LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

Exercise 1:
Notes on the angular unit
In surveying, a centesimal division is used as the angular unit. The unit is gon [gon], formerly also called
new degree. A full circle has 400 gon, a right angle 100 gon. The gon is divided into centigon [cgon] (= 0.01
gon) and milligon [mgon] (= 0.001gon).
The conversion between the individual angular measures is of great importance. Mathematically, it
corresponds to a simple rule of three calculation:

In order not to have to convert all angular measures into gons for geodetic calculations, the angular unit
must be defined on the calculator before using trigonometric functions (sin, cos, etc.). Usually this is
possible by pressing the DRG (Degree, Radiant, Grad) key and selecting the GRA option.
 1 mgon corresponds to about 100 m on a meridian or on the equator.
 1 mgon corresponds at a distance of 800 m to half the width of a ranging rod (25 mm).
 1 mgon corresponds to a transverse deviation of 1.5 mm at a distance of 100 m

1.1 Setting up a total station

First, set up an electronic total station centrically over an existing ground point. Proceed according to the
following instructions for setting up a tripod centrically using the optical plummet or a laser plummet:

1. Set up the tripod as centrically and horizontally as possible above the ground point. The point
should be visible in the telescope of the optical plummet. Drive the tripod legs firmly into the
ground.
2. Center the floor point with the tribrach screws.
3. By extending and retracting two tripod legs, perform coarse leveling using the circular level
perform the rough leveling. This changes the centering only slightly.
4. Fine levelling can be performed with the aid of a longitudinal bubble and the tribrach screws. The
longitudinal bubble is placed parallel to two foot screws and adjusted with these by turning them
in opposite directions; then the longitudinal bubble it is rotated by 100 gon and adjusted in the
new position only with the third screw.
When using an electronic level, the rotation by 100 gon is not necessary, since both horizontal
axes can be displayed at the same time.
5. The resulting small change in centering is eliminated by loosening the tribrach mounting and
carefully moving the device on the tripod plate.
6. The leveling and centering are to be checked iteratively until the instrument is set up correctly. As
a rule, a maximum of one further pass is necessary.

Now the instrument has to be configured

according to the measurement. Define / set the
correct units of measurement, refractive index,
scale factor, activate the tilt compensator and
check the addition constant.
Centring a Tacheometer

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LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

1.2 Direction angle and orientation

Whenever a total station is newly set up, the horizontal circle of the instrument is not oriented, i.e. it is
not known where its zero direction points to. Between the zero direction of the total station and the zero
direction of the coordinate system exists a difference, the so-called unknown of orientation 𝑂.

However, with the help of given coordinates of the

instrument position 𝑆 and at least one distant target 𝐹, the
horizontal circle can be oriented in the coordinate system.
For this the so-called direction angle is used. The direction
angle designates the angle between the reference axis
(here: grid north) or an axis parallel to it and the direction
to the corresponding distant target 𝐹. The direction angle
𝑡𝑆,𝐹 in the instrument position 𝑆 to the distant target 𝐹 is
to be calculated by the 2nd geodetic main task:

The opposite angle 𝑡𝐹,𝑆 therefore corresponds to the direction angle from the distant target 𝐹 to the
instrument position 𝑆 and results from 𝑡𝑆,𝐹 ± 200𝑔𝑜𝑛. As the arc tangent function is cyclic and only
𝜋 𝜋
piecewise defined, it always returns values in the range of [− 2 ; 2 ]. Therefore a quadrant query must be
performed (see table).

Quadrant 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 Value of 𝑡1,2 Calculator1

I 0 + 0 gon ok
+ + 0 - 100 gon
II + 0 100 gon
+ - 100 - 200 gon +200 gon
III 0 - 200 gon
- - 200 - 300 gon +200 gon
IV - 0 300 gon
- + 300 - 400 gon +400 gon

1
The value calculated with the calculator is corrected by ….. to get it in the correct quadrant
TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de
LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

Fill in the table below with the calculated direction angles 𝑡𝑆,𝐹1 and 𝑡𝑆,𝐹2 :

Direction angle Calculated value

𝑡𝑆,𝐹1
𝑡𝑆,𝐹2

If the direction angle 𝑡𝑆,𝐹 is now known, the unknown of orientation 𝑂 can be calculated:

In the case outlined above, the unknown of orientation is negative.

Calculate the unknown of orientation as the mean value of the observations 𝑟𝐹1 to 𝐹1 and 𝑟𝐹2 to 𝐹2.

Direction Readings HZ-Circle Unknown of orientation 𝑂

𝑟𝐹1
𝑟𝐹2

The mean value of the unknown of orientations is: 𝑂𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 = _________________

Now you have the choice to either:

 You align the zero direction of your horizontal circle parallel to the X-axis of the coordinate system
(grid north). To do this, aim the telescope at the distant target 𝐹1 (signaled by the alignment rod)
and enter the calculated direction angle 𝑡𝑆,𝐹 1 via the operating menu (SetzeHz). Check the
orientation of the horizontal circle at the second distant target 𝐹2. The value read off the
horizontal circle for the direction angle to the second remote target 𝐹2 is:

𝑡𝑆,𝐹 2 = _______________________

If you evaluate measurement data in the field, you should select this option.

 Or you carry out further measurements taking into account the unknown of orientation. This is
then to be taken into account later when calculating the coordinates - if you evaluate
measurement data by computer only in the office, this is the common way.

TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de

LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

1.3 Single point acquisition (polar acquisition)

For the polar appending of single points, the points to be recorded (boundary stones, corners of buildings,
etc.) must be aimed at one after the other with the reflector. Use the circular bubble of the rod to ensure
that the points are centered.

Good to know: The distance measurement is carried out indirectly

at wall edges that are not directly accessible with the prism. There
are several possibilities for this (see figure). For example, the
reflector can be held laterally at a right angle to the direction of
sight without any change in distance. If the prism is in direct
extension in front of the outer or inner corner, distance changes
have to be applied manually. The following applies to all indirect
methods for distance measurement: The (horizontal) direction
measurement is performed by directly aiming at the edge!

The necessary horizontal adjustment of the measured inclined

distance can be done automatically with built-in compensator
and microprocessor. Use the different dialogs in the display in
order to have horizontal distance or height differences indicated
directly. The coordinates of the polar measured points
𝑃𝑖 (𝑦𝑖 , 𝑥𝑖 ) result from:

(First geodetic main task)

The scale factor m is assumed to be m = 1 in this exercise. The following table serves the logging of the
measured values as well as the coordination by means of polar appending.

Point’s No. Direction 𝑡𝑆,𝑃𝑖 Horizontal dist. 𝑠𝑖 𝑦𝑖 -Coordinate 𝑥𝑖 -Coordinate

TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de

LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

Map for your sketches:

TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de

LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

Controls
he tachymeter observations could be compared by the cosine theorem of plane trigonometry with directly
measured distances (by means of a tape measure) with so called span measurements between consecutive
single points:

span measurements (polar)

Finally, to check the calculation, the span dimensions are calculated again from the Cartesian
coordinate differences using the Pythagorean formula:

span measurements (Pythagorean formula)

𝑃𝑖 𝑃𝑖+1 Span measurement Span measurement Span measurement

(direct) (polar) (cartesian)

TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de

LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

1.4 Coordinates and Coordinate Field “Pinakotheken“

TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de

LMGS/As-Built Exercise 1 – Tacheometry – 12th January 2022

List of Coordinates
North side of Pinakothek

𝑦𝑖 -Coordinate 𝑥𝑖 -Coordinate height

PIN1 32691129.6833 5336044.2938 515.1341

PIN2 32691178.9920 5336088.5685 515.2048

PIN3 32691173.1090 5336043.8376 515.1543

PIN4 32691163.8461 5336013.0409 515.0494

PIN5 32691205.2337 5335998.2540 515.1586

PIN6 32691221.2869 5336036.6200 515.0711

PIN7 32691223.0168 5336030.9095 515.1560

South side of Pinakothek

𝑦𝑖 –Coordinate 𝑥𝑖 –Coordinate height

PIS1 32691125.0501 5335909.5101 515.5151

PIS2 32691150.2274 5335932.0594 515.5127

PIS3 32691159.8096 5335890.8578 515.5777

PIS4 32691196.3528 5335842.6653 515.9342

PIS5 32691113.4820 5335869.4505 515.8582

PIS6 32691084.6264 5335888.1917 515.7696

PIS7 32691101.6077 5335940.2355 515.3933

TUM – Chair of Engineering Geodesy – a.weinhuber@tum.de