UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF GEOMATICS ENGINEERING

NAME : ARIFETO IVAN TANAKA

REGISTRATION NUMBER : R193649Z

COURSE CODE : SV305

TITLE : ASSIGNMENT 1

LECTURER : F. ALI
 1. Outline the various methods and technologies that have been used (or not used) since
1897 to scale and orient the geodetic network of Zimbabwe. What potential impact do
recent developments have on the geodetic network? [20 marks]

Triangulation

Triangulation is based on the trigonometric proposition that if one side and two angles of a
triangle are known, the remaining sides can be computed. If the direction of one side is known,
the directions of the remaining sides can be determined. A triangulation system consists of a
series of joined or overlapping triangles in which an occasional side is measured and remaining
sides are calculated from angles measured at the vertices of the triangles. The vertices of the
triangles are known as triangulation stations. The side of the triangle whose length is
predetermined, is called the base line. The lines of triangulation system form a network that
ties together all the triangulation stations

Trilateration

Is a method of control extension, control breakdown and control densification that employs
electronic-measuring instruments to measure the lengths of triangle sides (rather than
horizontal angles as in triangulation). Trilateration uses electronic distance measuring
equipment to directly measure the lengths of the sides of triangles from which the angles can
be calculated. Two control points are required and distances are measured from the control
points to the new point.

Intersection

A point can be intersected by angles and directions which are measured from the two known
points to the unknown point. It is a process of locating and coordinating a point from at least
two existing control points/stations by observing horizontal directions to the point to be fixed.
The point to be fixed is not occupied.

Resection

This method requires at least three control points. Angles are measured from the unknown
point to the known (control) points. The point must be interior and visible from the control
(known) points.

Traversing

It is a method of observing distances and directions of stations and calculating the points’
coordinates. It is a series of connected points whose distances and directions have been
measured.

Eccentric station

This is a method of establishing control in cases where observations of certain rays is not
possible from the trig station either due to the nature of the sight or to the features on the line
of sight. An eccentric station is thus established and after observations the directions have to
be reduced such that they appear as being observed from the trig station.
Satellite positioning

It is a system of satellites that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global

coverage. It allows small electronic receivers to determine their location that is the longitude,
latitude and altitude to within a few meters using time signals transmitted along a line-of-sight
by radio from satellites. Receivers calculate the precise time as well as position, which can be
used as a reference for scaling and orienting the geodetic network. In order to determine
location, a GPS receiver has to determine the location of at least for satellites in which it makes
use of either triangulation or resection to obtain the exact position.

What potential impact do recent developments have on the geodetic network?

Many triangulation stations have been located on top of towers which had been placed on
mountain summits to answer the problem of intervisibility permitting longer baseline
measurements. But because of the ease with which positions can be established by satellite
systems, which eliminated the intervisibility requirement, there has been less need for
establishing so many points. Gradually, as the scope of the survey becomes smaller, the use of
non-satellite systems to provide control becomes more prominent. This then shows the impact
of satellite systems on the geodetic network.

Another recent development which facilitates precise positioning is obtained by using high
quality GNSS receivers and geodesic antennas. These receivers must be dual frequency in order
to mitigate the ionospheric influence and obtain a quick ambiguity fix. In addition, the antennas
must be accurately calibrated, to reduce variations of the phase centre, and designed to
minimize the multi-path effect. The high quality of the geodetic equipment provides positions
with high (millimetre level) accuracy with phase measurements because of the resolution of
the system (the fractional part of a wavelength can be measured with a precision of 1% of its
length that is 2 mm for L1 band. This level of accuracy can be achieved in post-processing
mode or in real time only after a correct determination of the whole ambiguity.
GPS promises a revolution in surveying. The impact that GPS has on the geodetic network lies
in that it reduces the errors, cost, human resources and the time in establishing accurate geodetic
control networks, cadastral references and topographical information. The conventional tasks
and practice of today's survey profession are likely to change considerably. GPS holds a great
potential for developing countries who are greatly constrained by acute shortage of surveying
skills and finances, and also by difficult terrain access.

Furthermore, the impact of GNSS on the geodetic network can be shown in the case where
GNSS surveying with the static method is widely used to calculate high-precision tri-
dimensional coordinates in traverse stations: these systems provide coordinates of ground
locations at a millimetre level both in the horizontal and vertical components. In addition, the
static GNSS positioning allows to accurately determinate the azimuth, for establishing the
network's orientation with respect to the reference system. A major advantage of installing
surveying networks with GNSS positioning is that it does not require inter-visibility, as
compared to others built with electromagnetic distance measuring devices its gravity field, and
geodynamic phenomena (polar motion, Earth tides, and crustal motion).
 2. Discuss the impact of the GNSS base stations on the geodetic network of Zimbabwe?
[15 marks]

The impact of GNSS base stations on the geodetic network of Zimbabwe can be derived from
the fact that they have facilitated an evaluation of precision and accuracy for the GNSS
positioning with the static method, which gave a global RMSE (root mean square error) of 1
cm for conditions with no multi-path effect and 4 cm for field calibration points close to
buildings. Additionally, optimal results for occupation times of 30 minutes were found, and the
need to use planar Cartesian coordinates to ensure compatibility with the surveys using
electronic measurement of distances, which allows the use of the static GNSS positioning for
geo-referencing precise surveying networks. GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) has
become an important technology because it certifies the presence of positions, from collected
and designed items, in a global reference system, thus ensuring inter-operable infrastructure
projects.
Furthermore, the impact of GNSS base stations on the geodetic network can be shown in the
case where GNSS surveying with the static method is widely used to calculate high-precision
tri-dimensional coordinates in traverse stations: these systems provide coordinates of ground
locations at a millimetre level both in the horizontal and vertical components. In addition, the
static GNSS positioning allows to accurately determinate the azimuth, for establishing the
network's orientation with respect to the reference system. A major advantage of installing
surveying networks with GNSS positioning is that it does not require inter-visibility, as
compared to others built with electromagnetic distance measuring devices its gravity field, and
geodynamic phenomena (polar motion, Earth tides, and crustal motion).
The main applications of GNSS networks in static mode are setting control points for
monitoring deformation of structures, as well as constructing base traverses for linear objects
such as roads, railways and flow media lines such as highways and railways, by applying a
vehicle-borne GPS/INS kinematic surveying system which integrates the Global Positioning
System.
In addition to that, the static GNSS data allows for greater precision in geodesic and
topographic surveys. Two receivers are required: one located in a control station with
previously determined coordinates with high precision, and the other as receiver at a point
whose coordinates are to be determined. The information obtained during the observations is
saved in the memory of the receivers, and the differences between the observed coordinates
and the fixed ones, gathered from the control station, provide corrections for points whose
positions are yet to be determined. The above corresponds to the known method of differential
correction in post-process.
A precise positioning is obtained by using high quality GNSS receivers and geodesic antennas.
These receivers must be dual frequency in order to mitigate the ionospheric influence and
obtain a quick ambiguity fix. In addition, the antennas must be accurately calibrated, to reduce
variations of the phase centre, and designed to minimize the multi-path effect. The high quality
of the geodetic equipment provides positions with high (millimetre level) accuracy with phase
measurements because of the resolution of the system (the fractional part of a wavelength can
be measured with a precision of 1% of its length that is 2 mm for L1 band. This level of
accuracy can be achieved in post-processing mode or in real time only after a correct
determination of the whole ambiguity.
However, besides the known advantages of satellite navigation systems, related to speed and
ease for geo-referencing natural and artificial elements, the negative impact of GNSS base
stations on the geodetic network of Zimbabwe can be attributed to the fact that they suffer
several errors such as: atmospheric refraction, multi-path effect, offset instruments, and
satellite geometry, among others. As a consequence, there are positional errors in range
measurement by code with the L2C and L5 bands, fond on new satellites, with a 95 %
confidence level of ± 8.5 m without differential correction.
3. In a triangulation survey for a certain civil engineering project line, AC was measured
and found to be 1210.46 m long. Two stations B and D were established on opposite
sides of AC and the following angles were observed:

ABD = 44⁰ 40’ 50’’

DBC = 67⁰ 43’ 55’’
ADB = 63⁰ 19’ 28’’
BDC = 29⁰ 38’ 50’’

Calculate the length of BD.