UNITY UNIVERSITY

DEPARTEMENT OF CIVIL & MINING ENGINEERING

Surveying II
(CEng 2081)

CHAPTER- 2
CONTROL SURVEY
NOV,2016
(BERHANU G.)

©Berhanu G/yohannes 2016/17

CONTENTS
 Introduction

 Triangulation

 Classification of Triangulation Systems

 Triangulation figures and choices

 Angle and side conditions

 Strength of Figures

 Procedures in Triangulation

 Adjustment of Triangulation networks

 Location of Point by Intersection and resection

2.1 Introduction
 Control survey is the determination of the precise position of a
number of stations, usually spread over a large area.
 Control surveys can be horizontal or vertical.

 The objective of horizontal control surveys is to establish a network

of control stations which position is specified in terms of latitude and
longitude
 where as the objective of vertical control survey is to provide the
elevations of fixed benchmarks with respect to the mean sea level
datum.
 The results of the control surveys are used as a basis from which
surveys of smaller extent can be originated. Boundary surveys,
construction, route surveys, topographic and hydrographic surveys
and other may be involved.

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2.1 Introduction
 Horizontal control can be carried out by precise

Traversing: series of distance and angles measured

Triangulation: consists of a series of joined or overlapping
triangles in which an occasional line (called the base line) is
measured and all other sides of the triangles are calculated from
angles measured at the vertices of the triangles.
Trilateration: the lengths of the sides of a series of joined or
overlapping triangles are measured (usually with the EDM
equipment) and the angles are computed from the lengths.
perhaps by some combination of these methods.
 Intersection, resection, and satellite positioning are also the other
methods in horizontal control surveys.

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2.1 Introduction
 The exact method used depends on

the terrain condition,

available equipment,
information needed and
economic factors.
2.2 Triangulation
 Triangulation as a form of horizontal control is applied

when a large area is to be surveyed and

when the methods of traversing would not be expected to
maintain a uniformly high accuracy over the entire area.
 In method of triangulation one line termed base line is measured
directly, all other distances are computed by measuring the angles of
the triangles using the law of sine.

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2.2 Triangulation
 Once a triangulation system has been developed, measured and
adjusted, the points in the system then furnish control for subsequent
traversing, minor triangulation, trilateration, intersection, and
resection needed for day-to-day engineering operations.
Principles of Triangulation
 Figure below shows two interconnected triangles ABC and BCD.

 All the angles in both the triangles and the length L of the side AB,
have been measured.

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 Also the azimuth θ of AB has been measured at the triangulation
station A, whose coordinates (XA, YA), are known.
 The objective is to determine the coordinates of the triangulation
stations B, C, and D by the method of triangulation.
Step-1 calculate the lengths of all the lines using sine rule in ΔABC, so
we have

 Now the side BC being known in ΔBCD, by sine rule, we have

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Step-2 calculate the azimuths of all the lines.

Step-3 From the known lengths of the sides and the azimuths, compute
the consecutive coordinates.

Step-3 The desired coordinates of the triangulation stations B, C, and D

are as follows :

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 It would be found that the length of side can be computed more than
once following different routes, and therefore, to achieve a better
accuracy, the mean of the computed lengths of a side is to be
considered.

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Objective Of Triangulation Surveys
 The triangulation surveys are carried out

I. to establish accurate control for plane and geodetic surveys of

large areas,
II. to establish accurate control for photogrammetric surveys of
large areas,
III. to assist in the determination of the size and shape of the earth
by making observations for latitude, longitude and
IV. to determine accurate locations of points in engineering works
such as :
a) Fixing center line and abutments of long bridges over large
rivers.
b) Fixing center line, terminal points, and shafts for long
tunnels.
c) Transferring the control points across wide sea channels,
large water bodies, etc.
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2.3 Classification of Triangulation Systems
 Based on the extent and purpose of the survey, and consequently on
the degree of accuracy desired, triangulation surveys are classified
as
first order (primary) triangulation,
second order (secondary) triangulation and
third order (tertiary) triangulation.
 First order (primary) triangulation: is used to determine the
shape and size of the earth or to cover a vast area like a whole
country with control points to which a second-order triangulation
system can be connected.

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2.3 Classification of Triangulation Systems

 A second-order triangulation system consists of a network within

a first-order triangulation. It is used to cover areas of the order of a
region, small country, or province.
 A third-order triangulation is a framework fixed within and
connected to a second-order triangulation system. It serves the
purpose of furnishing the immediate control for detailed engineering
and location surveys.
 The table below presents the general specifications for the three
types of triangulation systems.
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2.3 Classification of Triangulation Systems

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2.4.Triangulation Figures and Choices
 Although triangles are the basic figures in triangulation networks,
they are not allowed to exist alone because they do not provide
sufficient checks on measurements and subsequent computations.
 The triangles in a triangulation system can be arranged in a number of
ways. Some of the commonly used arrangements, also called layouts,
are as follows
Single chain of triangles
Braced quadrilaterals
Centered triangles and polygons
A combination of above systems.
Single chain of triangles: is used in long and narrow surveys of low
precision.
 Its rapid and economical due to Simplicity of sighting and no
observation of long diagonals.

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2.4.Triangulation Figures and Choices
 There is only one route to compute the unknown side of a triangle.

 The means of checking in this figure is limited. Which are

 Sum of interior angles 180o and

 Calculation of base line for check.
 Check of base lines and azimuths have to be provided at frequent
intervals to avoid excessive accumulation of errors in this layout

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2.4.Triangulation Figures and Choices
Braced quadrilaterals: is a triangulation system consisting of figures
containing four corner stations and observed diagonals.
 Braced quadrilateral consists of overlapping triangles.

 This system is treated to be the strongest and the best arrangement of

triangles,
 It provides a means of computing the lengths of the sides using
different combinations of sides and angles.
 Most of the triangulation systems use this arrangement.

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2.4.Triangulation Figures and Choices
Centered triangles and polygons: is a triangulation system which
consists of figures containing interior stations in triangle and polygon.

 This layout in a triangulation system is generally used when vast

area in all directions is required to be covered.
 Though this system provides checks on the accuracy of the work,
generally it is not as strong as the braced quadrilateral arrangement.
 Moreover, the progress of work is quite slow due to the fact that
more settings of the instrument are required.
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2.4.Triangulation Figures and Choices
criteria for selection of the layout of triangles
 The under mentioned points should be considered while deciding
and selecting a suitable layout of triangles.
1) Simple triangles should be preferably equilateral.
2) Braced quadrilaterals should be preferably approximate
squares.
3) Centered polygons should be regular.
4) The arrangement should be such that the computations can be
done through two or more independent routes.
5) The arrangement should be such that at least one route and
preferably two routes form well conditioned triangles.
6) Angles of simple triangles should not be less than 45°, and in
the case of quadrilaterals, no angle should be less than 30°. In
the case of centered polygons, no angle should be less than 40°.

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2.4.Triangulation Figures and Choices
7) The sides of the figures should be of comparable lengths. Very
long lines and very short lines should be avoided.
8) The layout should be such that it requires least work to achieve
maximum progress.
9) No angle of the figure, opposite a known side should be small,
whichever end of the series is used for computation.
 It may be noted that if a very small angle of a triangle does not fall
opposite the known side it does not affect the accuracy of
triangulation.

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2.5.Angle and side conditions
 To ensure homogenous results from the computations of the sides of
the triangles in a triangulation net, the network must have adequate
geometric strength.
 Two important factors that affect geometric strength are the angle
and side conditions in the network, and the magnitude of the angles
observed.
Angel Conditions
 Angle condition equations in a figure express the following:
The sum of the interior angles in a polygon equals (n-2)1800.
A station equation exists if an angle α1 can be expressed in terms of
an angle 1at a station.
If a horizon is closed, a center-point equation which states that the
sum of these angles is equal to 3600 is required.

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2.5.Angle and side conditions

 It is necessary to evaluate the number of angle conditions in a given

figure . Let
 CA=total number of angle conditions (including center-point equations)

 n’= number of lines in a polygon;

 S’= number of angles measured in the polygon.

 Then CA=S’-(n’-1)=S’-n’+1

Side condition
 Angle condition equations can be satisfied without having consistent
lengths in sides
 Therefore, a side condition equation is necessary when lengths of a
side of a triangle can be computed in more than one route using the
law of sines
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2.5.Angle and side conditions
 To locate any third station in a triangle three lines are needed, and
two lines are needed to locate any additional station.
 All other lines in excess of these are redundant and need a condition
equation called side condition.
 The number of extra lines or the number of side conditions is

 CS = n – 3 – 2 (S-3) = n – 2S + 3

Where CS = number of side conditions;

n= number of side in a figure;
S= number of stations in the figure.
 The total number of side and angle conditions is becomes

 C = CA + CS = (S’ – n’ + 1) + (n – 2S + 3 )

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2.6. Strength of Figures
 When a triangulation system is being evaluated in the early stages of
the work, it is necessary to determine the strength of figure for the
network.
 This step is required in order to ensure uniform accuracy
throughout the network (i.e. to maintain Precision).
 For a given change in the angles, the sine of small angles changes
more rapidly than those of large angles.
 This suggests that smaller angles less than 30° should not be used
in the computation of triangulation.
 If, due to unavoidable circumstances, angles less than 30° are to be
used, then it must be ensured that this is not opposite the side whose
length is required to be computed for carrying forward the
triangulation series.
 The U.S. Coast and Geodetic Surveys has developed a convenient
method of evaluating the strength of a triangulation figure.

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2.6. Strength of Figures

R
D C
D
 
 A  A B B
2 2

where
D = the number of directions observed excluding the known side of the
figure,
δA,δB ,δC = the difference per second in the sixth place of logarithm of the
sine of the distance angles A, B and C, respectively. (Distance angle is the
angle in a triangle opposite to a side), and
C = the number of geometric conditions for side and angle to be satisfied
in each figure. It is given by
C = (n' – S' + 1) + (n – 2S + 3)
where
n = the total number of lines including the known side in a figure,
n' = the number of lines observed in both directions including the known side,
S = the total number of stations, and
S' = the number of stations occupied.
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2.6. Strength of Figures
 For the computation of the quantity (δA2 + δAδB + δB2) in the above equation the following table may be used.

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2.6. Strength of Figures
𝐷−𝐶
Example:-Compute the value of 𝐷 for the triangulation nets shown
below. The directions observed are shown by arrows.

BL

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Example - It is desired to compute the strength of figure of the
given quadrilateral for computation of the side CD from the
known side AB (base line AB) Assume all the lines are observed in both
𝐷 − 𝐶 directions
Step-1 determine the value of 𝐷
C = (n′ − S′ +1)+ (n − 2S + 3)
= (6 − 4 +1)+ (6 − 2× 4 + 3)
n=6
= 3 + 1 = 4.
n′ = 6
Therefore
S=4 𝐷−𝐶 10−4
S′=4 = =0.6
𝐷 10
D = 2(n – 1) = 2×(6 −1)= 10
 There are four routes by which the length of CD can be computed.
 These are
 Route-1: ΔACB and ΔACD having common side AC
 Route-2: ΔABD and ΔACD having common side AD
 Route-3: ΔABC and ΔBCD having common side BC
 Route-4: ΔABD and ΔBCD having common side BD.

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Known Computed Distance Angle
Case Triangles Side Side A B  δA2+δAδB+δB2
I. ACB AB AC 60 43 9.32
ACD AC CD 36 40 21.97

II. ABD AB AD 53 90 2.52

ACD AD CD 104 40 5.25

III. ABC AB BC 60 77 2.30

BCD BC CD 89 47 3.93

IV. ABD AB BD 53 37 14.76

BCD BD CD 44 47 12.89

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Δ1 = 9.32 + 21.97 = 31.29 ≅ 31
Δ2 = 2.52 + 5.25 = 7.77 ≅ 8
Δ3 = 2.3 + 3.93 = 6.23 ≅ 6
Δ4 = 14.76 + 12.89 = 27.65 ≅ 28
 Factor of strength of figure
R1 = 0.6 × Δ1 = 0.6 × 31 = 18.6
R2 = 0.6 × Δ2 = 0.6 × 8 = 4.8
R3 = 0.6 × Δ3 = 0.6 × 6 = 3.6
R4 = 0.6 × Δ4 = 0.6 × 28 = 16.8
 The route-3 has the minimum value of R = 3.6, therefore the
strongest route.

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2.7 Procedures in Triangulation
 A triangulation survey usually involves the following steps
1) Reconnaissance (intervisibility and accessibility )
2) Evaluation of strength of figures (no angle is smaller than 30º or
larger than 150º (closer to 180º).)
3) Signal erection (color and size)
4) Measurement of angles
5) Determination of direction or Azimuth
6) Base line measurement
7) Computations (Station adjustment, figure adjustment and
computation of lengths)

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2.8 Triangulation Adjustment
 Triangulation adjustment is needed because the net must give
geometric consistency.
 The method of least squares will give the most probable corrections
that satisfy the conditions imposed.
 But this method involves so many computations that approximate
methods are desirable.
 The approximate adjustment of a triangulation system consists of:

A. Station Adjustment: correction of the angles at each station so as

to satisfy any geometric conditions existing among the measured angles.
B. Figure Adjustment: adjustment of each figure (triangle,
quadrilateral etc) so as to make it perfect geometric polygon.
 It consists of two parts, namely:

I. Angle adjustment
II. Side adjustment

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2.8 Triangulation Adjustment
 If the adjustment of the station is disturbed during figure adjustment then
adjust the station by adding the difference to the exterior angle of the
station.
Example Make the necessary station and figure adjustments for the figure
shown below.
A D
3 10 Measured Angles
1 9 1. 41° 16' 10" 6. 35 07 00
2 2. 53 36 20 7. 78 42 30
3. 265 07 45 8. 246 11 00
4. 91 16 10 9. 60 01 05
7 5. 268 43 30 10. 299 59 15
4 6
B C
5 8
7

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2.8 Triangulation Adjustment
Solution: -
A. Station Adjustment
Station Angle No Measured Angle Adjustment Angle
A 1 41 16 10 41 16 05
2 53 36 20 53 36 15
3 265 07 45 265 07 40
 360 00 15 360 00 00
B 4 91 16 10 91 16 20
5 268 43 30 268 43 40

 359 59 40 360 00 00
C 6 35 07 00 35 06 50
7 78 42 30 78 42 20
8 246 11 00 246 10 50
 360 00 30 360 00 00
D 9 60 01 05 60 00 55
10 299 59 15 299 59 05
 360 00 20 360 00 00 34
2.8 Triangulation Adjustment
B. Figure Adjustment
Angle after Station Angle after Figure
Triangle Angle No Adjustment Adjustment t
ABC 2 53 36 15 53 36 27
4 91 16 20 91 16 32
6 35 06 50 35 07 01
 179 59’ 25’’ 180 00’ 00’’

ACD 1 41 16 05 41 16 18
7 78 42 20 78 42 34
9 60 00 55 60 01 08
 179 59’ 20’’ 180 00’ 00’’

C. Adjustment on exterior angle.

 Since the change of interior angles will affect the station adjustment, we
have to add the difference to the exterior angle.
 For e.g. consider sum of angles 1, 2, and 3

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2.8 Triangulation Adjustment
 = 4116’18’’ + 5336’27’’ + 26507’40’’ = 36000’25’’
- 36000’00’’
- 0000’25’’
Then angle 3 becomes:
3 = 26507’40’’ – 0000’25’’ = 26507’15’’

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2.9 Location Of Points By Intersection And Resection
 The points located by observing directions from the points of known
locations, are known as the intersected points
 This is a method of locating a control point without occupying it.
 Since intersected points located for subsequent use, their location should
be visible from most of the places in survey area such as tall buildings .
 When a point is established by taking observations from the point to the
points of known locations, such points are known as the resected points
 Resected points established when the main triangulation stations have been
completed and it is found necessary to locate some additional stations for
subsequent use as instrument stations.
In the Figure, let A, B, and C
be the main triangulation
stations whose locations are
known.
P is the point whose location is
to be determined.

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2.9 Location Of Points By Intersection And Resection
A. Location Of Points By Intersection
 Since the coordinates of A, B, and C are known, the lengths a, b, and the
angle β are known. The angle α and γ are observed at A and C.
 Let
From Δ’s ABP and BCP, we get

 Also for the quadrilateral ABCP, we have

α + β + γ + φ + θ = 360°….Eqn 2
 There are two unknowns θ and φ in two equations (1) and (2). The
solution of these equations gives the values of θ and φ, and then the values
of x, y, and z can be calculated by sine law.
 Knowing the distances x, y, and z, the point P can be plotted by
intersection. 38
2.9 Location Of Points By Intersection And Resection
 If the coordinates of P, A and B are (XP, YP), (XA, YA), and (XB, YB), the
reduced bearings θ1 and θ2 of AP and BP are respectively given by

 Since θ1, θ2, (XA,YA) and (XB,YB) are now known, by solving the
simultaneous equations (3) and (4) the coordinates XP are YP are
determined, and the point P is located.
 The check on the computations is provided by computing the distance CP.

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Example: Assuming the following information is known for two points;
compute the coordinates of the unknown point P using the method of
intersection.
XA = 7,484.80 m XB = 1,425.07 m,  = 10022’30.8’’
YA = 5,209.64 m YB = 1,971.28 m,  = 1411’37.2’’

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 Solution
Step-1 compute departure and latitude of side AB
 Departure X -X = 7484.80 m - 1425.07 m = 6059.73m
A B
 Latitude Y -Y = 5209.64 m - 1971.28 m = 3238.36m
A B
Step-2 compute the length of side AB
𝐿𝐴𝐵 = 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 2 + 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 2

𝐿𝐴𝐵 = 6,059.732 + 3,238.362

𝐿𝐴𝐵 = 6,870.76𝑚
Step-3 compute the azimuth of side BA
−1
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 −1
6059.73
Az of BA = tan = tan = 610 52′ 48′′
𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 3238.36
Step-4 compute the values of θ
α + β + θ = 180° ⇨ θ= 180°00’00’’ - 114034’08’’= 65025’52’’

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Step-5 compute the values of BP and AP using sin law
𝐴𝐵 𝐴𝑃 𝐵𝑃
= =
sin 𝜃 sin 𝛽 sin 𝛼
Then BP = 7,492.15m and AP = 1,852.43m
Step-6 compute the bearings 𝛿 of side BP & AP
𝛿𝐵𝑃 = Az BA + 𝛽 = 76004’25.2’’
𝛿𝐴𝑃= 𝛼 - Az BA = 38029’42.8’’
Step-7 compute the departure and latitudes of either BP or AP
Consider BP
 Departure = BP*Sin 𝛿 = 7,492.15*Sin 76 004’25.2’’ = 7,271.93m
𝐵𝑃
 Latitude = BP*Cos𝛿 = 7,492.15*Cos 76 004’25.2’’ = 1,803.17m
𝐵𝑃
Step-8 determine the coordinates of point P
XP = XB + Departure of BP = 1,425.07 m + 7,271.93m = 8,697.00m
YP = YB + Latitude of BP = 1,971.28 m + 1,803.17m = 3,774.45m
check the above result using side AP.
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2.9 Location Of Points By Intersection And Resection
B. Location Of Points By Resection
 In the case of resected points shown in Figure below, the angles α and γ
are unknowns, and the angles θ and φ are measured by occupying the
station P.
 The Eqs. (1) and (2) solved for α and γ, and then x, y, and z are computed
by sine law.
 Since in this case the angles α and γ are not measured, the solution of Eqs.
(1) and (2) is obtained as explained below.
 From Eq. (2), we get α +γ = 360 − (β +θ +φ ) or

 From Eq. (1), we have

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 We can also write

And

Divide the above equation both side by

 From sum to product trigonometric identity of the form

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 Then eqn 7 becomes

 Substituting the values of from Eq. (5) and the value of λ from Eq.
(6) in Eq. (8), we get the value of

 Now the values of α and γ can be obtained from the values of and

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 Now the lengths x, y, and z are obtained by applying sine law in the
triangles APB and BPC.
 The length y of the common side BP gives a check on the computations.
 The azimuths of the three sides AP, BP, and CP are computed, and
 The coordinates of P are determined from the azimuths and lengths of the
lines.

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Exercise: In figure below angle  and  were observed as 4853’12’’ and
4120’35’’, respectively. Control points A, B, and C have coordinates (in
meter) of XA = 5721.25, YA = 21802.48, XB = 13542.99, YB = 22497.95, XC =
20350.09, and YC = 24861.22. Calculate the coordinate of O using method of
resection.

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THANK YOU!

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