Surveying instruments were developed gradually.

The use of surveying

instruments came about the early days of Roman empire. The remarkable
engineering ability of Romans is clearly demonstrated by their extensive
construction of structures and buildings which continue to exist even up to
this modern era.
Aqueducts
First developed around 312 B.C., these
engineering marvels used gravity to
transport water along stone, lead and
concrete pipelines and into city centers.
Aqueducts liberated Roman cities from a
reliance on nearby water supplies and
proved priceless in promoting public
health and sanitation.

https://www.history.com/news/10-innovations-that-built-ancient-rome
The Colosseum
an oval amphitheater in the center of the
city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman
Forum. It is the largest ancient
amphitheater ever built, and is still the
largest standing amphitheater in the
world today, despite its age.
EARLY SURVEYING
INSTRUMENTS
The fore-runners of our present-day surveying instruments
Astrolabe (140 B.C.)
• Also known as astrolabe of Hipparchus
• The best known measuring instrument
from ancient times
• Further developed by Ptolemy
• a device that uses astral bodies like the
sun and stars to either tell your position
in latitude or tell the local time. It can
also be used to measure celestial events
like the wobble of the Earth’s axis.
Determining The Latitude Using
Astrolabe
Telescope (1607)
o The invention of this is generally
accredited to Lippershey.
o In 1609, Galileo constructed a
refracting telescope for astronomical
observations.
o It was only when cross hairs for fixing
the line of sight introduced, that the
telescope in early surveying
instruments
Transit (1830)
o The invention of this is credited to
young and Draper who worked
independently from each other.
o They were able to put together in one
instrument the essential parts of what
is long been known as the universal
surveying instrument.
SEMI-
CIMCURFERENTOR
• Also known as semicircular graphometer

• Used to measure and lay off angles, and

establish lines of sight by employing peep
sights.

• The instrument has an inset compass.

 PLANE TABLE
• One of the oldest surveying instruments
used in field mapping.
• The earliest mention of a plane table
dates to 1551 in Paris.
• A plane table consists of a smooth table
surface mounted on a sturdy base.
• It provides a solid and level surface on
which to make field drawings, charts
and maps.
 DIOPTRA
• Perfected by Heron of Alexandria
• Used in leveling and for measuring
horizontal and vertical angles.
• It consist essentially of a copper tube
supported on a standard and can be
rotated in either horizontal or vertical
plane.
• The dioptra was used extensively on 
aqueduct building projects.
• It was replaced as a surveying
instrument by the Theodolite.
 ROMAN GROMA
• It is a classical astronomical and surveying instrument,
dating from the 3rd century BC.
• It is a device used to establish right angles, but Roman
surveyors made it a standard tool.
• It was made of a horizontal wooden cross pivoted at
the middle and supported from above. 
• Roman surveyors used it for aligning or sighting
points.
Compass
• the magnetic compass came into wide
use during the 13th century for
determining the directions of lines and
in calculating angles between lines.

• The compass consists of a magnetized

steel needle mounted on a pivot at the
center of graduated cylinder. - the
needle continues to point toward
north
Gunter's chain
• it was invented by Sir Edmund Gunter
in 1620

• it was the forerunner of instruments

used for taping distances.

• 66 feet long and contains 100 links

each part, called a link, is 0.66 ft or
7.92 inches lon
Chorobates
• this instrument was designed for
leveling work.

• it consisted of a horizontal straight-

edge about 6 meters long with
supporting legs, and a groove 2.5 cm
deep and 1.5 m long by
Merchet
• it was a device for measuring time and
meridian.

• it consisted of a slotted palm leaf

through which to sight and a bracket
from which a plumb bob was
suspended.
MODERN SURVEYING
EQUIPMENT
• In1970’s, EDM’s were already in use. An electronic
distance measuring device that is easy-to-use, small,
and lightweight.
• Electronic
Theodolite was also created. It is a device
that can measure angles electronically.
• Also,a device called Total Station was made. It is a
combination of electronic theodolite, EDM, and
software running on an external laptop computer that
collects every gathered data.
ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASURING
DEVICES (EDM)
• Electronicdistance measurement (EDM) is a method of
determining the length between two points using
electromagnetic waves.
• EDM instruments are highly reliable and convenient pieces
of surveying equipment and can be used to measure distances of
up to 100 kilometers.
• TheEDM's onboard computer reads and interprets the
modulation pattern in the returning signal.
ELECTRONIC THEODOLITE
•A telescope mounted on a base, as well as an
electronic readout screen, are used to display
horizontal and vertical angles in
digital/electronic theodolites.
ELECTRONIC THEODOLITE
•A telescope mounted on a base, as well as an
electronic readout screen, are used to display
horizontal and vertical angles in
digital/electronic theodolites.
HOW TO USE AN ELECTRONIC THEODOLITE?
• Mark the station on the ground using a stake or surveyor’s needle, above which the
theodolite is planned to be placed.
• Place the tripod over the station. The height of the tripod is adjusted so that the
instrument stays at eye level.
• Mount the theodolite over the tripod and screw it in place using the mounting knob.
• The height difference between the ground and the instrument is measured. This
height is used as a reference for other stations.
• The theodolite is leveled by adjusting the tripod legs and the leveling knobs.
• After leveling, through the telescope, aim the crosshairs at the point to be measured.
The knobs on the side of the theodolite are used to lock it to keep the target on
point.
• The horizontal and vertical angles are read from the LCD screen for the target.
 TOTAL STATION
• The functions of a theodolite for
measuring angles, an EDM for
measuring distances, digital data,
and a data recorder are all combined
in a total station. Regardless of their
age or level of technology, all total
stations have similar constructional
features and perform essentially the
same functions.
COMPONENTS OF A TOTAL STATION
• EDM
• ELECTRONIC THEODOLITE
• ON-BOARD MICRO-PROCESSOR
• DATA COLLECTOR
• DATA STORAGE
• PRISMS
How are Total Stations used?

• Total stations can be used by surveyors and civil

engineers to assess topography, record existing natural
features, and plan for buildings, roads, and land
boundaries. Mining, meteorology, archaeological digs,
forensic investigations, and building information
modeling all benefit from these impressive and precise
instruments.
 Advantages and Disadvantages
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
• Traditional survey methods are • Total stations are dependent on
laborious and time consuming batteries and electronics.
• Fully automatic electronic • Battery life is also short, batteries
measurement and electronics both do not work
• Digital display of staff reading and well when wet.
distance • Loss of data is an important
• Data storage in instrument possible consideration.
• Direct transfer to personal computer
of data stored in instruments
• Online operation through integrated
interface to computer
THANK YOU!