1.

Tacheometry
1.1 Introduction:
Greek word
Tacheoas = fast
metron =measurement
Tacheas + metron =Tacheometry or Telemetry
 Branch of angular surveying where horizontal and vertical distances between
 points are measured by optical means.
 Chaining operations is completely eliminated.
 Primarily for the preparation of contoured maps.
 Suitable to measure distance across the obstacle such as steep and broken
 grounds, deep ravines, swampy area etc.
 Accuracy is not good as compared to chaining.
 Under favorable condition, degree of precision I in 1000.
 Provides the check for distance measured by tape.
 Rapid method, saves time and money.
 Also used for location survey for railways, road, reservoirs etc.
It is in fact a branch of angular surveying in which both the horizontal and vertical positions of
points are determined from the instrumental observations, the chain surveys being entirely
eliminated. Horizontal distance measured by tacheometer does not require the corrections such as
slope corrections, sag corrections etc. this method is very rapid and convenient.
Though the accuracy of Tacheometry is very low as compared to direct distance method on flat
ground but accuracy achievable by Tacheometry in sloppy ground is better as compared to
chaining. The accuracy attained is such that under favorable conditions the error will not exceed
1/1000. The instrument employed for measuring the angular readings in tacheometric survey is
termed as tacheometer, which is similar to theodolite having diaphragm fitted with additional two
horizontal wires called stadia hair along with centre hair.

Use:
1. preparation of topographic map where both horizontal and vertical distances required to be
measured.
2. Survey work in difficult terrain where direct methods of measurements are inconvenient.
3. Reconnaissance survey for highways and railways etc
4. Establishment of secondary control points.
 1.2 Principle of Optical distance measurement

Statement. ‘‘In isosceles triangles, the ratio of the perpendiculars from the vertex on their bases is
constant. This can be proved as under.

Let ABC and AB′C′ be two isosceles triangles whose bases are
BC and B′ C′ and their vertex is at A. If AO and AO′ are the
perpendiculars to their respective bases, then,
𝐴𝑂 𝐴𝑂′ 𝛼
= 𝐵′𝐶′ =2 cot 2 = K
𝐵𝐶
The value of constant K entirely depends upon the magnitude
of the apex angle α.
For horizontal sights, the difference in elevations of the
instrument station and staff position is deduced in a similar
way as in the case of differential levelling.

A. Distance and Elevation Formulae for Horizontal sights.

i. Horizontal distance of the staff position.

Assume that O is the optical centre of the object lens of the external focusing
telescope; a, b, c represents the three horizontal hairs. A, B, C, rule represent
respective points on the staff which appear cut by three hairs, ab is the length of the
image of the staff intercept AB as seen in the diaphragm.
Let;
f = focal length of the object lens.
i = stadia hair interval ab,
s = staff intercept AB,
D = horizontal distance from the vertical axis of the tacheometer to the staff.
d = the distance between the optical centre of the object glass and the vertical axis
of the theodolite.
With the elementary knowledge of optics, it is clear that the rays from A and B
which pass through the exterior principal focus of the objective F, travel parallel to
the principal axis after refraction at A′B′.
Note. The following points may be noted:
𝒇
(i) The distance formula D = 𝒊 s+(f+d) is applicable only if the line of the sight is
horizontal and the staff is held truly vertical.
𝒇
(ii) Where K= 𝒊 is multiplying constant.(K=100) and C= (f+d) is additive constant (C=0).
(iii) The point F, the vertex of measuring triangle is sometimes known as anallatic point.
Now, Horizontal distance
D = KS + C
 Elevation of the staff station = Elevation of the horizontal instrument axis –
Central hair reading.

ii. Distance and Elevation Formulae for inclined sights with Staff Vertical
iii. Distance and elevation formulae for inclined sights with staff normal.
1.3 Basic System of Tacheometry
 TANGENTIAL METHOD OF TACHEOMETRY

In tangential Tacheometry, horizontal and vertical distances from the instrument to the
staff position, are computed from the observed vertical angles to two targets fixed at a
known distance S on the staff. Depending upon the vertical angles, three cases may arise:
1. Both vertical angles may be elevation angles.
2. Both vertical angles may be depression angles.
3. One of the angles may be an elevation angle and the other may be a depression angle
Case I. Both vertical angles may be elevation angles.
Distance and Elevation Formulae
Let A and B represent two targets fixed S meters apart on a staff held vertical at D.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE TANGENTIAL METHOD
The tangential method of Tacheometry has the following disadvantages:
1. It lacks speed.
2. It involves more computations for reducing distances and elevations.
3. Two vertical angles are observed for computing a distance.
4. During the interval of observing vertical angles, the instrument might get disturbed unnoticed.

TACHEOMETRY AS APPLIED TO SUBTENSE MEASUREMENT

In this method, a base of known length is kept in a horizontal plane and the horizontal angle
subtended at any point on its perpendicular bisector is measured by a theodolite. The distance
between the theodolite station and the centre of the base is inversely proportional to the subtended
angle. The length of the base is kept constant and the subtended angle is measured by the method
of repetition to get a most probable value of the angle.
The Subtense Bar

The subtense bar is an instrument used for measuring horizontal distances in the areas where direct
chaining becomes difficult due to undulations or other obstructions. It consists of a metal tube of
length varying from 3 m to 4 m. Two discs 20 centimeters in diameter, painted either black or red
on one side and white on the other, each with a 7.5 cm white or black centre are placed 3 meters
apart. Red or black faces of discs are kept towards the theodolite. At the centre of the bar, an alidade
perpendicular to the axis of the bar is attached.

The bar is mounted on a special tripod provided with a cup and ball socket which enables the
surveyor to level the bar with a small bubble without shifting the legs. When properly aligned with
the alidade and levelled with a bubble tube, the bar is clamped in position by clamping the ball and
socket.
Computation of Subtense bar Distances.
1.4 Booking and Plotting of details
Field Book
1.5 Source of Error and Precision of Tacheometry