1. The introduction and applications of
TOTAL STATION
(Leica TS02/06/09)
LUONG BAO BINH
Dept. of Geomatics Engineering
University of Technology, HCMC, VN

2. Contents
• Introduction
– Fundamental measurements
– Why is the total station?
– Modern technologies
• Basic functions
– Target offset
– Height transfer
– Hidden point
– Check tie
2

3. Contents (cont.)
• Applications
– Surveying & Traverse
– Stake out
– Free station
– Reference line & Reference arc
– Tie distance
– Area and volume
– Remote height
– Coordinate geometry calculations
– Road 2D and 3D
3

4. Fundamental measurements
Angle with theodolites Leveling with levels
Distance with tape or EDM
Should we combine them
in an instrument?
4

5. Why is the total station?
• Problem: in practice, not only individual
measurements but also the combinations
of measurements and the calculations are
required for many tasks.
• Solution: the total station
Electronic Total
+ EDM + Firmware =
theodolite station
5

6. Advantages of total station
• All-in-one instrument for multi-task
• Reliable and highly accurate
• Integrated applications available for many
common tasks
• Automatic and easy in data storage and
transfer
• A complete procedure from surveying to
map plotting is available with appropriate
softwares
6

7. Accuracy and range
Prism mode
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8. Accuracy and range
Non-prism mode
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9. Modern technologies
• Reflectorless (non-prism mode)
• Integrated GPS (smart station)
• Auto tracking (robotic)
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10. Integrated GPS
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11. Integrated GPS
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12. Basic functions
• Target offset
• Height transfer
• Hidden point
• Check tie
12

13. Target offset
Determines the target point P2 from:
_ the offset point P1 and
_ two distances: traverse offset and length offset
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14. Cylinder offset
Determines the center P1
and radius R from
_ three points on the border
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15. Height transfer
Determines the instrument height at P0 from:
_ the point(s) Pi with known height(s)
15

16. Hidden point
Determines the hidden point P1 from:
_ two points 1 and 2, and
_ distances d1 & d2 on the rod 16

17. Check tie
Calculates from 2 measured points P1 & P2::
_ slope and horizontal distance
_ azimuth
_ grade
_ height difference
_ coordinates diference 17

18. Applications
• Traverse and Surveying
• Stake out
• Free station
• Reference line & Reference arc
• Area and volume
• Remote height
• Coordinate geometry calculations
• Road 2D & 3D
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19. Traverse
• Helmet transformation
• Adjustment
• Checking point and tolerance
• Start the traverse with or without known
backsight
• Measure sideshot
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20. Traverse
20

21. Traverse
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22. Stake out
Polar mode Orthogonal mode Cartesian mode
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23. Free station
Determines the instrument position P0 from at least 2 known points Pi
23

24. Reference line
• Reference Line is an application that facilitates
the easy stake out or checking of lines, for
example, for buildings, sections of road, or
simple excavations. It allows the user to define a
reference line and then complete the following
tasks with respect to that line:
– Line & offset
– Point & Grid stake out
– Line segmentation stake out
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25. Base line
Base line is defined by 2 points
which can be:
_ measured, or
_ entered / selected from memory
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26. Reference line
Reference line is created by:
_ parallel / longitudinal offset
_ rotated
from base line / base point 26

27. Line & offset
to calculate:
_ offsets
_ height difference
of target point relative to ref. line
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28. Stake out
Grid stake out
Point stake out 28

29. Line segmentation stake out
29

30. Reference arc
• Line & offset
• Stake out:
– Point
– Arc
– Chord
– Angle
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31. Reference arc
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32. Line & offset
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33. Stake out (point & angle)
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34. Stake out (arc & chord)
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35. Tie distance
Polynomial method
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36. Tie distance
Radial method
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37. Area
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38. Volume
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39. Remote height
to compute points (without prism)
directly above the base prism
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40. Geometry calculations
• Inverse and Traverse
• Intersection
• Offset
• Extension
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41. Inverse
to calculate:
_ distance
_ direction
_ height difference
_ grade
between 2 known points
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42. Traverse
to calculate the position
of a new point using:
_ distance
_ bearing
from a known points
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43. Intersections
Bearing-Bearing Bearing-Distance
(2 lines) (a line & a circle)
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44. Intersections
By Points
Distance-Distance (4 points on 2 lines)
(2 circles)
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45. Offsets
Distance-offset Set point Plane offset
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46. Extension
to calculate the extended point
from a known base line
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47. Road 2D
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48. Road 3D
Quadratic Parabola
48