IOSR Journal Of Environmental Science, Toxicology And Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT)

e-ISSN: 2319-2402,p- ISSN: 2319-2399. Volume 8, Issue 1 Ver. IV (Feb. 2014), PP 79-85
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Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance

Measurement
D. M. Zakari1, A. Aliyu2
1
Department of Surveying & Geo-Informatics Adamawa State Polytechnic Yola,Adamawa State
2
Department of Surveying & Geo-Informatics Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State

Abstract: This research aimed at establishing a baseline using Electromagnetic Distance Measuring
Instrument (EDM). Considering the high accuracy of EDM instrument, this will therefore focus on the
establishment of baseline in the chosen area (Federal Polytechnic Mubi) to take care of some survey operations
that may require the need for a baseline. (Calibrating instruments and establishing first and second order
controls). Furthermore, the development of computer programme (FORTRAN 77 language) based on least
squares adjustment by observation equation method could provide an efficient method and solution to other
problems relating to baseline determination.
Key Words: Baseline, EDM, Calibration

I. Introduction
Baseline measurement is an important aspect in the surveying operations such as traversing,
triangulation, trilateration, setting out etc. The measurement of baseline was in the past century carried out by
instruments such as tapes, chains bands before the advent of Electromagnetic Distance Measuring Instrument
(EDM). Distance measurements by electromagnetic means have virtually replaced the method of measuring
baseline using the early instruments. The advent of EDM equipment has completely revolutionaries all
surveying procedures and resulted in a change of emphasis and techniques, by reason of the fact that distance
can now be measured quickly and accurately, regardless of terrain condition [12]. Positions can be determined
by measurements made on baseline. This can be achieved by measuring all the angles in the network and by
measuring the length of one or more baselines. Starting at a baseline, application of the sine rule in each triangle
throughout the network enables the length of all angle sides to be calculated. These lengths combined with the
measured angles enable the coordinates of stations to be computed, [6].
Baselines can also be computed from coordinates. For instance main side control points, such as
traverse station can be used to establish base line from which setting out can be carried out. Subsidiary lines can
be set off from the base lines to established design and corner point. The baseline may be specified by a designer
and include in the contract between promoter and contractor. Baseline can take many forms; they can run
between existing buildings making the boundary of an existing development, be the direction of a proposed
pipeline or the center line of new road. The accuracy of base line measurement is increased if two base lines at
right angle to each other are used on site. Design points can be established by offsetting from both lines and a
grid system can be set up to provide additional control points in the area enclosed by the base line. Base lines
can be used to form grids which consequently provide reference grid on site, [10].
The introduction of Electro-optical Microwave EDM Equipment in the early 1950s has observed a
marked increase in distance measurement. The use of that EDM equipment eliminates the need for elaborate
baseline preparation. Utilization of EDM vastly simplifies the measurement of baseline [6]. Since 1950,
measurement of baseline by invar wires has been substituted by a much more convenient system of
measurement that is the use Electro Magnetic Distance Measurement (EDM) [5]. The use of EDM eliminates
the need for elaborate baselines preparations. The time required to make the necessary instrument reading
during the actual measuring operation is independent of the length of the baseline, [6].Several Authors have
written on different aspects of baseline, for instance [1] noted that, to locate a building either two or more
baselines or a fixed point are necessary. They further stated that in setting out houses, the base may be the
building line as define by the local authority or the road line. On an industrial estate the base line may be the
grid lines. It is also necessary to have a site plan with a baseline drawn on it together with the ground plan of the
proposed buildings.
[17] Reported that, until about 1960, the scale of triangulation networks constructed from angle
measurements was derived from baseline having length of 5 to 10km. A Geomatic Satellar triangulation
between 1966 and 1970 was carried with a BC4 Camera mounted on balloon Satellite Pageos. The scale of the
network was obtained from seven baselines which were measured in polygon traverse with geodimeter and
tallorometer. High – precision terrestrial-and GPS-geodetic survey were conducted in 1997 to provide the

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 Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance Measurement

control coordinates of the monuments through a collaborative venture among the Geodesy Group. Importantly,
part of the facility is connected geodetically to an existing EDM calibration baseline.
This EDM baseline comprises part of the national standard for length [7]. The EDM pillars and GPS
pillars are regularly re-observed using an EDM that has a current regulation 80 certification from the
measurement laboratory. Considering the importance of base line to some surveying operations, much work
have also been done on the measures to be taken in other to achieve the best result in the establishment of the
baseline. [5], noted that the invar tapes commonly used for baseline measurement have a coefficient of
expansion of one eight (1/8) to one tenth (1/10) and therefore the length of the tape should be precisely
determined by comparing with a standardized length. [4, 12].[16] stated that once a baseline has been
established, the instrument should be calibrated by measuring the baseline at periodic intervals to guard against
frequent drift. In order to achieve maximum accuracy in base line establishment, [12] observed that in given
electro-optical system, cyclic error must also be evaluated. They also noted that it is necessary to set up a
calibration base, for the calibration of the EDM. Base on the available literature, it is clear that much work has
been done on the establishment of baseline in different places. This project will therefore focus on the
establishment of baseline in the chosen area to take care of some survey operations that may require the need for
a baseline.

The objectives of this study are as follows:

 To set out a baseline and measure the length thirty times using EDM.
 To reduce the measurements to correction of meteorological effect and apply the slope correction.
 To use a least squares method to find the most probable value from the set of measurements.
 To develop a computer program using FORTRAN 77 language for the adjustment of the observation.
 To carry out a statistical test to ascertain the reliability of the result obtained.

II. Area of Study

The area of study is situated in Federal Polytechnic Mubi (Mubi Campus) between longitude 13 o 05E
and 13 15E and latitude 10o 05N and 10o 15N See fig 1.
o

LEGEND
Abuja
Adamawa State
Mubi L.G.A

Fig.1 Map of Nigeria Showing Adamawa State

III. Methodology and Field operations

3.1 Determination of EDM Zero Correction
The procedure used to determine the zero correction of an EDM, was to take a straight long line and
divide it into sections. Theses sections were measured and the long line was also measured and the zero
correction determined. A distance of 500m on a fairly flat ground was used on the site of the Project. The
distance was subdivided into three and measurement was carried out in order to determine the EDM correction.

154.250 161.816 183.890

A B C D

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 Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance Measurement

500m

AB = 154.250
BC = 161.861
CD = 183.890
AD = 500m

(i)

Where C= the correction to the measured length

D = the overall measured length
(d) = The sum of the measured bay length
n = the number of bay

(ii)

3.2 Setting Out of Baseline

A wild T2 theodolite and ranging poles were used to set out the baseline. The theodolite was set up on
the starting point after a pillar has been placed. The direction was defined by pointing the theodolite in the
predetermined direction. Beacons were placed at the two ends of the baselines. The EDM used (wild distomat
D1 1600) work in conjunction with theodolite and the battery fixed. It was then set over pillar MD101BL and
leveled the reflector too. After that, the following operation was carried out. The height of EDM instrument and
reflector’s height were measured with line tape and recorded in the field book. The intension was to determine
the slope correction to bring the measured slope distance to horizontal distance.
The reflector was sighted and the center of the prism was bisected, then the vertical and horizontal
movement of the theodolite was clamped. Checks for battery and signal were made by switching on the
instruments on/off switch. The display sowed 0000, indicating that the instrument was ready for operation.
Measurement was triggered by lightly touching “MEASURE” knob. The distance measurement was performed
automatically within 5” (second), during this time, points were flashing at the digital display and finally the
measured distance was displayed.

 The vertical angle reading was recorded from the theodolite for slope correction.
 The atmospheric temperature was also recorded.
Only one measurement is needed to define the distance, assuming there are no gross and systematic errors in the
measurement but due to some variations beyond the control of the observer during the measurement. Redundant
measurements were made in order to evaluate standard errors and establish probabilities. These redundant
measurements were used to detect mistakes in the field work and to find an estimate for a true value by the
principles of least squares.

3.3 EDM Measurement

In this technique, distances were obtained by measuring the time taken for a pulse of laser radiation to
travel from one instrument to a reflector and back. The distance D between instrument and reflector is given by:

(iii)

Where t is the measured transit time and V is the speed of propagation of electromagnetic radiation in
the atmosphere. However, as the velocity of light (c) is equal to 299,792.5 ± 0.4km/s (in vacuum), t is
extremely small, [16].Therefore, the distance was determined by measuring the difference in phase angle
between transmitted and reflected signals. This phase difference was usually expressed as a fraction of a circle
which can be converted into distance when the frequency and the velocity are known.

3.4 Meteorological Correction

Effect to atmospheric conditions on wave velocity, uncertainty in the position of the electrical center of the
transmitter, uncertainty in the effective center(s) of the reflector(s) and transmitters non linearity all contribute
to the systematic error found in microwave instrument. The velocity, v of electromagnetic waves in air is a
function of the speed of light in a vacuum V0 and the refractive index of air n, yielding

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 Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance Measurement

(iv)

The constant Vo is 299,792.5km/s. The refractive indices of light

( )

Waves and microwaves in air are function of air temperature, atmospheric pressure and partial pressure of water
vapor, which in turn depend on temperature and relative humidity. Since the EDM used (wild distomat D 1 1600)
is a light wave. It is necessary to calculate the refractive index (ng) of standard air given by the Barrell and Sears
equation.
In which λ is the wavelength of the carrier beam of light and the value of the λ is 0.91.
Owing to changes in temperature, pressure and humidity, the refractive index of air becomes ηa as given by

Therefore, the humidity represented by water vapor pressure in the second term of above equation has little
effects on light wave and usually can be ignored.
Where p = atmospheric pressure, mmHg
t = air temperature, oC
e = vapor pressure, mmHg
Hence, the refractive index of air at each instruments setting was calculated,

t1p1 e t2p2 e

Where (η1)p= atmospheric pressure, mmHg (η2)

t = atmospheric temperature oC
e = vapor pressure, mmHg

The refractive index at the two ends of the lines was used to calculate the first velocity correction (Δd).

3.5 Slope Correction

When the slope distance L has been obtained from an EDM measurement, a slope correction must be
applied to it in order to obtain the equivalent horizontal distance.

Where θ is the vertical angle

Z is the Zenith angle
Before calculating the horizontal distance some adjustment has to be made for the slope distance in order to
obtained horizontal length of the line the procedure are as follows:

Slope distance = 1184.789m

Instrument height = 1.922m
Reflector height = 1.65m

Vertical angle = 89o07’33’’ (0o52’27’’)

Since the line of sight was inclined at an angle of (1 o’13’43’ – 0o00’47.35’) to the horizontal length i.e.
1o14’30.35’ therefore, the reduced horizontal distance between the station is 1184.789 Cos 1 o14’30.35’’ =
1184.511m, [16].

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 Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance Measurement

IV. Results and Discussion

The data used in this work were obtained from measurement carried out on the baseline. Thirty
different measurements were carried out on the baseline and the measurements were corrected for
meteorological and geometrical effects. These are shown on the table below

S/N Observation Correction S/N Observation Correction S/N Observation Correction

1 1184.789 1184.511 11 1184.812 1184.534 21 1184.821 1184.543
2 1184.838 1184.56 12 1184.791 1184.513 22 1184.77 1184.492
3 1184.817 1184.537 13 1184.806 1184.528 23 1184.801 1184.523
4 1184.843 1184.565 14 1184.824 1184.546 24 1184.822 1184.544
5 1184.778 1184.5 15 1184.802 1184.524 25 1184.836 1184.558
6 1184.831 1184.553 16 1184.792 1184.514 26 1184.8 1184.522
7 1184.824 1184.546 17 1184.807 1184.529 27 1184.812 1184.524
8 1184.806 1184.528 18 1184.758 1184.48 28 1184.823 1184.545
9 1184.83 1184.552 19 1184.803 1184.525 29 1184.824 1184.546
10 1184.795 1184.517 20 1184.833 1184.555 30 1184.873 1184.595
Table1: The observations and corrections

4.1 Principles of Least Squares Adjustments

The method of least squares adjustments was used to find the most probable value for the measured
baseline. The method may be defined as a method which makes use of redundant observations in the
mathematical modeling of a given problem with a view to minimizing the sum of squares of discrepancies
between the observations and their most probable (adjusted) values subject to the prevailing mathematical
model. The discrepancies between the observations and their most probable values are known as residuals
[16].When redundant measurements are made, the number of discrepancies may occur between repeated
measurements of the same quantity, since each measurement has a certain precision attached to it. Such
discrepancies (residuals) have to be adjusted so as to obtain the most probable (adjusted) values of measured
quantities. The role of adjustment is to derive values for residuals such that

La=L1b+V1=L2b+V2=L3b+V3= (ix) is satisfied.

Where
Vi = La - Lib (x)
b
Li = are the measured values of the quantity
La is the adjusted value of Lib and is expected to be the closest to the true value.
V1, V2, V3, = residuals associated with the measured values.

Each estimate observation, î can be looked as a corrected observation, obtained from the measured value 1, by
adding a correction v, to its i.e. equation (ix).

Φ = VT P V (xi)

Where
Φ = quadratic form of the sum of weighted squares of residuals.
P = weight matrix which may be full or diagonal matrix.

Weight matrix (P) is full when observations are correlated and diagonal when observations are not correlated.
Another process involves observations which are uncorrelated and of equal precision (weight). In this case P in
equation (xi) becomes a scalar matrix. However, if P is unity, then least squares criterion simplifies to:

Φ = VT P V
The final steps of adjustment procedure consist of determination of the precision of various quantities computed
from the adjustment, [9].

4.2 Method of Observation Equation

The method of observation equations is also known as method of parameters or variations of
parameters. Observation equation may be defined as equations in which each adjusted observation is expressed

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 Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance Measurement

as a function of some unknown adjusted parameters. Such a functional relationship will be valid only if the
observations and the unknown parameters assume their “true” values (i.e. values without errors). Since in
practice the true values of these quantities are not obtainable instead we make use of the most probable or
adjusted observation and adjusted unknown parameters. The word “adjusted” is used to indicate that their
calculated or observed values have been adjusted for the errors associated with them. The functional relationship
between each adjusted observation and the adjusted parameters may represented mathematically a [2, 9]

Lo=F(Xo) (xii)

Where:

Xo = approximate values of unknown parameters

X = correction to xo

Equation (3.4) can be written as:

Lb+V=F(X+x) (xiii)

the nonlinear equations (xiii) may be linearized using Tailor’s series expansion and the results, if the expansion
is truncated at first order terms is:

Lb + V = (ƏF\ƏXa) x + F (Xo)

Then we have, V=Ax+L (xiv)

Where: A = ƏF\ƏXa (matrix of differential, evaluated at Xo)

L = F(xo) - Lb

Substitute equation (xiv) into equation (xi) gives: Φ = (Ax + L) T P(Ax + L)

Equation ƏΦ\Əx to zero:

(AT PA) x + ATPL = 0

x=-(ATPA)-1ATPL (xv)

4.3 Presentation and analysis of result

The results were tested statistically to determine whether the result and the procedure used can be
relied upon. That is, VTPV is statistically tested to see whether it falls within the specified confidence limit or
not, [2]. This is done by means of a chi square (X2) test. That is testing the hypothesis.

Null hypothesis Ho: VTPVδ2o (VTPV is within the confidence limit)

Alternative hypothesis H1: VTPV ≠ δ2o (VTPV is outside the confidence limit).

Where VTPV/δ2o , is the computed statistics (X2).

This is a two tailed test where the Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) is rejected if the computed statistics is outside the
confidence limit. The confidence limits are the upper limit and the lower limit of the statistics table. They are
obtained in the statistics table as x21 – a/2,df for upper limit and x2 a/2,df for lower limit, where α is the level of
significance while df is the degree of freedom.

Presentation of Result
The result of the adjusted baseline was computed and found to be 1184.54027, the computed statistics
(VTPV) was also found to be 0.01554, at 0.05 level of significance (α), degree of freedom 29, the following was
obtained.
Upper limit (x21 – a/2,df) = 5.02
Lower limit (x2a/2,df) = 0.0098

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 Establishment of Baseline using Electronic Distance Measurement

4.4 Analysis of Result

Here the (VTPV) was found to be 0.01554. At 0.05 level of significance (α), degree of freedom is 1, we
conclude that, since the computed statistics is within the confidence limit it is therefore drawn that the procedure
used has not introduce distortion in the predicted values.
Analysis of the result obtained was done using statistical method. In the method, it was tested whether
the result and the procedure used can be relied upon. That is, V TPV is statistically tested to see whether it falls
within the specified confidence limit or not, [2]. This is done by means of a chi square (X 2) test. That is testing
the hypothesis.

Null hypothesis Ho: VTPVδ2o (VTPV is within the confidence limit)

Alternative hypothesis H1: VTPV ≠ δ2o (VTPV is outside the confidence limit).
Where, VTPV/δ2o is the computed statistics (X2).

This is a two tailed test where the Alternative Hypothesis (H 1) is rejected if the computed statistics is outside the
confidence limit. The confidence limits are the upper limit and the lower limit of the statistics table. They are
obtained in the statistics table as x21 – a/2,df for upper limit and x2 a/2,df for lower limit, where α is the level of
significance while df is the degree of freedom.

V. Conclusion
In this work, observations were made on a baseline in other to determine its correct distance. Thirty
different observations were carried out and meteorological and slope corrections were applied. A least squares
method of correcting observations based on the observation equation method was used to correct the
measurement. The adjusted length of the baseline was found to be 1184.54027. This was achieved through least
squares adjustment using a computer program written in FORTRAN 77 language. The computed statistics was
found as 0.01554 which fall within the confidence limit. It was revealed that the result obtained can reliably be
used for further studies. It can therefore be drawn that, a baseline was successfully measured and the result so
obtained can reliably be used.

VI. Recommendations
The process of least squares adjustment using observation equation method has been found appropriate
base on the result obtained in the adjustment of measurement carried out by an EDM for the establishment of a
baseline. It can therefore be adopted in other studies or works that involved measurement of baseline. In
carrying out triangulation, trilateration, traversing etc in that area for instance, the measured baseline so obtained
can be of great importance. This is because the baseline can be used as initial baseline for the work. The
established beacons if coordinated can serve as good controls for other survey work.

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