Table of Contents
What is Total Station?
The total station is Surveying equipment which consists of an Electronic distance meter (EDM) and Electronic transit theodolite.
It is integrated with three main components microprocessor, electronic data collector, and storage system. Other components of the total station survey are tribrachs, reflector poles, tripods, and prisms. The main advantage of the total station survey is that it can measure horizontals and vertical angles.
Operations of Total Station
Total stations perform various operations as follows.
- Angle Measurements
- Distance Measurement
- Data Processing
- Display
- Electronic Book
Angle Measurements
The electronic theodolite part of the total station is used for measuring vertical and horizontal angles. For the measurement of horizontal angles, any convenient direction may be taken as a reference direction. For vertical angle measurement vertical upward (zenith) direction is taken as the reference direction. The accuracy of angle measurement varies from 2 to 6 seconds.
Distance Measurement
Electronic distance measuring (EDM) instrument is a major part of the total station. Its range varies from 2.8 km to 4.2 km. The accuracy of measurement varies from 5 mm to 10 mm per km measurement. They are used with an automatic target recognizer. The distance measured is always a sloping distance from the instrument to the object.
Data Processing
This instrument is provided with an inbuilt microprocessor. The microprocessor averages multiple observations. With the help of slope distance and vertical and horizontal angles measured, when the height of the axis of the instrument and targets are supplied, the microprocessor computes the horizontal distance and X, Y, Z coordinates.
The processor is capable of applying temperature and pressure corrections to the measurements of atmospheric temperature and pressures are supplied.
Display
The electronic display unit is capable of displaying different values when respective keys are pressed. The system is capable of displaying horizontal distance, vertical distance, horizontal and vertical angles, differences in elevations of two observed points, and all the three coordinates of the observed points.
Electronic Book
Each point data can be stored in an electronic notebook (like a compact disc). The capacity of electronic notebooks varies from 2000 points to 4000 points data. Surveyors can unload the data stored in the notebook to the computer and reuse the notebook.
Applications of Total Station Survey:
- It is used to collect data for large scale survey.
- It is used where high precision needed.
- It is used to measure height.
- It is used to calculate land area.
Advantages of Total Station:
- The process of the total station is very fast.
- It gives a very precise reading.
- There is no manual involvement while taking the reading.
- The total station provides control points for large scale surveys.