Civil Engineering Final Exam
(Answered) 100% Verified. 2025/2026.
What is the level ?
a telescope rotatable about a vertical axis
What does a level do?
creates a horizontal line of sight so height differences can be determined
determines distance with an accuracy of 0.1 to 0.3 metres
Total station surveying
the use of electronic survey equipment to perform horizontal and vertical measurements in
reference to a grid system
Horizontal angle vs vertical angle
horizontal angle is independent of height difference provided the telescope moves in a strictly
vertical plane
vertical angle is the difference between the prescribed direction and the direction to the point under
consideration
Height difference
calculated from the distance between two staff readings
backsight - foresight
When do you use line levelling? Characteristics of line levelling?
If point A and B are widely separated
Targets distances between 30 and 50 metres
Where does point A have to be in excavation?
point A has to be at street level and point B a metre below point A
Advantages of automatic target recognition
1) high speed of measurement
2) constant measuring accuracy independent of the observer
Total station requirements
1) Line of sight ZZ perpendicular to tilting axis KK
2) Titling axis KK perpendicular to vertical axis VV
3) Vertical axis VV strictly vertical
4) Vertical circle reading precisely zero at zenith
, What are the different types of total station errors
1) Line of sight error
2) Tilting axis error
3) Vertical axis tilt
4) Height index error
What is line of sight error?
deviation from the right angle between the line of sight and tilting axis
What is tilting axis error ?
deviation from the right angle between tilting axis and vertical axis
What is a vertical axis tilt?
between plumb line and vertical axis
What is height index error?
the angle between the zenith direction and zero reading of the vertical circle
What is the most accurate way to measure a right angle?
using a total station
Free station surveys
calculates the position and height of instrument station along with the orientation of the horizontal
circle
What are the advantages of free station surveys ?
allows you to choose the most favorable station without having a known point
What's an advantage of using GPS over total station?
the points do not have to be mutually visible
What is a continuously operating reference station (CORS)?
a dual frequency GPS receiver located at known coordinates
What is total station surveying?
the use of electronic survey equipment used to perform horizontal and vertical measurements in
reference to a grid system
What are the five components needed for total station surveying?
1) Total Station and tripod
2) Electronic notebook
3) Prism (and prism pole)
4) Computer interface
5) Batteries and Radios
What are the advantages of total station surveying?
(Answered) 100% Verified. 2025/2026.
What is the level ?
a telescope rotatable about a vertical axis
What does a level do?
creates a horizontal line of sight so height differences can be determined
determines distance with an accuracy of 0.1 to 0.3 metres
Total station surveying
the use of electronic survey equipment to perform horizontal and vertical measurements in
reference to a grid system
Horizontal angle vs vertical angle
horizontal angle is independent of height difference provided the telescope moves in a strictly
vertical plane
vertical angle is the difference between the prescribed direction and the direction to the point under
consideration
Height difference
calculated from the distance between two staff readings
backsight - foresight
When do you use line levelling? Characteristics of line levelling?
If point A and B are widely separated
Targets distances between 30 and 50 metres
Where does point A have to be in excavation?
point A has to be at street level and point B a metre below point A
Advantages of automatic target recognition
1) high speed of measurement
2) constant measuring accuracy independent of the observer
Total station requirements
1) Line of sight ZZ perpendicular to tilting axis KK
2) Titling axis KK perpendicular to vertical axis VV
3) Vertical axis VV strictly vertical
4) Vertical circle reading precisely zero at zenith
, What are the different types of total station errors
1) Line of sight error
2) Tilting axis error
3) Vertical axis tilt
4) Height index error
What is line of sight error?
deviation from the right angle between the line of sight and tilting axis
What is tilting axis error ?
deviation from the right angle between tilting axis and vertical axis
What is a vertical axis tilt?
between plumb line and vertical axis
What is height index error?
the angle between the zenith direction and zero reading of the vertical circle
What is the most accurate way to measure a right angle?
using a total station
Free station surveys
calculates the position and height of instrument station along with the orientation of the horizontal
circle
What are the advantages of free station surveys ?
allows you to choose the most favorable station without having a known point
What's an advantage of using GPS over total station?
the points do not have to be mutually visible
What is a continuously operating reference station (CORS)?
a dual frequency GPS receiver located at known coordinates
What is total station surveying?
the use of electronic survey equipment used to perform horizontal and vertical measurements in
reference to a grid system
What are the five components needed for total station surveying?
1) Total Station and tripod
2) Electronic notebook
3) Prism (and prism pole)
4) Computer interface
5) Batteries and Radios
What are the advantages of total station surveying?
