SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

ELECTRONIC
DISTANCE
MEASUREMENT
AGA Geodimeter
NASM-2A

Robert Burtch
Surveying Engineering Department
Ferris State University

INTRODUCTION
† Introduced in 1950s – evolved into
total stations today
† Types
„ Infrared or laser light – utilize transmitter
at one end and reflecting prism at other
† Some are reflectorless
† Long range – 10-20 km
† Medium range – 3-10 km
† Short range – 0.5-3 km
„ Microwave – utilize receiver/transmitter at
both ends of line

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

PRINCIPLES
† Wave – travels along x-axis at velocity
of 299,792.5 ± 0.4 km/s
† Frequency – time taken for one
complete wavelength
† Relationship:
c
λ=
f
„ λ = wavelength in meters
„ c = velocity, in km/s
„ f = frequency, in hertz (one cycle per
second)

PRINCIPLES OF
EDM
MEASUREMENT

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

PRINCIPLES
† Modulated wave
leaves EDM then
nλ + ϕ
reflected back to
instrument –
L= meters
measures double 2
distance (2L)
† Partial wavelength • nλ whole number of
wavelengths
measured from phase • φ partial wavelength
delay between
transmitted and
reflected

PRINCIPLES
† EDM can send 3-4 modulated waves
at different frequencies
† Find n by substituting these into
distance equation

† Some EDM use pulsed laser emissions

„ Require to determine distance by
measuring travel time to and from EDM

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

PRINCIPLES
† Velocity of light affected by
„ Temperature
„ Atmospheric pressure
„ Water vapor content

† Correction determined using

nomograph or automatically in
automatic processor by inputting
temperature and pressure

ATMOSPHERIC CORRECTION
† Atmospheric
correction graph

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

ATMOSPHERIC CORRECTION
† Insignificant for short-wave light-wave EDM
† Important for long range, especially microwave
Error (Parts per Million)
Parameter Error Light Wave Microwave
Temperature +1°C -1.0 -1.25
Pressure +1mm Hg +0.4 +0.4
Partial water 1 mm Hg -0.05 +7 at 20°C
vapor +17 at 45°C
pressure

EDM INSTRUMENT
CHARACTERISTICS
† Distance range – 800 – 1,000m with average
atmospheric conditions and single prism
„ Short-range can be extended to 1,300m with 3
prisms
„ Long-range can be extended to 15 km with 11
prisms
† Accuracy range
„ Short-range ±(15 mm + 5 ppm)
„ Long-range ±(3 mm + 1 ppm)
† Measuring time - 1.5s short-range, 3.5s long-
range
„ Accuracy and time reduced when in tracking mode

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

EDM INSTRUMENT
CHARACTERISTICS
† Slope reduction – manual or automatic
depending on model
† Average of repeated measurements – available
on some models
† Battery capability – 1,400 – 4,200
measurements depending on size of battery
and temperature
† Temperature range - -20°C - +50°C
† Nonprism measurements – available on some
models
„ Distances from 100 – 350 m

EDM Prisms
† Reflect transmitted signal back to
EDM
† Retrodirect capabilities
† Mounted on tripod or attached to
prism pole
† Forced centering capabilities

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

EDM INSTRUMENT ACCURACIES

† Given in terms of constant error and

proportional term based on distance
† Most fall in range:
±(3 mm + 1 ppm) to ±(10mm + 10 ppm)

† Both EDM instrument & prism

corrected for off-center location
„ Usually determined by manufacturer

GEOMETRY OF EDM
† Using EDM when optical target and prism
at same height
Elev B = Elev A + HI ± V − HR

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

GEOMETRY OF EDM
† EDM instrument mounted on theodolite and target located
below prism

X = ∆HR − ∆hi
From which,

X cos α
sin ∆α =
S

EXAMPLE
† EDM has slope distance AB of 561.276 m.
EDM instrument is 1.820 m above station
A, and the prism is 1.986 m above station
B. The EDM is mounted on a theodolite
whose optical center is 1.720 m above the
station. The theodolite measured a vertical
angle of +6º 21’ 38” to target on prism
pole; the target is 1.810 m above station B.
Compute both the horizontal distance AB
and elevation of station B given an
elevation at A of 186.275 m.

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SURE 110 - Fundamentals of Surveying

Data given in following figures

X = ∆HR − ∆hi
= (1.986m − 1.810m ) − (1.820m − 1.720m )
= 0.076m

X cos α 0.076m cos 6°21'38"

sin ∆α = =
S 561.276m
∆α = 28"
α k = α + ∆α = 6° 22' 06"

H = S cos α k
= (561.276 m ) cos 6°22'06" = 557.813 m

Elev B = Elev A + hi + V − HR
= 186.275m + 1.820 m + (561.276 m )(sin 6°22'06") − 1.986m
= 248.336 m

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