MODULE 5

Chapter 5
STADIA SURVEYING & AREA OF IRREGULAR
BOUNDARIES
STADIA SURVEYING
A surveying method for determination of distances and differences of elevation by means of
a telescopic instrument such as theodolites having two horizontal lines through which the marks on
a graduated rod are observed.

STADIA CONSTANTS, C

- It is the distance from the center of the instrument to the principal focus. This quantity is
composed of the focal length (f), which remains constant and the distance (c) from the
center of the objective lens.

STADIA INTERVAL FACTOR, K

- 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 space between
the stadia hairs. The stadia interval factor of surveying instruments is usually 100.

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Standard symbols used in stadia measurements

𝑓 = focal length of the lens

𝑖 = distance or spacing between stadia hairs
𝑐 = distance from the center of the instrument to the center of the objective lens
𝐶 = stadia constants 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, D = d + C, D = Ks + C
𝐾 = stadia interval factor ,K = f/i , K = d/s
s = stadia or rod intercept. The difference between the upper stadia hair reading and lower stadia
hair reading

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INCLINED STADIA SIGHTS

K = stadia interval factor

𝑎 = upper stadia hair reading
𝑏 = lower stadia hair reading
P = horizontal cross hair reading or rod reading, RR
HI= height of instrument
DE= difference in elevation between point A and point B
α = observed vertical angle of elevation or depression. a positive or negative sign must be indicated
to identify the type of angle

Inclined Distance, ID
ID = d + C = Ks’ + C
ID = 𝑲𝒔 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∝ + 𝑪

Horizontal Distance, HD
HD = ID cos α

HD = ID cos α = 𝑲𝒔 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐 ∝ + 𝑪 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∝

Vertical Distance, VD
VD = ID sin α
VD = ID sin α = 𝑲𝒔 𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∝ 𝒔𝒊𝒏 ∝ + 𝑪𝒔𝒊𝒏 ∝

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Example Problem 1

A theodolite is set up at one end of a level base line 150m long. The line is marked at every
30m and a stadia rod is held at each stake. The stadia intercept at each location of the rod is
observed as follows: 0.302, 0.600, 0.899, 1.207, and 1.506 meters respectively. Compute the stadia
interval factor for each distance and also determine the average value of K.

Sol’n:

a. Stadia Interval Factor for each distance

𝑑𝑎 30
𝐾𝑎 = = = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟑𝟒 answer
𝑠𝑎 0.302

𝑑𝑏 60
𝐾𝑏 = = = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 answer
𝑠𝑏 0.600

𝑑𝑐 90
𝐾𝑐 = = = 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟏𝟏 answer
𝑠𝑐 0.899

𝑑𝑑 120
𝐾𝑑 = 𝑠𝑑
= 1.207 = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟒𝟐 answer

𝑑𝑒 150
𝐾𝑒 = 𝑠𝑒
= 1.506 = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟔𝟎 answer

b. Average value of K
𝐾𝑎 +𝐾𝑏 +𝐾𝑐 +𝐾𝑑 +𝐾𝑒
𝐾= 5
99.34+100+100.11+99.42+99.60
𝐾=
5

𝑲 = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟔𝟗 answer

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Example Problem 2

An automatic level with an internal focusing telescope was set-up somewhere at mid-length
of a long span steel bridge. The rod readings tabulated below were observed on a stadia rod held
successively at the vicinity of the concrete abutments in the southern and northern approaches of
the bridge. If the stadia interval factor of the instrument is 98.5, determine the length of the bridge.

HAIR READING
ROD POSITION
UPPER(a) MIDDLE(b) LOWER(c)
Rod at Southern
2.98 1.68 0.38
Approach
Rod at Northern
3.54 2.04 0.49
Approach
Sol’n:

Let 𝐴𝐵 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒

𝐴𝐵 = 𝐷1 + 𝐷2
𝐴𝐵 = (𝐾𝑠1 + 𝐶) + (𝐾𝑠2 + 𝐶)
𝐶 = 0 (𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑒)
𝐴𝐵 = 𝐾𝑠1 + 𝐾𝑠2
𝑠1 = 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ
𝑠1 = 2.98 − 0.38 = 2.60
𝑠2 = 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ
𝑠2 = 3.54 − 0.49 = 3.05
𝐴𝐵 = (98.5)(2.60) + (98.5)(3.05)
𝑨𝑩 = 𝟓𝟓𝟔. 𝟓𝟐𝟓𝒎 answer

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Example Problem 3

A survey party proceeded to do their stadia survey work as follows: the transit was set-up at
a point A and with the line of sight horizontal, took rod readings with the rod at points B and C,
which where then measured to have taped distance from A to 200m, and 60m respectively.

ROD B ROD C
STADIA INTERVAL 2.001 m 0.600 m

The distance from the center of the instrument to the principal focus was recorded as
0.30m. Then they went on to survey other points, with some of the data recorded as follows: with
transit at point D with height of instrument HI = 1.55m, two points E and F were sighted.

ROD E ROD F
STADIA INTERVAL 2.120 m 3.56O m
VERTICAL ANGLE +4˚22’ - 3˚17’
ROD READING (RR) 1.75m 1.85m

a. Compute the stadia interval factor

b. Compute the horizontal distance DE and DF
c. Compute the differences in elevation between points D and E, and points D and F

Solution:

a. Interval Factor
𝐷 = 𝐾𝑠 + 𝐶
𝐶 = 0.30𝑚

𝐷1 = 𝐾𝑠1 + 𝐶
𝐷2 = 𝐾𝑠2 + 𝐶
𝐷2 − 𝐷1 = (𝐾𝑠2 + 𝐶) − (𝐾𝑠1 + 𝐶)
𝐾(𝑠2 − 𝑠1 ) = 𝐷2 − 𝐷1
𝐷 −𝐷
𝐾 = 𝑠2 −𝑠 1
2 1
200−60
𝐾= 2.001−0.600
𝑲 = 𝟗𝟗. 𝟗𝟐𝟗 answer

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b. Horizontal distance DE and DF

For Line DE
𝐻 = 𝐾𝑠 cos 2 ∝ + 𝐶 cos ∝
𝐾 = 99.929, 𝑠 = 2.12𝑚, ∝= +4˚22’, C = 0.30 𝑚
𝐻 = 99.929(2.12) cos 2 4˚22’ + 0.30 cos 4˚22’
𝐻 = 210.92𝑚
𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑫𝑬 = 𝟐𝟏𝟎. 𝟗𝟐𝒎 answer

For Line DF
𝐻 = 𝐾𝑠 cos 2 ∝ + 𝐶 cos ∝
𝐾 = 99.929, 𝑠 = 3.56𝑚, ∝= −3˚17’, C = 0.30 𝑚
𝐻 = 99.929(3.56) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 3˚17’ + 0.30 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3˚17’
𝐻 = 354.88𝑚
𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑫𝑭 = 𝟑𝟓𝟒. 𝟖𝟖𝒎 answer

c. Differences in elevation between points D and E, and points D and F

For D and E
𝑉 = 𝐾𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
+ 𝐶𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝ (𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑡. 𝑃)
𝐾 = 99.929, 𝑠 = 2.12𝑚, ∝= +4˚22’, C = 0.30 𝑚
𝑉 = 99.929(2.12) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 4˚22’𝑠𝑖𝑛4˚22’ + 0.3𝑠𝑖𝑛4˚22’
𝑉 =16.106 m
𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐷 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸 = 𝐻𝐼 + 𝑉 − 𝑅𝑅
= 1.55 + 16.106 − 1.75
𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑫 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟗𝟎𝟔𝒎 answer

For D and F
𝑉 = 𝐾𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ∝ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝
+ 𝐶𝑠𝑖𝑛 ∝ (𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑡. 𝑃)
𝐾 = 99.929, 𝑠 = 3.56𝑚, ∝= −3˚17’, C = 0.30 𝑚
𝑉 = 99.929(3.56) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 3˚17’𝑠𝑖𝑛3˚17’ + 0.3𝑠𝑖𝑛3˚17’
𝑉 =20.359 m
𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐷 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹 = 𝑅𝑅 + 𝑉 − 𝐻𝐼
= 1.85 + 20.359 − 1.55
𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑫 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑭 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟔𝟓𝟗𝒎 answer

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AREA OF IRREGULAR BOUNDARIES

METHODS OF COMPUTING AREAS OF IRREGULAR BOUNDARIES AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS

A. TRAPEZOIDAL RULE

𝑑 = 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑙
ℎ1 = 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡
ℎ𝑛 = 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡

(ℎ1 +ℎ2 )𝑑
𝐴1 =
2
(ℎ2 +ℎ3 )𝑑
𝐴2 = 2
(ℎ3 +ℎ4 )𝑑
𝐴3 =
2
(ℎ4 +ℎ𝑛 )𝑑
𝐴4 =
2
𝐴 = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + 𝐴3 + 𝐴4
𝑑
𝐴 = [(ℎ1 + ℎ2 ) + (ℎ2 + ℎ3 ) + (ℎ3 + ℎ4 ) + (ℎ4 + ℎ𝑛 )]
2
𝑑
𝐴 = 2 [ℎ1 + 2ℎ2 + 2ℎ3 + 2ℎ4 + ℎ𝑛 ]
ℎ1 +ℎ𝑛
𝐴 = 𝑑[ 2
+ ℎ2 + ℎ3 + ℎ4 ]

𝒉𝟏 +𝒉𝒏
𝑨 = 𝒅[ 𝟐
+ ∑ 𝒉]

∑ ℎ = ℎ2 + ℎ3 + ℎ4
∑ ℎ = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑠

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B. SIMPSON’S ONE THIRD RULE
(Applicable only to even intervals or odd offsets)

𝑦 ℎ3 −ℎ1
𝑑
= 2𝑑
ℎ3 −ℎ1
𝑦 =
2
ℎ = ℎ1 + 𝑦
ℎ3 −ℎ1
ℎ = ℎ1 + 2
ℎ3 +ℎ1
ℎ= 2
(ℎ +ℎ )2𝑑 (ℎ +ℎ ) 2
𝐴1 = 3 1 + 2𝑑 [ℎ2 − 3 1 ]
2 2 3
(ℎ3 +ℎ1 ) (2ℎ2 −ℎ3 −ℎ1 ) 4𝑑
𝐴1 = 2𝑑 [ ]+[ ]3
2 2
𝑑
𝐴1 = 𝑑(ℎ1 + ℎ3 ) + 3 (4ℎ2 − 2ℎ1 − 2ℎ3 )
𝑑
𝐴1 = 3 (ℎ1 + ℎ3 + 4ℎ2 )
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑙,
𝑑
𝐴2 = 3 (ℎ3 + ℎ5 + 4ℎ4 )
ℎ5 = 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡
ℎ1 = 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡
ℎ2 + ℎ4 = 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑠
ℎ3 = 𝑜𝑑𝑑 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑒𝑡

𝒅
𝑨 = 𝟑 [(𝒉𝟏 + 𝒉𝒏 ) + 𝟐 ∑ 𝒉𝒐𝒅𝒅 + 𝟒 ∑ 𝒉𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 ]

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Example Problem

A series of perpendicular offsets were taken from a transit line to curved boundary
line. These offsets were taken 9 meters apart and were taken in the following order: 2m,
3.2m, 4m, 3.5m, 5m, 4.5m, 6m, 7m.
a. Determine the area included between the transit line and the curved line using
Simpson’s One Third Rule
b. Determine the area included between the transit line and the curved line using
Trapezoidal Rule
c. Compute the difference between Simpson’s One Third Rule and Trapezoidal
Rule

Solution:

a. Simpson’s One Third Rule

There are even number of offsets so the nth

offset to consider is the 7th offset which is
6m.

𝑑
𝐴 = 3 [(ℎ1 + ℎ𝑛 ) + 2 ∑ ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑑 + 4 ∑ ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 ]
𝑑 = 9𝑚
ℎ1 = 2𝑚
ℎ𝑛 = 6𝑚 (last odd offset)
∑ ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑑 = 4 + 5 = 9𝑚
∑ ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 = 3.2 + 3.5 + 4.5 = 11. 2𝑚
9
𝐴1 = [(2 + 6) + 2(9) + 4(11.2)]
3
𝐴1 = 212.4𝑚2

For the remaining area between 7th and 8th offset, use trapezoidal method
6+7
𝐴2 = ( 2
)9
2
𝐴2 = 58.5𝑚

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 212.4 + 58.5

𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 = 𝟐𝟕𝟎. 𝟗 𝒎𝟐 answer

b. Trapezoidal Rule
ℎ1 +ℎ𝑛
𝐴 = 𝑑[ 2
+ ∑ ℎ]
ℎ +ℎ
𝐴= 𝑑 [ 12 𝑛 + ℎ2 + ℎ3 + ℎ4 + ℎ5 + ℎ6 + ℎ7 ]
𝑑 = 9𝑚
ℎ1 = 2𝑚
ℎ𝑛 = 7𝑚
2+7
𝐴 = 9[ 2
+ 3.2 + 4 + 3.5 + 5 + 4.5 + 6]
𝑨 = 𝟐𝟕𝟔. 𝟑 𝒎𝟐 answer

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c. Difference between Simpson’s One Third Rule and Trapezoidal Rule

𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 276.3 − 270.9

𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 = 𝟓. 𝟒 𝒎𝟐 answer

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