ELECTROMAGNETIC DISTANCE

MEASUREMENT (EDM)

• First introduced by Swedish physicist Erik Bergstrand (Geodimeter) in 1948.

Used visible light at night to accurately measure distances of up to 40km.
• In 1957, the first Tellurometer, designed by South African, Dr. T.L. Wadley, was
launched. The Tellurometer used microwaves to measure distances up to 80km
day or night.
first models bulky and power hungry, they revolutionized survey industry which, until their
arrival, relied on tape measurements for accurate distance determinations.

The picture above shows the remote unit of the CA1000 Tellurometer, which was used
 INITIAL IMPACTS OF EDM
SCALE DETERMINATION IN TRIGONOMETRICAL CONTROL NETWORKS
EDM Traverses (and Trilateration)
Trigonometric Base Line Extension

TRAVERSES TO EXPAND AND DENSIFY NATIONAL CONTROL NETWORKS

 Propagation of Electromagnetic Energy

Velocity of EM energy V = ƒ λ ƒ is the frequency in hertz (cycles/second)

λ is the wavelength

In vacuum the velocity of electromagnetic waves equals the speed of light.

V = c/n n >1, n is the refractive index of the

medium through which the wave
propagates
c is the speed of light = 299 792 458 m/sec

f λ = c/n or λ = cf/n

Note that n in any homogeneous medium varies with the wavelength λ.

White light consists of a combination of wavelengths and hence n for visible
light is referred to as a group index of refraction.

For EDM purposes the medium through which electromagnetic energy is

propagated is the earths atmosphere along the line being measured. It is
therefore necessary to determine n of the atmosphere at the time and
location at which the measurement is conducted.
 Propagation of Electromagnetic Energy
The refractive index of air varies with air density and is derived from
measurements of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the time and
site of a distance measurement. For an average wavelength λ:

na = 1 + ( ng-1 ) x p - 5.5e x 10-8

1 + 0.003661T 760 1 + 0.003661T

Where ng is the group index of refraction in a standard atmosphere

(T=0°C, p=760mm of mercury, 0.03% carbon
dioxide)
ng = 1+ ( 2876.04 + 48.864/λ2 +0.680/ λ4 ) x 10-7

p is the atmospheric pressure in mm of mercury (torr)

T is the dry bulb temperature in °C and
e is the vapor pressure

Where e= e’+de and e’=4.58 x 10a, a=(7.5T’)/(237.3+T’),

de=-(0.000660p (1+0.000115T’) (T-T’) and
T’ is the wet-bulb temperature
So measuring p, T and T’ will allow for the computation of n for a specific λ
 THE FRACTION OF A WAVELENGTH AND THE PHASE ANGLE

90°
+r λ

Amplitude
½λ ½λ
0°
180°

-r
270° ¼λ ¼λ ¼λ ¼λ
θ λ
360

A fraction of a wavelength can be determined from a corresponding phase angle θ

Note:
For θ = 0° the fraction is 0
For θ = 90° the fraction is ¼
For θ = 180° the fraction is ½
For θ = 270° the fraction is ¾
For θ = 360° the fraction is 1

EDM INSTRUMENTS CAN MEASURE PHASE ANGLES

 Principles of Electronic Distance Measurement
If an object moves at a constant speed of V over a straight distance L in a
time interval ∆t, then
L= V∆t = (c/n)∆t

Knowing the speed of light c and being able to determine the refractive
index, we could measure the time interval it takes for an electromagnetic
wave to move from A to B to determine the distance L between A and B. But
since the speed of light (c) is very high, the time interval ∆t would need to
be measured extremely accurately. Instead, the principle of EDM is based
on the following relationship:

L = (m + p) λ
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

B
A
λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ p
λ λ λ
L
m is an integer number of whole wavelengths, p is a fraction of a wavelength

So L can be determined from λ, m and p

 Solving for the integer number (m) of whole wavelengths
(Resolving the ambiguity in the number of whole wave lengths)

p3
λ2 p2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

B
A
λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ λ p1
L

Additional waves of known lengths λ3 = kλ2 and λ2 = k λ1 (k is a constant), are

introduced to measure the same distance L:

L = (m3 + p3) λ3
L =(m2 + p2) λ2
L =(m1 + p1) λ1

Determining p1 p2 and p3 by measuring phase angles θ1 θ2 and θ3 and solving

the above equations simultaneously yields L ( Note: For L < λ3 , m3 = 0).
 USING DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS

For example, if λ1 = 10.000 meters, k = 10.000

and p1 = 0.2562, p2 = 0.2620 and p3 = 0.0125 (measured)

Then λ2 = 10.000m x 10.000 = 100.000

and λ3 = 100.000 x 10.000 = 1000.000

L= (m3 + p3) λ3 = (0+0.1250)x 1000.000 = 125.000m approximately

M2 = 125/ λ2 = 125/100= 1 and hence

L = (1+0.2620)x100.000 = 126.200m approximately

M1 = 126.2/ λ1 = 126.2/10 = 12 and hence

L = (12+ 0.2562)x10 = 122.562m

[mi = whole wavelengths; pi = fractional parts of a wavelength; k = constant]
Basic Components of an EDM Instrument
Reflector
Reflector

L
L ed

Beam
2x ur
is as

Splitter
th me
pa of
th

Variable
ng

Filter
Le

Interference
Transmitter Filter
L

F1 F4
F2 F3 Receiver
Measurement Optics and
signal phase-
Frequency
Reference difference
Generator
signal circuits

Display Phase Meter

To obtain the phase angle the reflected signal phase is compared to the
reference signal phase. Note also that the measured distance equals 2 x L.
 General Remarks on EDM
• The original Tellurometer models, using microwaves,
consisted of two units, the master and the remote, both
of which required an operator
• The carrier wave was used to establish a voice channel
between the operators in order to coordinate the manual
switching of the frequencies.
• For long lines careful measurements of pressure and the
wet- and dry-bulb temperatures were made at each end
of the line.
• Measurements were very susceptible to multipath
reflections (ground swing).
• Developments in electronics reduced the size of the
components so EDMs could be mounted on theodolites
to allow for simultaneous measurement of distances and
directions.
• Eventually EDMs were completely integrated into
“total stations”
• Total stations allow for the direct input of
temperature and pressure and automatic application
of meteorological corrections
• Most of the current EDM instruments use LASER
beams and passive optical reflectors, thus reducing
the possibility of multipathing
• The latest models provide for reflector-less
measurements, thus improving efficiency for certain
applications
 Sources of Error in EDM:
Instrumental
Personal: • Instrument not calibrated
• Careless centering of instrument and/or reflector • Electrical center
• Faulty temperature and pressure measurements • Prism Constant (see next
• Incorrect input of T and p slide)

Natural
• Varying ‘met’ along line
• Turbulence in air

Remember:
L = (m + p) λ
 Sources of Error in EDM:
Determination of System Measuring Constant
A B C Blunders:
• Incorrect ‘met’ settings
1. Measure AB, BC and AC
• Incorrect scale settings
2. AC + K = (AB + K) + (BC + K)
• Prism constants ignored
3. K = AC- (AB + BC)
• Incorrect recording settings
4. If electrical center is calibrated, K rep-
(e.g. horizontal vs. slope)
resents the prism constant.

Good Practice:

Never mix prism

types and brands on
same project!!!

Calibrate regularly !!!