Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science

CE/GS 400 Introduction to Surveying

Traversing with the Total Station
Purpose
The purpose of this lab is to further acquaint you with the operation of the total station.
Once again we will be using the Sokkia SET-3 and SET-5 total stations.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

To reinforce the student with correct operation of a theodolite/total station as

applied to land surveying techniques.
To familiarize the student with correct data recording procedures.
To acquaint the student with the concept of traversing for land surveying, location
of evidence of property corners.
To reinforce the student with correct operation of a theodolite/total station as
applied to land surveying techniques.
To acquaint the student with the use of state plane coordinates as a common
reference system.

The theodolite is the basic surveyors instrument, used for turning angles. It forms the
foundation, when made electronic, for the total station. The total station operates in a
similar manner to a theodolite, but also measures distances and has the potential to record
the measurements electronically, simplifying transfer to computers and surveying
software packages, while minimizing transcription errors. Because most of its operation
is automated, there is a lot less to worry about in some areas relating to error. However,
these machines are not error-free, so you may discover where some potential for errors
may lie.
Readings: Lecture and Laboratory Notes
Location
Once again the lab will take place in the Oval; after we initially meet in the regular
laboratory classroom.
Equipment
Each group will be issued with one set of the following equipment:
(1) Sokkia or Topcon total station, with accessories
(1) Tripod;
(2) Telescoping Range Poles and Prisms
Procedure
Setting up
Your crew will use the same traverse that you occupied in Laboratory Projects Two,
Three and Four. In order to minimize confusion, it is recommended that you place the
same color flagging on your range poles..

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Given the fact that each crew has a five (5) point traverse; each crew member will have
an opportunity to set the instrument up over a point; turn angles and observe distances.
Eventually your crew will have to occupy each traverse point. In some instances there
will be two (2) crews on a traverse; it is recommended that you coordinate your activities.
It is recommended that you proceed clockwise around the traverse.
On each setup make certain that the instrument is both over the mark and leveled
properly. If you are still unclear as to how to accomplish this, please feel free to ask your
instructor or teaching assistant for assistance.
Learning about the instrument
Set up and check out the instrument. Go into the settings menus and see what settings are
available and what they are set to be. There is a quick reference card in the instrument
box to help you with this.
Given the short distances we are measuring it is probably not necessary to correct for the
temperature and pressure. However, in industry you will need to read the temperature and
pressure outside, set the index correction for the EDM by keying in the measured
temperature and pressure and let the machine compute this correction, which will be in
parts per million (ppm).) You can verify the settings if you wish, and modify them if
necessary. Please note that these corrections fall under the category of systematic errors.
It is necessary to note, and if necessary, to set the prism constant (PC). Note that your
instrument has most probably retained the Prism Constant (-30mm) from the previous
Laboratory Project.
The Traverse
The traverse is the fundamental plane surveying method for location of objects. As
mentioned earlier, the field traverse consists of five (5) monuments that are located at
positions which are inter-visible.
The total station is set up at each monument, and the angle between the adjacent points is
measured. Crew members will have to hold prism poles over the center of the monument;
it is recommended that the instrument-person sight as low as possible (near the tip) on the
prism pole. Your instructor or lab assistant will demonstrate how to double your angles.
Once the angle is measured; the instrument person will measure the distance with the
EDM function. You will measure the distances forward (distance) and reverse (repeat).
This will entail a bit of walking for the rod-person. IT IS ESSENTIAL that the rodperson hold the prism pole a close to vertical (plumb) as possible.
Traverse Closure
After you have completed this figure, decide whether or not your measurements produce
an acceptable solution. It is recommended that you perform a sum of the interior angles
before leaving the field. If the sum of your angles is within 50 seconds of the theoretical
value; Interior Angles = (n-2)180o, where n = number of interior angles you can assume

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that the error is mostly random. Unless you have a data collector, it is generally not
possible to check the traverse for closure in the field. However, assuming that you
observed forward and reverse distances, blunders in distance measurement should
generally be eliminated.
Traversing Grade Schedule Field Score
Accuracy

Grade

1/10,000 to or greater

100%

1/5,000 to 1/9,999

90%

1/2500 to 1/4,999

80%

1/2499 or less

70%

Office Work: Crew (combined report).

The Azimuth from the Ringle Monument (Data Sheet Attached) to Latitude Stone Reset
is 277o 50 07 and the coordinates of the Ringle Monument are as follows:
Northing Ringle =
Easting Ringle =

728752.3960 ft
1825233.0330 ft

1.

Determine angular error of closure.

Sum of interior angles = Interior Angles = (n-2)180o

2.

Balance traverse angles to distribute angular error throughout the traverse angles.
Compute Azimuths of each line of the traverse (AZIMUTH COMPUTATION
SHEET). You will need the data from Project Number Four Orientation to
Total Station for this Calculation. Submit these calculations with your report

3.

Use the Excel Spreadsheet entitled Lab Five Spreadsheet from the Website to
compute Latitudes and Departures, to determine the linear error (mis-closure), to
remove the error (balance the latitudes and departures) and to calculate
coordinates of the traverse points. Submit a copy of this spreadsheet with this
report.

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Note: You will have to use the known reference line (Ringle to Latitude Stone Reset) and
the coordinates of Ringle to reference your traverse to State Plane Coordinate System
(SPCS).
Office Work: Combined Report Use the calculations (Crew Report) your crew
performed to answer the questions. Use the standard report format for your combined
report. In addition to the data, make certain that the field notes contain all weather, field
conditions and crew assignments, equipment used and sketches.
Final Score: The grade for this project will be the arithmetic average of the Field Grade
fand the Office (report and field book) grade. In addition to the calculation sheets,
summarize your results by answering the following questions:
Questions
1. How well did your traverse mathematically close?
a. Angular error =
b. Linear error =
c. Error of closure =

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Example Field Notes

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Traverse Angle Adjustment Table

Point

Field Angle

1
2
3
4
5
SUM

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Adjustment

Adjusted Angle

AZIMUTH COMPUTATION SHEET

Station
or Point

From

Azimuth Back

Ringle

Azimuth Forward

Lat.
Stone
Ringle

Ringle
From
Angle: Left(-), Right(+)
Lab 4

Azimuth Back

To

Lat.
Stone
2
2

Ringle

Ringle

From

Angle: Left(-), Right(+)

Lab 4

Azimuth Forward

Azimuth Back

Angle: Left(-), Right(+)

Azimuth Forward

Azimuth Back

Angle: Left(-), Right(+)

Azimuth Forward

Azimuth Back

Angle: Left(-), Right(+)

Azimuth Forward

Azimuth Back

Angle: Left(-), Right(+)

Azimuth Forward

Azimuth Back

Angle: Left(-), Right(+)

Azimuth Forward

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Noted Operation

277o 50 07

CONTROL TRAVERSE
LOCATION OF PRIMARY POINTS
TRAVERSE COLOR: __________________
Point Number

Northing
US Feet

Easting
US Feet

1
2
3
4
5
* From Laboratory Project Number Three Traverse Leveling.

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Elevation*
US Feet

Franklin County Survey Control Database

Designation: RINGLE
Quad: SW COLUMBUS
Control: H,V
Vdatum88: NAVD 88
Ft88elev: 745.621
M88elev: 227.266
Vorder: 2
Vclass: 1
Horizdatum: NAD 83 (1986)
Latitude: 39 59'58.94936"
Longitude: 83 00'41.07452"
Northingft: 728752.396
Eastingm: 556329.093
Northingm: 222124.175
Eastingft: 1825223.033
Horizorder: 1
Gridfactor: 0.99996317
Angconv: -0 19' 28.20"
Spzone: OH S
Agency: FCE
Setdate: 1991
Hadjdate: 1992
ALUMINUM DISK IN CONCRETE MONUMENT, ON THE MAIN OVAL OF THE
OSU CAMPUS, EAST OF THE MAIN LIBRARY, APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET
WEST OF COLLEGE ROAD, 97.4 FEET NORTHWEST FROM THE CENTER
OF A CIRCULAR, CONCRETE SIDEWALK JUNCTION, 39.6 FEET EAST OF
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF A 2x2 CATCH BASIN, 24.2 FEET
NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF A LIGHT POLE, 9.5 FEET
NORTH OF THE NORTH EDGE OF AN EAST-WEST SIDEWALK, 2.5 FEET
EAST OF EAST EDGE OF A NORTHWEST-SOUTHEAST SIDEWALK, 1 INCH
BELOW GROUND.

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