Total Station

Total Station
What is Total Station?

A total station is an electronic optical instrument widely used in modern surveying. The total station
surveying instrument is a combination of an electronic theodolite (transit); an electronic distance meter
(EDM), which is a measuring device to read distances; and software running on an external computer. The
modern versions of survey total stations called robotic total stations let the user control the instrument from a
distance with the help of a remote control.
Features of Total Station
Robotic Total Station Survey Total Station
The designs of a total station is created for measuring slant distances, horizontal and vertical angles and
elevations in topographic and geodetic works, tacheometric surveys, as well as for solution of application
geodetic tasks. Most of the survey total stations have many of the following features:
• Most of the total stations are mounted on a tripod and leveled before use.
• They consist of a mounting bracket that includes aids for aiming the instrument.
• Most total stations use a purpose-built glass prism mounted on a pole of known height. This acts as
the reflector for the EDM signal, and can measure distances out to a few kilometers.
• The prism is mounted so that its reflection point is aligned with the center of the pole on which it
has been mounted.
• Most modern total station instruments measure angles by means of electro-optical scanning of
extremely precise digital bar-codes etched on rotating glass cylinders or discs within the
instrument.
• These survey instruments also include a simple calculator to figure the location of points sighted.
The calculator can perform the necessary trigonometric functions.
• These stations also include a data recorder, which reduce chances of error and eliminates manual
data recording.
• High-efficiency electronic tacheometer (a type of theodolite) is highly automated for rapid
measurements during surveys.
Working of Total Station
The major operations that are conducted using total staions include determination of coordinates;
measurement of angles and distance; and data processing.
Coordinates Determination by Total Station

A total station determines coordinates of an unknown point relative to a known coordinate by establishing a
direct line of sight between the two points. Angles and distances are measured from the total station to
points under survey, and the coordinates of surveyed points relative to the total station position are
calculated using trigonometry and triangulation. Some total stations have a Global Navigation Satelite
System (GNSS) which doesn't require a direct line of sight to determine coordinates.
Angle Measurement by Total Station

Most of the modern total stations have digital bar-codes on rotating glass cylinders or discs that are installed
within the instrument. Angle measurement is done through electro-optical scanning of these digital bar-
codes. Quality total stations can measure angles to 0.5 arc-second. Cheap models of total stations like the
construction grade total stations do not have such level of accuracy and can usually measure angles to 5 or
10 arc-seconds.
Distance Measurement by Total Station

A total station has a small solid-state emitter within its optical path. They generate modulated microwave or
infrared signals that are reflected by a prism reflector or the object under survey. The computer installed in
the total staion reads the modulation pattern in the returning signal. The distance is thus determined by
emitting and receiving multiple frequencies and determining the integer number of wavelengths to the target
for each frequency. A well built total station can measure distances with an accuracy of approximately 1.5
millimetres + 2 parts per million over a distance of up to 1,500 metres. The total stations that do not carry
reflectors are capable of measuring distances to any object which light in color, to a few hundred meters.
Data Processing by Total Station

The data recorded by the instrument may be downloaded from the theodolite to a computer and application
software generates a map of the surveyed area. Many advanced models of total station have internal
electronic data storage to record distance, horizontal angle, and vertical angle measured. Some other total
stations can also write these measurements to external data collector like a portable computer.
Applications of Total Station

Total stations are mainly used in land surveying tasks. They are also used by archaeologists to record
excavations and also by police, crime investigators, private accident reconstructionists and insurance
companies to take measurements of scenes. Some of its area of application include:
• Land Surveying
• Mining
• Road Mapping
• Aerial photogrammetry
• Calibration Labs/Test Houses

Total Station

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Total Station

What is Total Station?

Features of Total Station

Robotic Total Station Survey Total Station

Coordinates Determination by Total Station

Angle Measurement by Total Station

Distance Measurement by Total Station

Data Processing by Total Station

Applications of Total Station

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