DEPARTMENT OF GEODETIC

ENGINEERING
Visca, Baybay City, Leyte, PHILIPPINES
Telephone: (053) 565-0600 local 1027

Email: dge@vsu.edu.ph

Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

ESci 121n – Fundamentals of Surveying

Exercise No. 4: Distance Measurement by Stadia Method

Name: Carl Harvey A. Briones Date Performed: _____________

Course and Year: BSCE-2 Date Submitted: _____________

I. Introduction

Distance measurement with the use of optical instruments is a prevalent

method used in surveying. The technique is easy to use and makes the work faster,
especially for those already skilled in the process. The stadia method uses the
optical geometry of the instrument and takes rod readings to the points where
distances are to be measured and determined (La Putt, 2008). Correspondingly,
distances are computed, including horizontal, vertical, and inclined distances.
Although the stadia method establishes its importance in distance
measurement, it loses its popularity in the presence of more advanced and
sophisticated surveying instruments. The method is outmoded form of distance
measurement that principally relies on a fixed-angle intercept in measuring the
distance optically along the sight path (Kavanagh, 2010). However, considering
areas where technological advancement is rare, this method is of great importance.
Hence, students must know the older ways of surveying techniques.

II. Learning Outcomes

1. To determine horizontal, vertical, and inclined distances by stadia method; and

2. To determine the difference in elevation between two points by stadia method;

III. Materials
Transit/theodolite, stadia rod, pegs/hubs or marking chalk/crayons

IV. Procedure

A. Stadia Method with Angle of Inclination (Positive Angle)

1. Identify and designate two Points (A and B) with different elevations some
distance apart (approximately 10 to 30 meters). Point A being lower than Point
B.
2. Mark the two points with pegs/hubs or mark chalk/crayons for concrete
pavements.
3. Set up the instrument at Point A (lower elevation) and place or position the
stadia rod at Point B (higher elevation).
4. With the instrument leveled at Point A, fix the instrument's line of sight to the
stadia rod held at Point B and lock the telescope (instrument) to avoid further
movements.
5. Take a rod reading at Point B and determine the upper stadia crosshair reading
(a), the middle crosshair reading (c), also known as the rod reading (RR), and
the lower stadia crosshair reading (b).
6. With the line of sight of the instrument still fixed when the rod reading was
taken, measure and read the angle of inclination of the telescope (referred to
as the positive vertical angle).
7. Record and tabulate the data using Table 1.

Table 1. Measured positive vertical angle and crosshair readings

Station Station Vertical Upper Middle Lower
Occupied Sighted Angle, (α) Crosshair Crosshair Crosshair
(Positive Reading Reading Reading
Angle) (a) (c) (b)
Point A Point B

8. Calculate the horizontal distance (HD), vertical distance (VD), inclined distance
(ID), and the difference in elevation (DE) of the two Points using the following
formulas: Use HI=1.30 meters.

s = a − b ………………………………………. Equation 1
ID = Kscosα + C ……………………….. .Equation 2
HD = Kscos2 α + Ccosα ……………….Equation 3
VD = Kscosαsinα + Csinα …………..Equation 4
DE = HI + VD − RR …………………..…Equation 5

Where:
a – Upper Stadia Crosshair Reading
b – Lower Stadia Crosshair Reading
c – Middle Stadia Crosshair Reading or the Rod Reading (RR)
s – Stadia Intercept
K – Stadia Interval Factor (Equal to 100 for most of instruments)
C – Stadia Constant (Equal to 0.00 for internal focusing instruments)
α – Angle of Inclination (Referred to as the positive vertical angle)
ID – Inclined Distance
HD – Horizontal Distance
VD – Vertical Distance
DE – Difference in Elevation between the two Points
Figure 1. An illustration of an inclined stadia sight with angle of inclination
(La Putt, 2008).

B. Stadia Method with Angle of Depression (Negative Angle)

1. Using the same points already established in Procedure A, set up the

instrument at Point B and position or place the stadia rod at Point A.
2. With the instrument leveled at Point B, fix the instrument's line of sight to
the stadia rod held at Point A and lock the telescope (instrument) to avoid
further movements.
3. Take a rod reading at Point A and determine the upper stadia crosshair
reading (a), the middle crosshair reading (c), also known as the rod
reading (RR), and the lower stadia crosshair reading (b).
4. With the line of sight of the instrument still fixed when the rod reading
was taken, measure and read the angle of depression of the telescope
(referred to as the negative vertical angle).
5. Record and tabulate the data using Table 2.

Table 2. Measured negative vertical angle and crosshair readings

Station Station Vertical Upper Middle Lower
Occupied Sighted Angle (α) Crosshair Crosshair Crosshair
(Negative Reading Reading Reading
Angle) (a) (c) (b)
Point B Point A

6. Calculate the horizontal distance (HD), vertical distance (VD), inclined distance
(ID), and the difference in elevation (DE) of the two Points using the formulas
in Procedure A.

a) For positive (+) sights: DE = HI + VD – RR

 b) For negative (–) sights: DE = VD + RR – HI

C. Computation of the Most Probable Values (MPV)

1. Calculate the average values for ID, HD, VD, and DE, which will be the most
probable values (MPV) of measurements (Table 3).

Table 3. Computed distances and difference in elevation.

Station Station HD MPV VD MPV ID MPV DE MPV
Occupied Observed
Point A Point B
Point B Point A

Guide Questions

1. What are the probable sources of errors in stadia measurements?

Stadia measurements frequently contain personal inaccuracies.

Examples of these individual mistakes include faulty instrument setup,
choosing the instrument height incorrectly, and positioning the stadia rod
incorrectly, which results in an inaccurate reading for the rod interval. The
application of an incorrect stadia interval factor and the incorrect vertical circle
index orientation may result in further mistakes.

2. How can you check that the crosshair readings are correct?

The simplest way to determine whether the crosshair readings are accurate
is to compute the mean value of the upper crosshair and lower crosshair
readings and then compare the results to the middle crosshair readings. If so,
the readings on the crosshairs are accurate.

V. Results and Discussion

A. Stadia Method with Angle of Inclination (Positive)

Figure 2: Stadia Method with Angle of Inclination Sketch

 The vertical angle was calculated using the configuration shown in Figure 2 above
to be 6°35' or 6.58°. In addition, measurements of the upper, middle, and lower crosshair
readings showed that they were, respectively, 1.15, 1.10, and 1.05. The table below lists
the information that was gathered.

Station Station Vertical Upper Middle Lower

Occupied Sighted Angle, (α) Crosshair Crosshair Crosshair
Reading (a) Reading (c) Reading (b)
(Positive
Angle)

Point A Point B 6o35’ 1.15 1.10 1.05

Table 4: Results of Stadia Method with Angle of Inclination

The stadia intercept, or the difference between the upper and lower crosshair
readings, was calculated using these gathered measurements and was determined to be
0.10. When the horizontal, vertical, and inclined distances were calculated using this value,
the resulting values were 9.869 meters, 1.138 meters, and 9.934 meters, respectively. This
indicates that the slope distance, or the difference between the vertical and horizontal
distances, is equal to 9.934 meters. Furthermore, the elevation difference between Points
A and B was calculated to be 1.338 meters given that HI was 1.30 meters and the middle
crosshair value was 1.10. The figure below shows how these values were computed.

Figure 3: Distance Computations

 Figure 4: Stadia Method with Angle of Depression Sketch

The scenario for applying the Stadia Method with the Angle of Depression is
depicted in the above figure. The vertical angle, as a result, was calculated to be 6°33' or
-6.55°. Additionally, it was determined that the readings for the upper, middle, and lower
crosshairs were, respectively, 1.45, 1.40, and 1.35. Table 5 below lists these outcomes.

Station Station Vertical Upper Middle Lower

Occupied Sighted Angle (α) Crosshair Crosshair Crosshair
Reading (a) Reading © Reading (b)
(Negative
Angle)

Point B Point A -6o33’ 1.45 1.40 1.35

Table 5: Results of Stadia Method with Angle of Depression
These values were used to calculate a 0.10 difference between the upper and
lower crosshairs. The horizontal distance between Point B and Point A was calculated to
be 9.869 meters, while the vertical distance between the two points was 1.133 meters. In
addition, the inclined distance, which is the difference between the vertical and horizontal
distances, was calculated to be 9.935 meters. And there was a 1.233-meter difference in
elevation between the two places. The negative sign was not taken into account in the
computation for the vertical distance's value because it just indicates direction. However,
because distance is not a vector quantity, it has no direction, therefore the negative sign
can be disregarded. How these values were calculated is shown in the graphic below.
 Figure 5: Distance Computations on Stadia Method with Angle of Depression

C. Computation of the Most Probable Values (MPV)

Station Station HD MPV VD MPV ID MPV DE MPV

Occupied Observed
Point A Point B 9.869 9.869 1.138 1.1355 9.934 9.9345 1.338 1.2855
Point B Point A 9.869 1.133 9.935 1.
Table 6: Computed distances and difference in elevation.

The Stadia Method's distance measurements frequently behave erratically since they
are dependent on crosshair readings. A random event is additionally uncertain and subject to
faults. To decrease or even eliminate the effects of these inaccuracies, it is therefore helpful
to obtain the most likely values. The horizontal distance, vertical distance, and inclined
distance in this activity were observed to have the most likely values of 9.869 meters, 1.1355
meters, and 9.9345 meters, respectively. Additionally, 1.2855 meters was found to be the
most likely estimate for the elevation difference.
VI. Conclusion and Recommendations
The student was able to come to the following conclusions as a result of this
activity: The Stadia Method can be used to determine the horizontal distance between two
points on a sloped surface if the stadia of intercept, stadia constant, and angle of inclination
or angle of depression are known. It is calculable utilizing the equation HD = Kscos2α +
Ccosα. The vertical distance can be calculated using the Stadia Method by using the
formula VD = Kscossin + Csinα, where K is the multiplier, s is the stadia intercept, C is the
stadia constant, and α is either the angle of inclination or angle of depression. The inclined
distance according to the Stadia Method is the slope distance or the difference between
the vertical and horizontal distances. The formula ID = Kscosα + C, where K is the
multiplier or Stadia Interval Factor, s is the stadia intercept, C is the stadia constant, and
α is either the angle of inclination or depression, can also be used to calculate it.
Subtracting the height of one location from the other will solve the elevation discrepancy.
It can be calculated using the Stadia Method using the formulas DE = HI + VD - RR for the
positive sights and DE = VD + RR - HI for the negative sights.

VII. References

(2020). Chapter D: Stadia, 3. Errors. Retrieved from https://www.jerrymahun.com

/index.php/home/open-access/distances/184-d-stadia?start=2

Kavanagh, B. F. (2010). Surveying with Construction Applications. Seventh Edition.

Pearson Education, Inc. New Jersey. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-500051-9.

La Putt, J.P. (1985). Elementary Surveying Lab Manual. Baguio Research and
Publishing Center. Baguio City, Philippines.

La Putt, J.P. (2008). Elementary Surveying. 3 rd Edition. National Book Store.

Philippines. Reprint. ISBN 971-08-5581-6.

Most Probable Value Definition for Land Surveyors. Retrieved from

https://learncst.com/most-probable-value-definition/#:~:text=value%2C%
20most%20probable%E2%80%94That%20value,the%20same%20series%2
0of%20observations.

Tacheometric surveying : Procedure, Method, Advantages. Retrieved from

https://civilseek.com/tacheometric-surveying/#:~:text=The%20accuracy%
20of%20the%20stadia,and%20visibility%20and%20unequal%20refraction.