Tacheometry

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 Tacheometry (Quick Measure)
• Rapid and efficient way of indirectly measuring
distances and elevation differences
• Commonly used for topographic surveys, rivers,
roads, buildings and draw counters.
• In addition to the center horizontal cross hair, a
theodolite has two additional horizontal cross
hairs spaced equidistant from the center one.
These are called Stadia hairs.

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 Situations where Tacheometry can
be used
• When facing some obstacles like river or broken ground,
tacheometry gives speed & accuracy to work

• In rough area surfaces, where measurement of

horizontal & vertical distances are difficult to measure

• In locating contours & filling details in a topographic

survey, this method is fast & best

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 Principle of Tacheometric Surveying
• It is based on the principle known as stadia surveying
• The term stadia comes from the stadia diaphragm (of
theodolite)
• It has 3 cross hairs arranged in different forms.
Commonly known as upper, lower and middle cross hair

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 Principle of Tacheometric Surveying
• Most of the levels and theodolites have stadia diaphragms
• The readings on a levelling staff are taken against all the 3
cross hairs in tacheometry
• In those readings against the middle cross hair is used for
finding elevation difference
• Readings against top and bottom hairs are used to find the
horizontal distance

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 Types of Tacheometry

• Stadia Method
– Fixed hair method
– Movable hair method

• Tangential Method

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Fixed hair method
 Fixed hair method
• This is a simple method for finding the distance
and elevation of staff and reduce level from the
theodolite (Tachometer).

• Different formulae are used in finding distance for

different cases.

Some cases are discussed as follows:-

 DERIVATION OF DISTANCE FORMULA;
Where,
X=instrument station
S1
(vertical axis of
A instrument)
C´ d=distance between
horizontal distance from
the cross hairs to the
O object glass
F X B F=focus
i B´ S2 S f=focal length of object
v=distance between
d object glass & cross hair
f i=distance b/w upper and
lower cross hair
A´ v S=S3-S1 (stff intercept)
C u=distance between
u S3 object glass to the
levelling staff
H
H=horizontal distance
from instrument station
to staff station
 DERIVATION OF DISTANCE FORMULA;
The triangles A’OC’ and AOC are similar
isosceles triangles in which the ratio of
base to perpendicular is constant.
O
𝑨´ 𝑪´ 𝑨𝑪
=
𝑩´ 𝑶 𝑩𝑶
𝒊 𝒔
= v=(ui/s) eq. 1
𝒗 𝒖

From the properties of lenses

𝟏 𝟏
+ =
𝟏
eq. 2 H
𝒗 𝒖 𝒇
Put eq.1 in eq.2
u=((s/i)+1) f eq. 3 • (f/ί) is multiplying constant and
From fig. H=u+d, so, u=H-d eq. 4 (f+d) is additive constant which
are set by manufacturing
Put eq. 4 in eq. 3 company.
𝒇𝒔
H= + (𝒇 + 𝒅)
𝒊 10
For inclined sights.

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• Staff may be held vertically or perpendicular to
the line of sight. Usually it is in vertical position

θ = inclined angle (Depression or elevation)

D = inclined distance from inst. Axis to the point
“C” on staff.
V = vertically distance between inst. Axis and
middle hair reading.
H = horizontal distance of
inst. Axis from staff.

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Since it is not practical to hold
the staff at an angle "θ" it is
plumbed
and reading AB or "S" is taken.

for small angles at "C" on most

sights
it is sufficiently accurate to consider
angle
AA´C as right angle, therefore,

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• In triangle AA´C
Cos θ = (A´C/AC)
A´C = AC Cosθ
A´ B´ = AB Cosθ
A´ B´ = S Cosθ
D = (f+d) + f/ ί * A´ B´
= (f+d) + f/ ί * S Cosθ

Since, H = D Cosθ __________(I)

H = {(f+d) + f/ ί * S Cosθ} * Cosθ _____(II)

Also, V = D Sinθ
V = (f+d) Sinθ + (f/ ί) S Cosθ . Sinθ
= (f+d) Sinθ + (f/ ί) S . (Sin2θ)/2 ____(III)15
• Normally, Anallactic Lens (an additional convex lens)
provided in the external focusing tachometer between
object glass & eyepiece. That is why,

(f/ί) = 100 and f+d = 0 (stadia constants)

→ H = 100 S Cos2θ

→ V = 100 * S (Sin2θ)/2

• Generally the values of stadia constants are mentioned in the

catalogue supplied by the manufacturer.
• Also the constants may be determined by:
1. Laboratory measurement
2. Field measurement 16
Case 1 : When line of sight is
horizontal and staff is held vertically.
• i ,f and d are constants we can write that the total
horizontal distance
i.e. H = K.S + C
where ,
K = f/i = 100 =Multiplying constant
& C = f+d = 0 = Additive constant
So, we can write
• Horizontal Distance = H = 100 S
• Vertical Distance = V = 0
Case 2: When line of sight is inclined but
staff is held vertically.
(a) Angle of Elevation {+}
A` A

B S

C h
C`

α V
α P
O’ Ө Line of axis
P’

O
H
• Horizontal Distance = H = (K.S cos θ + C) cos θ
H = K.S cos2 θ + C cos θ

• Vertical Distance = V = (K.S cos θ + C) sin θ

𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃
V = K.S + C sin θ
2

R.L. of staff station Q = R.L. of B.M. + H.I. + V – h

Case 2: When line of sight is inclined but
staff is held vertically.
(b) Angle of Depression {-}

O’ H
θ Line of P’
Axis
V
A
B
O
C’ h
C
P
• Horizontal Distance = H = (K.S cos θ + C) cos θ
H = K.S cos2 θ + C cos θ

• Vertical Distance = V = (K.S cos θ + C) sin θ

𝑆𝑖𝑛 2𝜃
V = K.S + C sin θ
2

R.L. of staff station P = R.L. of B.M. + H.I. – V – h

Case 3 : When line of sight is inclined but
staff is held normal to the line of sight.
(a) Angle of Elevation {+}
A` A
S
B

h cos θ
C h
C`

α V
α P
O’ Ө Line of axis
P’

h sin θ

L cos θ
O
H
• Horizontal Distance = H = (K.S cos θ + C) cos θ
H = K.S cos θ + C cos θ + h sin θ

• Vertical Distance = V = (K.S cos θ + C) sin θ

V = K.S sin θ + C sin θ

R.L. of Q = R.L. of B.M. + H.I. + V – h cos θ

Case 3 : When line of sight is inclined but
staff is held normal to the line of sight.
(b) Angle of Depression {-}

L
O’
θ Line of
Axis V
A
B
O C
h cosθ

D P P1
L cos θ
h sinθ
• Horizontal Distance = H = (K.S cos θ + C) cos θ
H = K.S cos θ + C cos θ – h sin θ

• Vertical Distance = V = (K.S cos θ + C) sin θ

V = K.S sin θ + C sin θ

R.L. of Q = R.L. of B.M. + H.I. – V – h cos θ

 Cross V
Instrumen Height of Stadia H
Staff Vertical Hair 100 S
t Instrumen Reading Intercept (100 S Remarks
Station Angle (θ) (Sin2θ/
Station t (U – L) cos2θ)
2)
U M L

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 Problem:
The elevation of point “x” is to be determined by observation
from two adjacent stations of a tacheometrical survey, the staff
was held vertically above the point and instrument constant is
100. Calculate the required elevation from the following data,
taking two observations as equally trustworthy.

Instrument H.I Elevation of Staff point V-angle Axial Staff

Station point Reading Intercept

G 1.16 149.63 x 2º27´ 2.30 2.475

H 1.25 177.43 x -4º51´ 2.11 2.095

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Sight “GX”
V = 100 * S * (sin2θ)/2
= 100 * (2.475) * {sin2(2°-27´)}/2
= 10.57m
(R.L)x = (R.L)G + H.I + V – h.
= 149.63 + 1.16 + 10.56 – 2.30
=159.05 m
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Sight “HX”
(R.L)H + H.I – V – h.
= 177.43 + 1.25 – 17.65 – 2.11
=158.92 m

Mean = (159.05+158.92)/2
(R.L)x = 158.99 m

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Problem #2;
A Tacheometer was setup at a station “A” and the following
readings were obtained on a vertically held staff.

Instrument Staff V-angle Hair readings Remarks

Station station
P B.M -4º-22´ 1.050, 1.103, 1.156R.L of
B.M
Q +10º-0´ 0.952, 1.055, 1.158 (1958.3)

Find horizontal distance from P to Q and Reduced level of Q.

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R.L of Q = R.L of B.M + h2 + V2 + V1 – h1
H1 = 100 * S1Cos2θ
= 100 * (1.158-0.952) * Cos2(10°)
= 20.6 * Cos2(10°)
= 19.97 m

V1 = 100 * S1 * (sin2θ)/2
= 100 * (1.158-0.952) * {sin2(10°)}/2
= 3.52 m

V2 = 100 * S2 * (sin2θ)/2
= 100 * (1.156-1.050) * {sin2(4°-22´)}/2
= 100 (0.106) * 0.07592
= 0.805 m
R.L of Q = R.L of B.M + h2 + V2 + V1 – h1
=1958.3 + 1.103 + 0.805 + 3.52 -1.055
R.L of Q = 1962.673 m 32
Problem #3;
To determine the elevation of the first station “A” of a
tacheometric survey, the following observations were made, the
staff being held vertically.

Instrum H.I Staff V-angle Staff readings Remarks

ent station
Station
O 1.440 B.M -5º-40´ 1.332, 1.896, 2.460 R.L of
B.M
O 1.440 C.P +8º-20´ 0.780, 1.263, 1.746 (158.205)

A 1.380 C.P -6º-24´ 1.158, 1.617, 2.076

Calculate the Reduced level of “A”. 33

V1 = 100 * S1 * (sin2θ)/2
= 100 * (2.460-1.332) * {sin2(5°-40´ )}/2
= 11.083 m

V2 = 100 * S2 * (sin2θ)/2
= 100 * (1.746-0.780) * {sin2(8°-20´ )}/2
= 13.853 m
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V3 = 100 * S3 * (sin2θ)/2
= 100 * (2.076-1.158) * {sin2(6°-24´ )}/2
= 10.17 m
(R.L)A = R.LBM + h1 +V1 +V2 –h2 +h3 +V3 – H.IA
= 158.205 + 1.896 + 13.853 + 11.083 – 1.263
+ 1.617 + 10.17 – 1.380
(R.L)A = 194.181 m

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MOVABLE HAIR METHOD
 MOVABLE HAIR METHOD
• In this method the staff intercept is kept constant, but
the distance between the stadia hairs is variable.
• The diaphragm consists of a central wire fixed with
the axis of the telescope.
• The upper and lower stadia wires can be moved by
micrometer screws in a vertical plane.
• The distance by which the stadia wires are moved is
measured according to the number of turns of the
micrometer screws.
Fig. A special type diaphragm of
a moving hair theodolite
Tangential Method
 Tangential Method
• This method is used when the theodolite is a
simple transit type and does not carry a stadia
diaphragm
• Levelling staff consist of two vanes or targets
at known distance
• Horizontal and vertical distances are measured
by measuring the angles of elevation or
depression
• Some cases are discussed as follows:-
Case I : Both Angles of target are Angles
A
of Elevation (+)
B S

h
C1
V

O’ θ1 θ2

C2

O H

O’ -Instrument axis
O – Instrument station
C1 – Staff station
V – vertical distance between lower vane and axis of instrument
S – distance between the targets
θ1 - vertical angle by upper targets
θ2 - vertical angle lower targets
h – height of lower vane above the staff station
 Formulae
From figure
𝑉 + 𝑆 = 𝐻 tan 𝜃1
𝑉 = 𝐻 tan 𝜃2
𝑆 = 𝐻 (tan 𝜃1 − tan 𝜃2 )

𝑆
H= tan 𝜃1 −tan 𝜃2

𝑆 tan 𝜃2
𝑉=
tan 𝜃1 − tan 𝜃2

RL of station C1 = RL of B.M. + H.I. + V - h

Case II : Both Angles of target are Angles
A
of Depression (-)
O’ C2
θ1 θ2
V
A

O S
B
h

H C1

O’ -Instrument axis
O – Instrument station
C1 – Staff station
V – vertical distance between lower vane and axis of instrument
S – distance between the targets
θ1 - vertical angle by upper targets
θ2 - vertical angle lower targets
h – height of lower vane above the staff station
 Formula
From figure
𝑉 = 𝐻 tan 𝜃2
𝑉 − 𝑆 = 𝐻 tan 𝜃1
𝑆 = 𝐻 (tan 𝜃2 − tan 𝜃1 )

𝑆
H= tan 𝜃2 −tan 𝜃1

𝑆 tan 𝜃2
𝑉=
tan 𝜃2 − tan 𝜃1

RL of station C1 = RL of B.M. + H.I. - V - h

Case III : One angle is angle of Elevation (+)
and the other is angle of Depression (-)
O’ θ1 C2
θ2 S
V

h
O

H C1

O’ -Instrument axis
O – Instrument station
C1 – Staff station
V – vertical distance between lower vane and axis of instrument
S – distance between the targets
θ1 - vertical angle by upper targets
θ2 - vertical angle lower targets
h – height of lower vane above the staff station
 Formula
From figure
𝑉 = 𝐻 tan 𝜃2
𝑆 − 𝑉 = 𝐻 tan 𝜃1

𝑆
H= tan 𝜃1 +tan 𝜃2

𝑆 tan 𝜃2
𝑉=
tan 𝜃1 + tan 𝜃2

RL of station C1 = RL of B.M. + H.I. - V - h

Problem # 1;
The vertical angles to vanes fixed at 1m and 3m above the foot
of staff held vertically at station A were +5º30´ and +2º30´
respectively. Find the horizontal distance and R.L. of A, if the
Reduced Level of bench mark is 436.000m and Height of
Instrument is 2.656m above datum.
C
S=2m
B
3m
h=1m
+5º30´ +2º30´

A V

O
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 Formulae
From figure, both the angles are of elevation

𝑆 𝑆 tan 𝜃2
H= tan 𝜃1 −tan 𝜃2
& 𝑉=
tan 𝜃1 −tan 𝜃2

S=2m, 𝜃1 = +5º30´, 𝜃2 =+2º30´

2
H = tan +5º30´ = 38.00m
−tan +2º30´

2 tan 𝜃2
𝑉= = 1.659m
tan +5º30´ −tan +2º30´
 Formulae
RL of A = RL of B.M. + H.I. + V – h

= 436.000 + 2.656 + 1.659 – 1

RL of A = 439.315 m