C E 2 11 : F U N D A M E N TA L S O F

SURVEYING
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D I S TA N C E M E A S U R E M E N T: TA C H Y O M E T R Y
( S TA D I A S U R V E Y I N G )
I n s t r u c t o r : E n g r. E r n e s t M a e L . S a b i t
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Tachyometric distance measurement involves sighting through a small angle at a distant
scale. The angle may be fixed and the length measured ( Stadia Method), or the
length may be fixed and the angle measured (European Method).
Stadia measurement consists of observing the apparent locations of the horizontal
crosshairs on a distant stadia rod. (See Figure 1a below) The interval between the two
rod readings is called the stadia interval or the stadia reading.

Figure 1: Horizontal Stadia Measurement

TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Figure 1: Horizontal Stadia Measurement
F = principal focus
f = focal length
o = optical center
i = distance between stadia hairs
c = distance from the optical center to center of instrument
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
By ratio and proportion:

where;
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
If the sighting is inclined, as it is in Fig. 2, it is necessary to find both horizontal and vertical distances.
These can be determined from the following derivation of formula, in which vertical distance is measured
from the telescope to the sighting rod center. The height of the instrument above the ground must be
known to calculate the elevation of the object above the ground.

Figure 2: Inclined Stadia Measurement

TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Derivation of Forumulas:
By ratio and Proportion:
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Errors in Stadia Surveying
1. Stadia Interval Factor not that assumed
2. Rod/staff not of standard length
3. Incorrect Stadia Interval
4. Rod not held plumb
5. Unequal refraction

Requisites for a Good Transit Use for Stadia Surveying

1. The telescope is of excellent quality, with good illumination.
2. The magnifying power should be about 25 to 30.
3. The stadia hairs should be fixed and should be set accurately so that .
4. The transit should have a good compass needle.
5. The transit should have a complete vertical circle.
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Illustrative Problem No. 1
A survey party proceeded to do their stadia survey work as follows: the transit was set up at a point
A and with the line of sight horizontal, took the readings with the rod points B and C, which were
then measured to have tape distances from A to 200m and 60m respectively. Compute the stadia
interval factor.
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Solution:
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Illustrative Problem No. 2
1. A transit with a stadia constant equal to 0.30 is used to determine the horizontal distance between
points B and C, with a stadia intercept reading of 1.85m, the distance BC is equal to 182.87m.
Compute the stadia interval factor of the instrument.
2. Using the same instrument, it was used to determine the difference in elevation between B and D
having a stadia intercept reading of 2.42 m at D at a vertical angle of +6°30’. Compute the difference
in elevation of B and D.
3. Compute also the horizontal distance between B and D
TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Solution:
1. Stadia Interval Factor:

2. Difference in elevation between B and D:

TACHYOMETRY (STADIA SURVEYING)
Solution:
3. Horizontal distance between B and D:
QUESTION & ANSWER
Thank you
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