SUR 3103L
Survey Lab Exercise – 4
Trigonometric Leveling
Measure Heights of Unknown Points
Objective
To introduce the method of trigonometric leveling to measure heights of unknown points.
Instruments:
1. Total Station
2. Tripod
3. Tape to measure the height of the instrument (from the ground to the center of
the instrument)
Meeting Location
Location: 26.369698, -80.104347 (South of Engineering West building and in front of
residence hall)
Procedure:
1. Each group should locate an instrument station from where all five points are
visible without any obstructions.
2. Set up the tripod, and the total station at the chosen spot. Perform centering and
levelling. Level the equipment until you see check mark for all three screws in the
screen.
3. Select Menu->ProgSurveying; Set Job (F1). Select “New” and provide a name
for the job by pressing INPUT button. Click OK when done.
4. Set Station (F2): Give a name for the station (STN_group_number); Select NEH
button and enter (Northing, Easting, Height) – (1000,1000,0). Measure the
instrument height and provide it for “Height of the instrument”.
5. Set Orientation (F3): Select Manual Angle Settings. Then provide a point name
and select Hz=0. Focus the telescope to that point. Adjust the eyepiece to clearly
see the target. Select ALL/REC to measure.
6. After the orientation is set, choose Survey (F4). Then for all given points starting
from 1, move the telescope and point to target. Hit measure all button and note
down zenith angle, and slope distance.
7. Repeat the step 6 for at least 5 points identified by the instructor.
8. Now compute the height of unknown points using the formulas:
Vertical Distance = Slope Distance *Cos (zenith angle)
Height=Height of instrument + Vertical Distance
9. Draw a neat side view sketch for each building showing the location of instrument
and indicate on the sketch all the numbers ( Slope distance, horizontal distance,
zenith angle, and vertical distance, and height of the building.)
STNSTNSTNSTNSTN-
1
2
3
4
5
Height of
Slope
Instrument(ft) Distance(ft)
Height of the instrument
To
Height
From
Zenith Angle
Vertical
Height of the
Distance(ft) Building(ft)