Fieldwork No.

1
Horizontal Distances and Angle Measurement Using a Theodolite
Course Name: Course Code:
Group No. : Section:
Group Members: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:

Instructor:

1. Objective:
The activity aims to make the students learn how to use a theodolite in measuring horizontal distances, and angles or
bearings and apply those by plotting a closed traverse.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
2.1 Determine horizontal distances using an equipment, specifically, theodolite;
2.2 Determine angles or bearing using a theodolite.
2.3 Create and measure closed traverse.
3. Discussion:

A theodolite is a telescope mounted to very sensitive horizontal and vertical protractors. It is capable of measuring
angles and, when used in conjunction with graduated reference objects, distances with a high degree of accuracy.

The method is rapid and accurate for measuring long distances. The equipment used with this method includes a
highly technical sighting device. To use it, you must sight through two crossed hairs; there are also two extra horizontal
hairs called stadia hairs. Most surveyor's levels have these stadia hairs at an equal distance above and below the horizontal
cross-hair. To measure a distance, you will also need a levelling staff which is clearly graduated. Set up the surveyor's level
at the point from which you will measure the distance. Signal to your assistant to place the levelling staff vertically at the
next point of the line. The distance between you and the staff may be several hundred meters. Look through the telescope
and read the graduations on the levelling staff that line up with the upper stadia hair and the lower stadia hair. Note these
measurements down in your field-book. Subtract the smaller reading from the larger reading. This represents the interval
between the two hairs, called the stadia interval. To find the distance (in meters), multiply the stadia interval by a fixed value
called the stadia factor. It is given for each telescope, but on most instruments this factor equals 100.

4. Resources

Theodolite
Levelling rod - 2
Tripod
Chalk
Plumb bob
Tape measure
Pen and Paper
Calculator
5. Procedure

Tripod Setup:
In this section we learn how to set up the tripod and roughly center and level it over a small positioning mark.
a. Place the tripod over the positioning mark, setting the legs at a convenient height, and roughly center and level
the tripod head by eye.
b. Suspend the plumb bob from the hanger beneath the tripod head.
c. Readjust the tripod to center the plumb bob over the positioning mark by moving all three tripod feet by the same
amount in the same direction.
d. Firmly adjust the tripod feet in position. If necessary, adjust the heights of the tripod legs to re-center the tripod
within 1 cm of the reference mark.
e. Tighten the leg clamps on the tripod.

Theodolite Setup:
In this section we learn how to unpack, set up, center, and level the theodolite.
Seating and centering the theodolite
a. Examine how the tripod is seated in its box
b. Lift the theodolite out of its box by the handle never by the telescope
c. Place the theodolite on the tripod head and screw in the centering screw holding onto the handle. Leave the
centering screw just loose enough that the theodolite can still slide around the tripod head.
d. Looking through the optical plummet, focus the centering index mark. Slide the theodolite on the tripod head until
the reference mark is centered in the optical plummet.
e. Fully tighten the centering screw. Look through the optical plummet again and adjust the theodolite foot screws
for the alignment with the reference mark.

Levelling the theodolite:

A. Referring to Fig. 1, roughly level the instrument using the circular level:
1. Turn the leveling screws A and B in opposite directions to center the bubble along the AB axis.
2. Turn leveling screw C to bring the bubble to the center of the circular level.

FIG. 1 DIAGRAM FOR ROUGH LEVELING WITH THE CIRCULAR LEVEL

B. Referring to Fig 2, precisely level the instrument using the plate level.
1. Free the horizontal motion clamp and rotate the instrument horizontally until the plate level is parallel with line
AB.
2. Bring the bubble to the center of the plate level by turning screws A and B in opposite directions.
3. Rotate the instrument by 90 degrees around its vertical axis turn screw C to center the bubble once more.
4. Repeat procedures i. and ii. For each 90 degrees rotation of the instrument and check that the bubble is
correctly centered for all four points. If after 180 degrees of rotation, the bubble is of center, remove half the
error in the bubble centering. Check that when you have swung another 180 degree back to the original point,
the bubble offset is the same as the offset you allowed to remain in the 180 degrees rotated position.
 FIG 2. DIAGRAM FOR THE LEVELING WITH THE PLATE LEVEL

Measurements:
1. Mark three points on the field, creating a triangle or closed traverse.
2. Measure the sides of the traverse using a tape measure first. Do three trials then get the average for each side
3. Measure the same sides using a theodolite.
4. The angle is measured by facing the theodolite north by using a compass and it is rotated clockwise till the next
point, the angle is taken.
5. Get the percent difference of the measured distances on tape measure and theodolite.
6. Compute for the latitudes and departures and the corrected values for the closed traverse. Plot the traverse.

6. Data and Results: (handwritten)

Attach another page with border for computation and plotting if needed.
TABLE 1: HORIZONTAL DISTANCES

LINE USING TAPE MEASURE (m)

USING PERCENT
MEAN (m)
THEODOLITE (m) DIFFERENCE (%)
TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3 MEAN

AB

BC

CA

TABLE 2: FINAL DISTANCES AND BEARING OF CLOSED TRAVERSE

LINE DISTANCE (m) BEARING (°)

AB

BC

CD

TOTAL:
 TABLE 3: LINEAR CLOSURE OF CLOSED TRAVERSE

ORIGINAL ADJUSTMENT CORRECTED

LINE
LATITUDE DEPARTURE LATITUDE DEPARTURE LATITUDE DEPARTURE

AB

BC

CD
7. Observations (Minimum of 300 words, individual, handwritten)

8. Conclusion (Minimum of 300 words, individual, handwritten)

 BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT
CRITERIA SCORE
1 2 3
I. Laboratory Skills
Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Manipulative
demonstrate needed demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
Skills
skills. skills. skills.
Members are able to set- Members are able to set-
Experimental Members are unable to up up the material with
Set-up setup the materials. the materials with minimum supervision.
supervision.
Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Process Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.
Members follow safety
Safety Members do not follow Members follow safety
precautions most of the
Precautions safety precautions. precautions at all times.
time.
II. Work Habits
Time
Members do not finish Members finish ahead of
Management / Members finish on time
on time with incomplete time with complete data
Conduct of with incomplete data.
data. and time to revise data.
Experiment
Members do not know Members are on tasks
Members have defined
their tasks and have and have defined
responsibilities most of
no defined responsibilities at all
Cooperative and the time. Group conflicts
responsibilities. times. Group conflicts are
Teamwork are cooperatively
Group conflicts have cooperatively managed at
managed most of the
to be settled by the all times.
time.
teacher.
Clean and orderly Clean and orderly
Messy workplace
Neatness and workplace with occasional workplace at all times
during and after the
Orderliness mess during and after the during and after the
experiment.
experiment. experiment.
Ability to do Members require Members require Members do not need to
independent supervision by the occasional supervision by be supervised by the
work teacher. the teacher. teacher.
Other Comments / Observations:
TOTAL SCORE