785 2.628 2.470 31.5 -0.162 98.31 Street
light
7 29°30’20” 359°42’40” 2.320 2.128 1.935 38.5 -0.198 98.77 Street
light
8 37°51’20” 359°42’40” 1.055 0.88 0.705 35 -0.180 100.04 Street
light
9 39°41’20” 359°42’40” 1.175 0.907 0.638 53.7 -0.1276 99.92 Cottage
10 36°38’00” 359°42’40” 1.13 0.895 0.650 48 -0.247 99.96 Cottage
11 355°55’20” 359°17’00” 0.780 0.560 0.345 43.5 -0.544 100 Stairs
12 351°6’40” 358°48’00” 1.533 1.309 1.0853 44.8 -0.469 98.85 Stairs
13 0° 359°42’40” 1.109 0.840 0.570 53.9 -0.277 99.98 Cottage
14 357°4’40” 359°19’20” 0.69 0.43 0.16 53 -0.627 100.04 Cottage
15 0°3’40” 0°2’00” 1.65 1.36 1.06 59 0.0343 99.77 Pipe
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE , D = KS + C
=100(0.435-0.283) + 0
=15.2 m
VERTICAL DISTANCE , V = 1/2KS sin2θ + c sinθ
= ½ x 100 x 0.152 sin2 (356°31’40”)
= -0.919 m
REDUCE LEVEL , RL = 100 + Hi ± V –H
= 100 + 1.1 -0.919 -0.359
= 99.82 m
Where K,= constant 100
C =constant 0
HI =height of instrument
H =middle stadia from ground level
S =upper stadia – lower stadia
DISCUSSION
In this experiment, the parameter that we nee to measure are the value of the inclined
stadia distance,the horizontal and the vertical components. The group deliberately followed the
step by step procedure to ensure that the aforementioned objectives above will be achieved.
Rather than utilizing manual instruments, the group decided to use Computer-Aided-Design
application in order to have an accurate and exact illustration and measurements. First from the
value of horizontal and vertical angle that we acquired, we can determine and calculate the
horizontal and vertical distance by using the formula. Next, from that we can sketch the area on
the Computer-Aided-Design application by referring the value of horizontal angle and horizontal
distance.
Besides, the tilting of the staff rod can influence the accuracy of the height readings taken
from the staff. Then the staff is not truly vertical or almost to it, the reading taken is incorrect and
lead to the failure of tachometry process. This error can be avoid by choosing the flatten surface
before we put the staff or clear the surface of the ground first from other barrier like rock that
will effect the position of the staff. Other than that, the person that will hold the staff must be in
static during hold the staff to make sure the reading will be accurate and easier for the another
student read the reading from the theodolite.
Next, the errors encountered during tachometry also can be derived from
instrumental errors. They are those caused by the adjustment of the instruments used or faults in
them. Any errors in these measurements have serious implications in the heights and distances
measured with the instruments. To avoid such errors, during we setup the instruments, we need
to make sure all bubbles should be at the centre of its run and we need to avoid from touch the
tripod leg’s after the instrument have been in stabilize position.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we have achieved the objectives of this laboratory which are to introduce
the traditional technique of collecting the stadia data such as stadia readings to plot a topographic
map and to plot a simple topographic map. From this laboratory activity, we had learnt how to
use the theodolite and also familiar with the apparatus. We also get the experience to conduct this
laboratory which is stadia tacheometry. We also get the knowledge on how to take the readings
of top, bottom and middle of stadia hairs and also the reading of the vertical and horizontal
bearings.

REFERENCES
• Surveying A.Bannster and R.Baker , Second edition
• Surveying with construction and application,Barry F.Kavanagh Second edition
• https://civilseek.com/tacheometric-surveying/
• https://www.slideshare.net/arvindsainair69/sueveying-advanced1