TACHEOMETRY.

Tacheometry is defined as a procedure

of obtaining horizontal distances and
differences in elevation based on the
optical geometry of the instrument
employed.

THE STADIA METHOD.

The equipment for stadia measurements consists of a telescope with two horizontal
hairs called stadia hair and a graduated rod called a stadia rod. The stadia method is
especially well adapted to mapping requirements and is widely used for locating
details and contour points in topographic surveys. It is far more rapid than taping, and
under certain conditions could be made as precise. This method also requires the
employment of fewer survey personnel.

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 PRINCIPLE OF STADIA. The stadia method is based on the principle that in similar
triangles corresponding sides are proportional.

STANDARD SYMBOLS USED IN STADIA MEASUREMENTS-

Where:
f = focal length of the lens
f1 = image distance or length from the center of the objective lens to the plane of the
cross wires when the telescope is focused on some definite points.
f2 = object distance or length from the center of the objective lens to a definite point
when the telescope is focused on that point.
i = distance or spacing between stadia hairs
c = distance from the center of the instrument to the center of the objective lens.
C = stadia constant or the distance from the center of the instrument to the principal
focus. C = c + f
d = distance from the focal point in front of the telescope to the face of the rod.
D = distance from the instrument center to the face of the rod.
K = stadia interval factor or K = f / i
s = stadia or rod intercept. The difference between the upper stadia hair reading and
the lower stadia hair reading.

𝒇 𝒅
= and d = (f/i)s
𝒊 𝒔

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 Also;

D= d + (f + c)
D= (f/i)s + C
D= Ks + C

The equation D = Ks + C is employed in computing horizontal distances from stadia

intervals when sights are horizontal.

STADIA INTERVAL FACTOR.The ratio f/i is called the stadia interval factor and is
designated by the letter K. For any given instrument, this value remains constant and
depends only on the spacing between the stadia hairs. The manufacturer of the
instrument can space the stadia hairs with relation to the focal length so as to obtain
any convenient value of K desired. The most common value of K, however, is 100.

DETERMINATION OF STADIA CONSTANT. For an instrument with an external focusing

telescope, the stadia constant C is readily determined by setting up the instrument,
focusing on any distant point at least 300 m away, and measuring precisely the
distance between the reticule and the objective lens. This measured quantity is the
focal length f. The telescope is next pointed and focused on another object about 90
meters away, and the distance from the objective lens to the center of the instrument is
measured. This distance is called, c, and the stadia constant C is equal to the sum of
these two measured quantities. The stadia constant represents the distance from the
center of the instrument to the principal focus. Most instrument of recent design have
internal focusing telescopes; and for such telescopes the stadia constant is nearly zero
and can be disregarded under all conditions.

DETERMINATION OF STADIA INTERVAL FACTOR. The stadia interval factor K of surveying

instruments is usually 100. Should there be a need, however, to determine the stadia
interval factor, a straight line about 100 to 120 m long is laid off on the ground. The
selected site should preferably be nearly level as practicable. The instrument is set up
on one end of this line. For an externally focusing telescope, a point A is located on the
line at a distance C (or f + c) from the center of, and in front of, the instrument.
However, if the instrument is internally focusing, then the position A is set directly under
the center of the instrument. Points are next set on the line using stakes at intervals of
about 15 to 20 m, then the distances d1, d2, d3, and so on are measured from point A to
the successive points in their order of placement. The stadia rod is then held on each of
the stakes, and the stadia interval s is read. The stadia interval factor K is computed for
each sight by dividing the distance from the principal focus to the stake by the
corresponding observed stadia intercept. The mean of the successive values of K this
determined is taken as the stadia interval factor of the instrument. It is to be expected
that the values of K for the several distances will not agree exactly owing to errors in
observation and errors from natural sources.

INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS.

Most stadia measurements are inclined because of varying topography, but the
interval is still read on a vertically held rod. The inclined measurement, which is also

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 dependent on the observed vertical angle, is reduced to horizontal and vertical
components of the inclined line of sight. Figure shown illustrates an incline line of sight
for an instrument set up at point M with the rod held vertically at N. The horizontal
distance between the instrument and the rod is shown as HD or OD, and the vertical
distance between the telescope axis at O and the horizontal hair reading at P is VD or
PD. The stadia interval on the rod is ab, and a’b’ represents the corresponding
projection normal to the line of sight. The length of the inclined line of sight from O and
P is

ID = K(a’b’) + C (eq. 1)

If the line a’b’ is drawn perpendicular to the line of sight, the angle aPa’ (or bPb’) will
be equal to the vertical angle of inclination of the telescope ∝. Since the angle
between the line passing through the principal focus and intercepting the points a’b’ is
quite small, the angles at a’ and b’ may be considered to be equal to 90 degrees. Also,
since ab is equal to the stadia interval s; then a’b’ is equal to sCos(∝). Substituting the
value of a’b’ to eq. 1, the inclined distance is

ID = KsCos(∝) + C (eq. 2)

The horizontal component of the inclined distance may be determined as follows

HD = (ID) Cos (∝)

= [KsCos(∝) +C] Cos(∝)
= KsCos2 (∝) + CCos(∝) (eq. 3)

Equation 3 is the expression for determining the horizontal distance from center of
instrument at O the rod held at N (distant stadia point), when the line of sight is inclined
from the horizontal through an angle ∝. Similarly, the vertical component of the inclined
distance is determined

VD = (ID) Sin (∝)

= [KsCos (∝) + C] Sin (∝)
= KsCos (∝) Sin (∝) + CSin (∝) (eq. 4)

Equation 4 is the expression for determining the vertical distance from the center of the
instrument at O to the reading P on the rod held at the distant stadia point at N. For
instruments with internal focusing telescopes, the second term in all of the above
equations is omitted, its resulting value being equal to zero. In most stadia surveys this is
done because the required precision does not warrant its use. For vertical angles less
than 3 degrees, stadia distances may be computed just as for horizontal sights without
any appreciable error introduced.

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 Where:
K = stadia interval factor or f/i
a = upper stadia hair reading
b = lower hair stadia reading
P = horizontal cross hair reading or rod reading, RP
s = stadia interval or the difference between the upper stadia hair reading and the
lower stadia hair reading on the rod or a – b.
∝ = observed vertical angle of elevation or depression. A positive or negative sign
must be indicated to identify the type of angle.
C = Stadia constant of the instrument or c + f. For internal focusing telescopes,
assume this value to be zero.

Summary:
ID or S = KsCos (∝) + C
(The inclined or slope distance from the center of instrument at O to the horizontal
cross hair reading at P)

H = KsCos2 (∝) + CCos(∝)

(The horizontal distance between the instrument and the rod)

V = KsCos (∝) Sin (∝) + CSin (∝)

(The vertical distance between the telescope axis at O and the horizontal cross hair
reading at P)

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 DE = HI + V – RR
(Difference in elevation between the instrument station at M and the distant stadia
point at N. HI or OM is the height of instrument)

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 STADIA LEVELING.
Stadia leveling operations are similar to those of differential leveling except that in
stadia leveling the line of sight may be inclined from the horizontal. This rapid method of
indirect leveling is well suited in rolling or hilly country where a relatively low order of
accuracy is acceptable.

Sample Problem.
Complete the stadia level notes shown Complete the stadia level notes shown below
and perform arithmetic check. Assume that K Assume that K 100 = and C 0= 0.

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