INDEX

1
introduction

2
Electromagnetic waves

3
Principle of edm

4 Distance measurement

5 Edm in total station

6 Precision and errors in edm

7 Merits and demerits of edm

8 applications
Introduction

• First introduced by Swedish Physicist Eric

Bergstrand (Geodimeter) in 1948

• Distance measurement by electronic method

• Relay on propagation, reflection and subsequent

reception of electromagnetic radiation or waves.

Source : Civiljungle.com
 Electromagnetic Waves

• Among waves of different length, micro, infrared

and visible light waves are useful for the distance
measurement

• The nature of reflector in EDM is based on waves.

Electromagnetic Waves contd…

• If infrared wave or laser is used, the "reflector" is

typically a passive medium which bounces the signal
back

• In case of microwave, the reflector captures the incoming

energy and retransits it back to the originating instrument

Source : theconstructor.org
Principle of EDM
• Electromagnetic waves from an instrument is transmitted
to a retroreflector, which instantly returns them to the
transmitting instrument

• However, speed of light is very high and the time interval

needs to be measured extremely accurately

• Instend, the principle of EDM is based on following

improvised relationship;

L=Nλ+p L = Total distance travelled by the wave

N = Integer number of wavelengths

λ = Wavelength

p = Partial wavelength
 Distance Measurement

• Electromagnetic radiation has sinusoidal wave form and

repeats every
360°
• The distance between wave form ends is the wavelength
λ

• EDM uses the signal structure and determines the phase

shift between two waves for distance
Distance Measurement contd…
• The signal leaves the EDM at 0° phase, goes through N
number of full phases on its way to and from the
reflector, and returns to the some angle between 0° and
360° creating a partial wavelength p

Thus, Total Distance L= N λ + p

EDM in Total Station
• EDM only measures slope distance when at different
elevation

• To measure horizontal and vertical distance, EDM is

combined with theodolite Total Station

H= S x sin Z

V=
Sx
co
sZ

Source : jerrymahun.com
 Types of EDM instruments

Microwave Infrared wave Light wave

Instruments Instruments Instruments

• Make use of micro waves • Use of amplitude • Rely on propagation of

modulated infrared modulated light waves
waves • Range up to 2.5 km at
• Range up to 100 km
• Range up to 3 km night and 3 km at day
• Tellurometer
• DISTOMAT DI 1000 and • Geodimeter
DISTOMAT DI
55
 EDM Instruments

Geodimeter
• Light radio waves are used
• Instrument setup at one end and
reflector at other end

• Can measure up to 25 km with an

accuracy of +(2 to 10mm + 1 ppm)

It is heavier

Tellurometer

• High frequency radio waves are used

• Two identical instrument each at one

end

• Can measure between 30 to 80 km

• with an accuracy of the order +(15 mm + 5ppm)

 • It is lighter
Precision and Errors in EDM
• Accuracy in measurement of (1mm+1ppm) to (5mm+5ppm)

• Total error = ± (Constant error + scale error)

The errors in EDM can be summarized as:

1. Personal Errors

• Careless centering of instrument and/or reflector

• Faulty measurement of heights

• Atmospheric pressures and temperature determination errors

Errors in EDM contd…
2. Instrumental errors

• Calibration errors

• Chances of getting maladjusted

• Errors shown by the reflectors

3. Natural errors

• Atmospheric variations in temperature, pressure as well as

humidity.

• Multiple refraction of the signals

Merits of EDM
• Easy, effective and fast

• Useful in measuring long distances

• Automatic and digital

• Online operation and direct transfer of data

• Eliminate reading, writing and data transferring error

Demerits of EDM
• Weather affects working of instrument

• Battery and electricity dependent

• Loss of data is an important consideration

• Typically heavier than a transit or tape

• Initial cost is higher than Plane Table, Chain or Tacheometer

method
Applications
• Used in total station for collection of large number of points

• Construction layout

• Topography and As-Built

• Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

• Nondestructive Testing(NDT)

• Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR)

• Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR)

• Military Laser Rangefinders

• Pulsed Distance Meters for Surveying