Surveying Instruments And Measuring Methods

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to give a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of conducting surveying measurements (angles, distances, height differences). This includes the operation principles, the usage and the processing of the collected observations. The students learn how to select the appropriate instrument / measurement technique in order to fulfill the requirements of each work.

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• understand the operation principles of the basic surveying instruments
• understand the errors that affect the surveying measurements (instrumental/environmental errors) as well as the techniques used to mitigate these errors
• use surveying instruments (theodolites, tachymeters, total stations, mechanical and digital levels)
• select the appropriate instrument / measurement technique for fulfilling the requirements of each work process the collected observations, estimate and judge their precision.

 

General Competences

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology:

• Adapting to new situations
• Working independently
• Team work
• Production of new research ideas

 

SYLLABUS

Theoretical part:

1. Instruments and methods for measuring angles and directions: Basic parts and use of theodolites. Plate and circular levels. Optical and electronic reading devices. Magnification, field of view and resolving power of the telescope. Accuracy and classification of theodolites. Instrumental errors: axial errors, circle eccentricity, circle graduation errors. Inspection and calibration: horizontal collimation and vertical indexing. Techniques for angle measurements. Centering devices: optical plumb, forced centering. Assessment of precision of angle measurements.
2. Instruments and methods for distance measurements. The stadia method. Basic principles of electronic distance measurement: modulation, demodulation, refraction, refractive index, laser. Corrections: prism constant, atmospheric corrections.
3. Total stations. Basic parts and use of total stations.
4. Instruments and methods for height measurements. Basic parts and use of levels. Earth curvature and atmospheric refraction corrections. Classification of levels. Pendulum compensators. Line-of-sight error. Rod errors. Measuring procedures, line leveling, double-run leveling.

 

Laboratory part:
Tachymeter-theodolite: setting up, centering and levelling up, sighting, circle reading, measuring horizontal and vertical angles. Reduction of observations. Tacheometric observations. Level: levelling up, sighting, reading the staff, use of digital levels and bar-coded staffs. Conduction of differential levelling, double run levelling and reduction of observations. Total stations: setting up, measuring angles and distances, setting atmospheric parameters for EDM, setting prism constant. Field survey, plotting coordinates, creation of topographic map.

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Assessment language: Greek (English for ERASMUS students upon request) Performance evaluation method:
• Final Written Exam (90% of the final grade) of graded difficulty, which include open-ended questions and solving simple problems.
• Evaluation of laboratory work (10% of the final grade) which includes the setting up and use of surveying instruments (theodolites, total stations, levels).

The evaluation criteria have been presented to the students before the final examination. Students can see their evaluation upon request and receive clarifications on their grades.

 

ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY

– Suggested bibliography (in Greek):
1. Βλάχος Δ., 1987. Τοπογραφία. Τόμος Α. Εκδόσεις ΑΠΘ.
2. Καλτσίκης Χ., Φωτίου Α., 1999. Γενική τοπογραφία. Εκδόσεις Ζήτη, Θεσσαλονίκη.
3. Ρωσσικόπουλος Δ., 2006. Μέτρον Γεωμετρικόν. Εκδόσεις Ζήτη, Θεσσαλονίκη.
4. Τσούλης Δ., 2004. Εισαγωγή στην Τοπογραφία. Εκδόσεις Ζήτη, Θεσσαλονίκη.

– Suggested bibliography (in English):
1. Allan A.L., Hollwey J.R., Maynes J.H.B., Amin A., 1980. Practical Field Surveying and Computa-tions. Heinmann, Portsmouth, ΝΗ.
2. Bannister A., Raymond S., Baker R., 1998. Surveying. 7th edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
3. Burnside D., 1991. Electronic Distance Measurement. 3rd edition, BSP Professional Books, UK.
4. Cooper M. A. R., 1982. Modern Theodolites and Levels, 2nd edition, Granada Publishing.
5. Deumlich F., 1982. Surveying Instruments. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin.
6. Fialovszky L., 1991. Surveying Instruments and their Operational Principles. Elsevier, New York.
7. Rüger J. M., 1996. Electronic Distance Measurement – An Introduction. 4th edition, Springer Ver-lag, Berlin
8. Saastamoinen J.J., 1967. Surveyor’s Guide to Electromagnetic Distance Measurement. University of Toronto Press.