Triangulation and Trilateritation

Mark Alcala
General Surveying
At the end of the lecture, students should be
able to:
 Define triangulation and trilateration
 Explain their purposes
 Enumerate the triangulation procedures
 Perform necessary adjustments to determine
horizontal positions
 Compute strength of figure and spherical
excess
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
I. Purpose of Triangulation and Trilateration
II. Definition of Terms
III. Triangulation
A. Triangulation Procedure
B. Triangulation Figures
C. Choice of Figure
D. Triangulation Adjustments
1. Geometric Conditions
2. Adjustment of a Chain of Triangles
3. Adjustment of a Quadrilateral
IV. Strength of Figure
V. Spherical Excess
VI. Trilateration
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Employed extensively to establish
horizontal control for:
 Topographic mapping
Charting lakes, rivers, and ocean coastlines
Surveys required for the design and construction
of public and private works of large extent
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
5
Triangulation System
Triangulation Stations
Base Line
Check Base
Trilateration System
Horizontal Control Surveys
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Triangulation System
Consists of a series of joined or overlapping
triangles in which an occasional line is measured
and the balance of the sides are calculated from
angles measured at the vertices of the triangles
 Triangulation Stations
Vertices of the triangles in a triangulation system
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Base Line
Line in a triangulation system whose length is
precisely measured and its true direction
determined by astronomical observations
Usually located at the beginning of the triangulation
system and its length is used as the basis for
computing lengths of other lines
 Check Base
Line/s in a triangulation system of known length and
may be located at regular intervals or at the end of
the triangulation system
Serves as a check for triangulation computations
involving lengths of lines
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Trilateration System
Consists also of a series of joined or overlapping
triangles, however, the lengths of the triangle‟s sides
are measured and few directions or angles observed
(only those required to establish azimuth)
 Horizontal Control Surveys

Surveys made to establish geodetic latitudes and
longitudes, and plane rectangular coordinates of a
network of reference stations.
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
10
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
11
Triangulation Procedure
Triangulation Figures
Choice of Figure
Triangulation Adjustments
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Error Propagation
Erection of
Reconnaissance or Strength of
Figure for the signals, tripods or
Network towers
Astronomic Base line Direction or angle

observations measurements observations
Computations
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Reduction to Sea Level
Reduction to center*
Computations Spherical excess*
Lengths & Coordinates
Network Adjustment
*when necessary
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Ina narrow triangulation system, a chain of
figures is employed, consisting of:
Single triangles
Polygons
Quadrilaterals
Combination of the three
A triangulation system extending over a

wide area is likewise divided into figures
which are irregularly overlapping and
intermingling
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
1. Chain of Triangles
• The simplest form of a triangulation system
• Does not provide the most accurate results due
to lack of checks
• Usually employed in long and narrow surveys
of low precision such as for a valley or a narrow
body of water
• There is but one route by which distances can
be computed through the chain
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Check Base
Base Line
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
2. Chain of Polygons
• “central-point figure”
• Composed of a group of triangles bounded by
three or more sides and having within it a
station which is at a vertex common to all the
triangles
• Used when horizontal control is to be extended
over a wide area (e.g., triangulation for a city)
• Skewed figure can be strengthened by using
an extra diagonal
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Base Line Check Base
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
20
3. Chain of Quadrilaterals
• Most commonly used triangulation system
• Best adopted to long and narrow surveys of
high precision
• Each figure is composed of two pairs of
overlapping triangles  advantage:
distribution of angular errors
• Most expensive but desired because of high
accuracy
• Allows point position computation by four
independent routes for computational checks
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Check Base
Base Line
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Ideal shapes:
Triangles: equilateral
Quadrilateral: square
 To ensure high accuracy, triangulation system
must have ideal shapes and recommended
distance angles
 Distance angles are angles opposite the
known and required sides of the triangle
 Recommended range: 300 to 1500
 Recommended value: near 900
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Chains of single triangles:
Simplest
Weakness: only one check (sum of int. angles)
Low precision
Solution: base lines would not to be placed closer
together
 Chains of polygons:
 For more precise work
 Best adapted to wide systems
 Chains of quadrilaterals:
 For more precise work
 Best adapted to long, narrow systems
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Triangulation Adjustments: Geometric Conditions
The angle-condition equations in a figure

express the following:
1. Sum of interior angles in a polygon must equal some
multiple of 1800
2. If one or more directly observed angles (i) at a
station can be expressed as a function of other angles
(i) also observed at that station, there is a station
equation.
3. If all angles about a point are observed (i.e., the
horizon is closed), then a center-point equation
which states that the sum of these angles is equal to
3600 is required.
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
The number of angle conditions in a given

figure is:
CA = A-L+1
Where:
CA = total number of angle conditions (including center-point
equations) in a polygon
A = number of angles measured in the polygon
L = number of lines in the polygon
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Example:
Compute for the total number of angle conditions
T
10
7 6 CA =A-L+1= 5
8 5
9
4
1 2
R 3
S
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Example:
Compute for the total number of angle conditions
T 1 + 2 + 3 = 1800 (a)
CA = 5  +  + 6 = 1800 (b)
7 + 8 + 9 = 1800 (c)
10 1 + + 4 + 6 + 7 + 9 = 1800 (d)
2 + 5 + 8 = 3600 (e)
7 6
6 + 7 - 10 = 00 (f)
8 5
9 Permissible Sets:
4
a, b, c, e, f
1 2 b, c, d, e, f
R 3 a, b, d, e, f
S
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Angle conditions can be satisfied without having

consistent lengths in sides.
 To avoid inconsistencies in length, side conditions
are required.
 Needed when lengths of a side in a triangle can be
computed by more than one route using the law of
sines D D
C C C
A B A A
B B
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
The number of side conditions is:
CS = n’-2s+3
Where:
Cs = number of side conditions
n‟ = number of sides in a figure
s = number of stations in a figure
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
30
Example:
Compute for the total number of side conditions
D
CS = n’-2s+3
= 6-2(4)+3
C
=1
A
B
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
1. Least Squares Method

• One method of estimation or adjustment most
commonly used in surveying and geodesy
• Adjustment technique but estimation in statistics.
• It seeks the “least” sum of squares of the residuals
• Uses the angle and side condition equations as
inputs to the adjustment process
• Rigorous, complex and requires lengthy
computations
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
2. Approximate Method
• Simple and convenient to use
• Geometric consistency is attained
• Not rigorous
• Answers are not the best possible values
• Use is not recommended for the adjustment of
triangulation networks
• In chain of triangles, it is composed of two steps:
Station adjustment and Figure adjustment
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Triangulation Adjustments: Methods of Adjustment:Approximate Method for Chain of Triangles
Objective:
Sum of angles about a station (m) = 3600
Correction per station:

3600 – m
Correction per measured angle:

(3600 – m)/n
where n = # of measured angles
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Performed after station adjustment

 Uses adjusted values from previous
adjustment
Objective:
Sum of Interior angles or a triangle (int) = 1800
Correction per interior angle:

(1800 – int)/3
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Adjust the measured angles of the given chain of triangles using

the Approximate Method
Angle Observed Value
a 240-21-00
b 60-29-10
c 59-10-05
d 301-34-49
e 58-25-15
f 62-25-10
g 59-25-10
h 238-09-31
i 299-54-54
j 60-05-10
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Station Adjustment: m = 3600
• About station A:
 m = a + b + c = 360-00-15
correction = -15”
Correction per angle (cor)= -15”/3 = -5”
 Adjusted angles:
a‟= a + cor = 240-20-55
b„= b + cor = 60-29-05
c„ = c + cor = 59-10-00
Sum check: 360-00-00
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
• About station B:
 m = d + e = 360-00-04
correction per angle (cor)= -04”/2 = -2”
d‟= d + cor = 301-34-47
e„ = e + cor = 58-25-13
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
• About station C:
 m = f + g + h= 359-59-51
correction = +09”
correction per angle (cor)= +09”/3 = +3”
f‟= f + cor = 62-25-13
g„= g +corr = 59-25-13
h„ = h + cor = 238-09-34
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
• About station D:
 m = i + j = 360-00-04
correction per angle (cor)= -04”/2 = -2”
i‟= i + cor = 299-54-52
j„ = j + cor = 60-05-08
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
40

Angle Observed Adjusted Adjusted Value
Value Angle (after Station Adjustment)
a 240-21-00 a„ 240-20-55
b 60-29-10 b‟ 60-29-05
c 59-10-05 c„ 59-10-00
d 301-34-49 d‟ 301-34-47
e 58-25-15 e‟ 58-25-13
f 62-25-10 f‟ 62-25-13
g 59-25-10 g‟ 59-25-13
h 238-09-31 h‟ 238-09-34
i 299-54-54 i‟ 299-54-52
j 60-05-10 j‟ 60-05-08
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Figure Adjustment: int = 1800
• Triangle ABC:
in = c‟ + e‟ + f‟ = 180-00-26
correction
t = -26”
correction per angle:
= -26”/3 = -8.67”say -9”
c‟‟= c‟ + (-9”) = 59-09-51
e‟‟ = e‟ + (-9”) = 58-25-04
f‟ = f‟ + (-8”) = 62-25-05
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Figure Adjustment: int = 1800
• Triangle ACD:
in = b‟ + g‟ + j‟ = 179-59-26
correction
t = +34”
correction per angle:
= +34”/3 = +11.33” say +11”
b‟‟= b‟ + 11” = 60-29-16
g‟ = g‟ + 12” = 59-25-25
j‟‟ = j‟+ 11” = 60-05-19
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Triangle Angle Adjusted Value Corrections Adjusted Value

(after by Figure (after
Station Adjustment) Adjustment Figure Adjustment)
c 59-10-00 -9” 59-09-51

ABC e 58-25-13 -9” 58-25-04
f 62-25-13 -8” 62-25-05
b 60-29-05 +11” 60-29-16
ACD g 59-25-13 +11” 59-25-24
j 60-05-08 +12” 62-05-20
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Definition
Different Routes in a Quadrilateral
Geometric Conditions
Sample Computation
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Necessary to determine when a triangulation
project is being evaluated in the preliminary
stages of work.
 Required in order to ensure uniform accuracy
throughout the network.
 Based on the theory of probability
 Stronger figure has smaller R
 Will indicate the route that will yield distance
of a final line with the smallest error
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
57
Strength of Figure
1 2 3 4
Known Side
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
A function of:
1. Geometric Strength:
 Of triangles that make up the network
2. No. of stations occupied:
 For angles and direction measurements
3. No. of angle and side conditions
 Used in adjusting the network
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
R = Strength of Figure
D = # of directions observed (F & B) excluding the known side
C = total # of geometric conditions (side and angle)
F = factor for computing R; equal to (D-C)/D
A,  = tabular difference for 1”, expressed in units of the sixth
decimal place, corresponding to the distance angles A and B
of a triangle
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
60
Strength of Figure
n‟ = number of lines observed in both directions,including

the known side
s‟= number of occupied stations
n = total number of lines, including known line
s = total number of stations
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Strength of Figure
HOMEWORK
Determine the strongest route to compute the length of check
base CD if base line AB is 1,586.85 m long. Assume that all
stations are occupied and all lines are observed in both
directions. D
C
360
440
530
600
470
400
430
370
B
A
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Definition
Sample Computation
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Triangulation net having long sides theoretically
should be solved as a series of spherical triangles.
 The problem become unnecessarily complicated and
may be avoided by applying Legendre‟s theorem:
 TriangleSph – TrianglePlane = e
 Correction to Corresponding angle = e/3
 By Spherical geometry:
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
70
Spherical Excess
The observed angles in triangle ABC are:

 = 57-53-20.1 B
 = 62-23-32.1
 = 59-43-20.3
d = BC = 40,320.00 m. 
c
d
Compute for:
the spherical excess

 adjusted angles 
A
C b
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Spherical Excess
 Side c by sine law:

c = d sin  = 41,108.90 m 
c
sin  d
 Spherical excess:
e = (40,320.00) (41,108.90) sin 
(2) (6,372,160)2 (0.000004848) 

= 3.7” A
C b
‟ =  – e/3 = 57-53-20.1 – 1.2”= 57-53-18.9
‟ =  – e/3 = 62-23-32.1 – 1.2”= 62-23-30.9
‟=  – e/3 = 59-43-20.3 – 1.2” = 59-43-19.1
Notes:
1. sin 01” = 0.000004848 and R=6,372,160 m is the radius of curvature of the earth at
the average latitude of the triangle.
2. The sum of the adjusted angles = 180-00-08.9.The remaining 08.9” can be
considered random, to be compensated in subsequent triangulation adjustment
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Determining Trilateration Data
Adjustment of Trilateration
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Another method used in extending horizontal
control
 Based on the trigonometric proposition that if the
3 sides of a triangle are known, the three angles
can be computed
 Direction of lines and positions of points can be
computed.
 Similar to triangulation which also uses chains of
triangles but differs in that all lengths are
measured and only enough angles or directions
are observed to establish azimuth
 Made feasible due to the continued development
and refinement of EDMs.
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
By law of cosines:
B
a
c
C
A b
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
The usual procedure in determining
trilateration data is stated as follows:
1. Determining interior angles
2. Determine azimuths of the side with
unknown direction
3. Compute for the position of point using
latitudes and departures and the
coordinates of the known point
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
 Results from the previous calculations are set of
approximations necessary for the least-squares
adjustment
 The next step is to form the distance condition
equations for each measured line in the network
 Output from the adjustment consists of:
 Adjusted X,Y coordinates
 Residuals in measured distances
 Reference standard deviation for the adjustment
 Covariance matrices for error ellipses for each adjusted station
 The technique of LS adjustment is not covered in the
General Surveying I course.
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
Davis, R.E., et. al (1981). Surveying: Theory and Practice.
USA: McGraw-Hill,Inc.
Ghilani, C.D., et.al. (2008). Elementary Surveying: an
Introduction to Geomatics. USA: Pearson Education, Inc.
La Putt, J.P. (2007). Elementary Surveying. Philippines:
National Book Store.
Schofield,W.. Et. Al (2007). Engineering Surveying. UK:
Elsevier Ltd.
Triangulation Network Image from
http://reference.findtarget.com/search/triangulation/.
Date Accessed: 01/24/2011
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
778
8
Mark Alcala
General Surveying
79

Triangulation and Trilateritation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Triangulation and Trilateritation

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Triangulation and Trilateritation

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mark Alcala

 Horizontal Control Surveys

Astronomic Base line Direction or angle

Computations Spherical excess*

Lengths & Coordinates

A triangulation system extending over a

Base Line Check Base

The angle-condition equations in a figure

The number of angle conditions in a given

 Angle conditions can be satisfied without having

The number of side conditions is:

1. Least Squares Method

Correction per station:

Correction per measured angle:

 Performed after station adjustment

Correction per interior angle:

Adjust the measured angles of the given chain of triangles using

Station Adjustment: m = 3600

Station Adjustment: m = 3600

Station Adjustment: m = 3600

Station Adjustment: m = 3600

Station Adjustment: m = 3600

Figure Adjustment: int = 1800

Figure Adjustment: int = 1800

Triangle Angle Adjusted Value Corrections Adjusted Value

c 59-10-00 -9” 59-09-51

n‟ = number of lines observed in both directions,including

The observed angles in triangle ABC are:

 Side c by sine law:

You might also like