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FIELDWORK EXERCISE NO. 13

MEASUREMENT OF VERTICAL OR ZENITH ANGLES

OBJECTIVES:
a. To learn how to determine index error in vertical circle readings.
b. To learn how to measure vertical or zenith angles and apply index correction.

INSTRUMENTS AND ACCESSORIES: Engineer’s Transit or Theodolite.

A. PROCEDURE:
1. Determining Index Error and Index Correction.
a. Set up and level the instrument over a designated station.
b. Select a point such as X either above or below the horizontal plane of the instrument
to which a vertical angle is to be measured.
c. With the telescope in direct (or normal) position, raise or lower the line of sight by
setting the intersection of the vertical and horizontal cross hairs approximately on the
point then, clamp the telescope and all horizontal motions
d. Slowly turn the vertical circle tangent screw and horizontal tangent screw to attain
exact pointing on the selected point.
e. Read the vertical circle and record this as n.
f. Release the vertical and horizontal clamps, rotate the instrument 180 degrees, and
again sight approximately on the point, this time with telescope in reversed (or inverted)
position. Then, clamp all motions.
g. Get an exact pointing by manipulating the tangent screws for the vertical circle and
the horizontal motion.
h. Read the vertical circle and record this as r.
i. If n is equal to r , the instrument’s vertical circle and Vernier has no index error.
However, if the two quantities are not equal, an index error exists and should be
determined. The index correction is determined from the index error. See C(1) and C(2).
2. Applying Index Correction to Observed Vertical or Zenith Angles.
a. With the instrument still set up at the same station, check if the plate bubbles have
remained centered. If not, level the instrument and center the plate bubbles.
b. Select two points (one above the horizontal plane and the other below) and call these
P and Q, respectively. See accompanying sketch.
c. With the horizontal motions clamped, sight the telescope (in normal position)
approximately at the first point P. Then set the cross hairs exactly on the point.
 d. Read the angle on the vertical circle and record it accordingly.
e. Repeat the above steps, this time sighting the second point O.
f. Determine the correct values of the vertical angles just read by applying the index
correction as determined in the first part of this lab exercise. See C(3).
g. Tabulate observed and calculated values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying
sample format for the tabulation of field data.
B. COMPUTATIONS:
1. The index error (IE) is determined by subtracting the value of r from n and dividing the
difference by two or
IE = ± ( n - r ) / 2
Where: IE = index error in the vertical circle and Vernier
n= observed value of the vertical angle with telescope in direct (or normal) position
r= observed value of the vertical angle with telescope in reversed (or inverted) position
2. The Index Correction (IC) is equal in amount to the index error (IE) but opposite in sign or
IC = - IE
3. To determine the correct value of any vertical angle read from the same instrument, the
index correction is added algebraically to the observed vertical angle or
CVA = OVA ± IC Where: CVA = corrected value of the observed vertical angle
OVA = observed value of the vertical angle taken with telescope in
normal position
IC = the computed or predetermined index correction
Due consideration should be made for signs. An angle of elevation is a positive angle and an angle of
depression is a negative angle.
 OBSERVED ANGLE
INDEX ADJUSTED
POINT
TELESCOPE DIRECT CORR. ANGLE

15° 05′ −05′ 15° 00′

M
−14° 55′ −05′ −15° 00′
N
ILLUSTRATION:
C. REMARKS, HINTS & PRECAUTIONS:

1. Vertical angles are commonly measured in stadia surveys, astronomical observations,

trigonometric levelling, and in surveys where EDM instruments are used.
2. The telescope of a transit is in direct position when the telescope bubble tube is positioned
below the telescope. It is in reversed or inverted position if above the telescope.
3. When a transit is used and a positive vertical angle is read with the telescope in direct
position, the vertical circle is read to the right of zero and the Vernier is read on the right side of the
index. A negative vertical angle is read to the left of zero and on the left side of the Vernier index.
4. If a theodolite is used, the measurement of a vertical angle follows the same procedure as
that described for the transit, except that the vertical circle is oriented by either an automatic
compensator or an index level vial.
5. The vertical circle readings of the theodolite give zenith angles. A zenith angle is an angle
measure in a vertical plane downward from an upward directed vertical line through the instrument.
The theodolite’s vertical circle is graduated from 0 degree clockwise to 360 degrees. When the
telescope is pointed vertically toward the zenith the reading is zero degrees. It is 90 degrees when
pointed horizontally in direct position. With the telescope in the reversed position, the zenith angle is
360 degrees minus the circle reading.
6. The bubble in the telescope level vial should remain centered when the telescope is
clamped in a horizontal position. If the vertical Vernier does not read zero when the bubble is
centered, there is an index error.
7. If the instrument has a full vertical circle, the index error may be eliminated by taking the
average of two vertical angle readings where one is secured with the telescope in normal position, the
second in inverted position. This method is called double centering.