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Atmospheric Attenuation and Scintillation Effects on the Range of EDM

Instruments

Article  in  Journal of Surveying Engineering · March 2015

DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000142

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Natalia Garrido-Villén Alberto Antón-Merino

Universitat Politècnica de València Albireo Topografía y Geomática
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José Luis Berne-valero R. Mata

Universitat Politècnica de València University of Valencia
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 Case Study

Atmospheric Attenuation and Scintillation Effects on the

Range of EDM Instruments
Natalia Garrido-Villén1; Alberto Antón-Merino2; José Luis Berné Valero3; Rafael Mata4; and David Raboso5
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Universidad Politecnica De Valencia on 03/27/15. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

Abstract: This investigation aimed to study the range of various electronic distance measurement (EDM) instruments used in survey
engineering, assuming different weather conditions and different terrain altitudes, by controlling every parameter influencing the
measurements and contrasting the results with the information provided by the manufacturers. The first step consisted of determining the
EDM real optical wavelength to be used for control against the manufacturers’ provided values. Consequently, a spectroscopy test of
the lasers installed in every EDM instrument was carried out at the ESA-VSC [European Space Agency (ESA) and Val Space Consortium
(VSC)] laboratory. The second step was to study the total measurement range of each instrument in different weather conditions and at
different altitudes. Three experimental tests were carried out at three different locations in eastern Spain, separated by distances of less than
90 km, and altitudes ranging from sea level to about 2,000 m. Owing to the influence of atmospheric effects on the EDM ranges, some
atmospheric parameters were carefully measured during the process (i.e., pressure, temperature, and humidity). From the experiments, a
large dependence of altitude on the EDM ranges was detected. A decrease in range at midday hours was observed in all cases studied.
Aerosol scattering was found to cause a reduction of EDM range in all cases. A marked influence of atmospheric scintillation on the EDM
ranges became evident in all results. Furthermore, as expected, a correlation between laser beam divergence and range, which increased
with altitude, was also found. In certain projects where range in EDM is essential, it is advisable to conduct a preliminary study to evaluate
the actual range of the particular instrument before it is used. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)SU.1943-5428.0000142. © 2015 American Society of
Civil Engineers.
Author keywords: EDM range; Atmospheric turbulence; Free-space optics; Atmospheric attenuation.

Introduction engineering has decreased in recent years. However, in many

cases, such as where GNSS cannot be used because a clear win-
Over the past 50 years, distance measurement technologies have dow to the sky is needed for reliable measurements or because it
greatly advanced. The surveying tape was replaced by electronic takes too much time to achieve the required accuracy, EDM
distance measurement (EDM) for long distances, and subsequent technology plays a vital role in filling this gap. Nowadays, EDMs
improvements in range, accuracy, mass reduction, and speed of are universally used to measure large engineering structures such
operation of this technology eventually enabled the EDM to be as dams and tunnels, and they still play a key role in establishing
integrated into electronic theodolites, resulting in compact total position in land surveying in cases where the GNSS is unable to be
stations. These total stations, which continued to require retro- used.
prisms for distance measurements, solved many logistical issues in Studies on the accuracy of the EDM have mainly focused on
surveying and lightened the workload of surveyors (Lambrou and baseline calibrations. However, little attention has been paid to the
Pantazis 2010). comparison of the range of the EDM, in cases where every para-
Owing to the introduction of global navigation satellite system meter involved in the measurement is controlled (Burnside 1991).
(GNSS) techniques, the use of EDM instruments in survey Essentially, research on laser propagation through the atmo-
sphere involves studying the interaction between the atmospheric
1
Dept. of Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and Photogrammetry, medium and laser radiation (i.e., scattering and absorption of radia-
Univ. Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n 46022 Valencia, Spain tion by the medium), as well as studying how the laser changes its
(corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected] own properties owing to atmospheric effects (Zhengfang 1997).
2
Albireo Topografía, Maestro Vicente Alonso, 28, 46110 Godella, The aim of this study was to investigate the range of different
Valencia, Spain. E-mail: alberto@albireotopografia.es EDMs and the relationship between range and atmospheric at-
3
Dept. of Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and Photogrammetry, tenuation and scintillation, calculated using a specific methodol-
Univ. Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n 46022 Valencia, ogy under controlled conditions.
Spain. E-mail: [email protected]
4
ESA-VSC Laboratory, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería—
Univ. de València, Avenida de la Univ., s/n 46100 Burjassot (Valencia),
Spain. E-mail: [email protected] Theoretical Background
5
ESA-VSC Laboratory, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería—
Univ. de València, Avenida de la Univ., s/n 46100 Burjassot (Valencia),
Knowledge of laser beam propagation in the atmosphere is requi-
Spain. E-mail: [email protected]
Note. This manuscript was submitted on August 7, 2013; approved on red for many purposes, such as optical communication, remote
November 5, 2014; published online on March 25, 2015. Discussion sensing of earth resources, laser range detection, and or EDM
period open until August 25, 2015; separate discussions must be submitted measurement as in the case under study.
for individual papers. This paper is part of the Journal of Surveying The transmission of electromagnetic waves through the
Engineering, © ASCE, ISSN 0733-9453/05015001(6)/$25.00. atmosphere is governed by attenuation due to both scattering and

© ASCE 05015001-1 J. Surv. Eng.

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