INTRODUCTION

Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways & means
are guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the assignment are left
to the students to solve using the group creativity and innovativeness. It is hoped that
activity will slowly introduce and inculcate independent learning among students and
prepare them for a much harder task of open-ended laboratory activities.

Stadia Tachometric: Topographic Mapping and Plotting

In this laboratory activity students will be exposed to the mapping method.Stadia
method is almost the technique of measuring distances. Not accurate for high order
surveys, but is accurate enough for trigonometric leveling, locating topographic
details, and some traverses. Stadia readings can be taken with theodolites, transits, and
levels.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this laboratory are:

I.To introduce the traditional technique of collecting the stadia data such as stadia readings to plot
A topographic map.

II. 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.

1. 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.

2. 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.
 Figure 1: Geometry of stadia measurement

Figure 2: Geometry of inclined stadia measurement

Problem Statement
Students are divided into at least four members per group. Each group will conduct
the stadia surveying in the UiTM campus using digital Theodolite. The stadia
surveying supposed begin with single a based line. They also have to clearly
understand the principles of stadia. The team needs to identify the features target to be
map. Using the correct procedures of stadia fieldwork, students need properly observe
and record all the stadia data into the Table 1 mentioned below. All the stadia
properties such as horizontal distance, vertical distances and reduced level must be
correctly calculated.
 i. 99Theodolite
ii. Tripod
iii. Leveling Staff
iv. Nail / Survey Arrow
v. Rope/ String
vi. Hammer
vii. Measuring Tape

PROCEDURES
I. The area to be surveyed had been choose
II. The correct sketch to show the target and the area to be surveyed has been made.
III. A baseline near the area / feature to be surveyed has been drawn.
IV. Define the bearing (assume: 00°00’00”) and measure a distance for the base 99
line.
V. The Theodolite at one of the survey station and target to the back station (R.O)
Has been set up.
VI. Set a bearing 00°00’00” and aim to the back station
VII. The height of instrument has been measured and observed and all stadia data
Has been recorded.
DISCUSSION
In this experiment, the parameter that we need to measure is vertical angle and
horizontal angle in each 9 point that we marked. Each point a distance of 5 meters
between other points.From value of vertical angle, horizontal angle and the readings
of stadia hairs that we get. We can calculate the horizontal and the vertical distance
using the formula.

During we conduct this experiment, that might have some errors which is crucial
error. This error is one of the error that involves staff reading. Observers tends to
make wrong reading when observing the staff reading.They might misread the staff
marking scales, To avoid this error, we need to make sure the position of eyes and the
marking line in the theodolite must opposite with the scale of the staff during we take
a reading staff.

Next, to avoid error encountered while conducting this experiment, when we setup the
instrument, we have to make sure that all the bubbles should be at the centre of it
run.Besides that, we also need to avoid from touch the tripod,s leg to make sure that
our reading is accurate.

CONCLUSSION
In conclusion, we have archieved the objective of this laboratory which are to
introduce the traditional technique of collecting the stadia data such as stadia
readings to plot a topographic map . From this laboratory activity, we had learn how
to use theodolite and the others apparatus with a proper way and the way how to take
a top, middle and top readings of stadia hairs and also how to take vertical and
horizontal readingns. We also apply the function of all apparatus to get data of each 9
point that we marked.