Fieldwork No.
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Date:______
CLOSING THE HORIZON
Name:_______________________________ Course/Year:__________
Group No.:______
I.Objective:
To learn how to measure horizontal angles with a Theodolite or an
Engineers transit.
II.Equipment/Apparatus:
Engineer’s transit or Theodolite, range poles, chaining pins and pegs.
III. Procedure:
1). Set and level the Engineers transit or Theodolite at a convenient
point. Mark this point as O.
2). Using pegs or chaining pins, establish points A, B, C, and D around
the vicinity of the instrument. Each point should be about 50 meters away
from the instrument and a range pole held or set up behind each.
3.) In measuring the first angle AOB (or θ1), release the upper and
lower motion clamps and adjust the horizontal scales by turning the
instrument on its spindle until the horizontal circle reading and index mark is
near zero.
4). Tighten the clamps and turn the upper motion tangent screw until
the index reading is exactly zero. Release the lower motion and sight the
telescope approximately to point A (telescope in direct position) by the first
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sighting over the top of the telescope to get near the point and then sight
directly through the telescope.
5). Tighten the lower clamp screw and set the line of sight precisely on
point A using the lower tangent screw. Point A should appear at the
intersection of the horizontal and vertical cross hairs. At this stage the
optical line of sight is on line between O and A and the transit’s vernier
reading is set to zero on the horizontal scale.
6). Loosen the upper clamp and turn the telescope toward B, then
clamp the upper motion and turn the upper tangent screw until the line of
sight is directed exactly on point B.
7). View the vernier of the transit and read the horizontal angle to
determine the value of AOB. Record the measured value.
8). To measure the other three angles ( BOC, COD, and DOA), repeat
the same steps performed in measuring the first angle.
9). Tabulate observed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying
sample format for the tabulation of field data.
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ANGLE OBSERVED CORRECTION ADJUSTED VALUE
VALUE
AOB
BOC
COD
DOA
SUM
IV. Computations:
1). The sum of the observed horizontal angles about point O is equal to
the sum of the angles AOB, BOC, COD, AND DOA or
SUM= θ1 + θ2 + θ3 + θ4
2). The horizon closure or error in the observation is equal to 360
degrees minus the SUM determined in C1 or
Error= 360o – SUM
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3). To determine the adjusted value of each angle observed, a
correction is applied. The correction is determined by dividing the horizon
closure by n, the total number of angles observed, and it may also be a
positive or negative value.
4). The correction is added algebraically to the observed value to
determine the adjusted value of the observed angle.
5). The sum of the adjusted angles should then equal to 360 degrees.
V. Guide Questions:
1). Is it important to level the Engineers transit first before proceeding
to the steps in measuring horizontal angles? Why?
2). In question 1, what is the implication if the instrument is not well
balanced?
3). In your field data, is there an error of closure on the observed
angles? By how much?
4). If there exist an error in your field work, give at least three causes.
VI. Observations:
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VII. Conclusion:
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VIII.Recommendations:
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