Bells University of Technology

College of Environmental Sciences

Department of Surveying & Geoinformatics

Fundamentals of Surveying II
SGF 212

The Theodolite

Adewale O. S.
osadewale@bellsuniversity.edu.ng
24 May 2023 SGF212 - Fundamentals of Surveying II 1
 INTRODUCTION
• A theodolite is a versatile instrument basically designed to
measure horizontal and vertical angles.
• It is also used to give horizontal and vertical distances using stadia
hairs – by a method called Tacheometry
• Magnetic bearing of lines can be measured by attaching a trough
compass to the theodolite.
• It is used for horizontal and vertical alignments and for many
other purposes.

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 Major Optical Parts for Measurement

• A theodolite has three important lines or axes, namely;

– the horizontal/tilting axis or trunion axis,
– the vertical axis, and
– the line of collimation or the line of sight.
• It has one horizontal circle perpendicular to the vertical
axis of the instrument for measuring horizontal angles
and,
• one vertical circle perpendicular to the Horizontal axis
for measuring vertical angles.

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 Note:
• The three axes of a perfectly constructed and adjusted
theodolite have certain geometrical requirements of
relationship between them.
 The line of collimation has to be perpendicular to the
trunion axis and their point of intersection has to lie on the
vertical axis.
• The intersection of the horizontal axis, the vertical axis
and the line of collimation, is known as the
instrumental centre.
– The vertical axis defined by plumb bob or optical plummet,
has to be centred as accurately as possible over the station at
which angles are going to be measured.

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 Components of a Theodolite

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 Theodolite Construction
• These notes will describe mainly 20"
type theodolite construction; that is,
those used by students in elementary
levels of surveying practice.

• The theodolite consists of the

following main parts:
– a fixed base with tribrach
– a movable upper part and
– a telescope.

Fig 1 Essential features of a

theodolite

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 Theodolite Construction
The Base:
• The base, with the tribrach, is
screwed securely to the tripod head
and is levelled up by means of its
three foot-screws.

• In simple theodolites of older

construction the horizontal circle is
fixed rigidly to this base.

• In modern instruments the circle

can be rotated independently, by
Fig 1 Essential features of a
means of a milled knob or some theodolite
other device.
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 Theodolite Construction
The Upper Part:
• On the upper part (the alidade), that
is rotatable about the standing
(vertical) axis, the two standards for
the tilting (horizontal) axis are fixed,
bearing the telescope (with the
sighting axis) and the vertical circle.
• The alidade also contains the reading
index for the horizontal circle.
– For rough levelling-up the base has a
circular bubble fitted but, for more
accurate levelling-up, the more sensitive
Fig 1 Essential features of a
alidade tubular level (the plate level) is
theodolite
used.
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 Theodolite Construction
The Telescope:
• The telescope is house within the
upper part construction but relatively
distinct.
• It may be aimed in any desired
direction in space, by means of
rotations about its Vertical (standing)
and Horizontal (tilting/trunnion)
axes.
• Fine pointing to a particular target is
achieved accurately by means of
clamping and slow motion (drive) Fig 1 Essential features of a
screws theodolite

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 Theodolite Construction
Optical Plummet
• The instrument is centred over the
station point by means of a plumb-bob
or a built-in optical plummet.
• The optical plummet is either
incorporated within the tribrach or the
instrument lower plate.
• When the theodolite is set up and
levelled, the observer is able to view
the ground station through the Fig 2: Optical Plummet
eyepiece of the optical plummet.
– It is a great aid in precisely centring the
theodolite over the ground mark,
particularly on windy days.
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 Theodolite Classifications
• Theodolites may be classified by their methods of circle reading.
• Two methods are commonly employed today:
– Optical Scale and Micrometer
– Digital or Electronic.

• Just as the scale and micrometer reading methods replaced an

earlier vernier method of reading the circle, so the recent
electronic and digital instruments are replacing the scale and
micrometer theodolite.

• The majority of theodolite sold today are the electronic type.

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 Theodolite Classifications
1. Optical Micrometer Theodolite
• In the optical micrometer theodolite, a
look through the eyepiece will usually
show three scales.
• The horizontal and vertical scale, each
giving the whole degrees and tens of
minutes for both the horizontal angle
and the vertical angles.
• Then the common micrometer that will
show the units of minutes and the
seconds.
– The micrometer must be set separately for
both the horizontal angle and the vertical
angle.

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 Theodolite Classifications
2. Electronic Theodolite

• The electronic theodolite is controlled

by a microprocessor in the instrument.
• The operator views the circle readings
from the liquid crystal display (LCD)
screen.
• This type of theodolite gives a direct
reading for both the vertical and
horizontal angles on the screen.

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 Temporary Theodolite Adjustments
• Temporary adjustments are those adjustments that always have to be
made when using an instrument; for example, levelling, focusing,
sighting targets, setting micrometers and so on.

• Every time a theodolite is `set up' to read an angle, a procedure of

temporary adjustments must be undertaken. These include:
1. placing the theodolite on the tripod
2. attaching the plumb-bob
3. levelling the instrument
4. centering the instrument
5. eliminating parallax
6. zeroing the horizontal circle
7. pointing to the target and focusing.

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 Total Station
• The total station in surveying is an instrument that is primarily
designed as a combination of electronic transit theodolite, an
electronic distance meter (EDM), and software that runs on a
computer which is referred to as the data collector.
• The surveyor can use the total station for various purposes such as
determining the angles, measurement of distances, etc.

The Total Station is widely used in

modern surveying, construction
industry, archaeology, mining, crime
scenes and private accident
reconstructions, etc.

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 Total Station
• The measured angles and
distances can be used to
determine the actual position of
the required points or even the
position of the total station from
the known points in absolute
terms.
• Most of the total stations these
days consist of a GPS interface.

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 Total Station

• The interface combines Theodolite

and GPS capabilities;
• in GPS mode; the line of sight is not
required between the consecutive
measurement points.
• While in the traditional total
station; high precision
measurement is required especially
in the vertical axis in comparison to
the GPS).

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 Robotic Total Station
• Nowadays, the robotic type of
total station is also in use.
• Such a type of total station allows
the operator to control the
instrument from a distance
utilizing a remote control.
• This helps to avoid the need for
an assistant staff to hold the
reflector prism over the point to
be measured.
• It allows the operator to hold the
reflector himself or herself and to
control the total station from the
observed point.
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 Robotic Total Station
Some of the salient features of a robotic theodolite can be listed as
follows:
1. Robotic total stations comprise a hassle-free cable-less design that can
be handled easily.
2. Such total stations have an in-built quick-lock tracking technology.
3. The reflector system of the robotic total station is very powerful and
has the longest range.
4. This type of total station consists of a field controller interface.
5. The robotic theodolite is lighter in weight in comparison to the
conventional total stations. Hence more portable and easy to handle.
6. The operating system of the robotic total station is advanced and
offers enhanced graphics.
• Due to these reasons, they are also known as a graphical windows
mobile instrument.
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