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Triangulation: Objective

Triangulation is a surveying method to determine the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than directly measuring distances. It has been used since ancient times for surveying, navigation, metrology, astronomy and vision. The principles of triangulation involve using trigonometry to calculate the distance to an unknown point given the length of the baseline and the two measured angles. Specifically, the distance can be calculated using the formula: distance = length of baseline x (sine of angle 1 x sine of angle 2) / sine of the sum of the two angles. Triangulation allows accurate positioning of points and is useful for map making and engineering projects.

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221 views3 pages

Triangulation: Objective

Triangulation is a surveying method to determine the location of a point by measuring angles to it from known points at either end of a fixed baseline, rather than directly measuring distances. It has been used since ancient times for surveying, navigation, metrology, astronomy and vision. The principles of triangulation involve using trigonometry to calculate the distance to an unknown point given the length of the baseline and the two measured angles. Specifically, the distance can be calculated using the formula: distance = length of baseline x (sine of angle 1 x sine of angle 2) / sine of the sum of the two angles. Triangulation allows accurate positioning of points and is useful for map making and engineering projects.

Uploaded by

Nkongho Johnson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TRIANGULATION

Objective
At the end of this lesson student should be able to:
Define triangulation
Give the history of triangulation
Sate the principles of triangulations and give the necessary calculation

I. Introduction

I`m surveying triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point. By measuring
only angles to its from known point at either end of a fix base line, rather than measuring
distance to the point directly as in trilateration.

The point can then be fixed as the third point of a triangle with one known side and two known
angles.

I.1 Definition

triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point. By measuring only angles to
its from known point at either end of a fix base line, rather than measuring distance to the point
directly as in trilateration.

II. HISTORY

Triangulation today is used for many processes including surveying, navigation (choose direction
of the navire) metrology, astronomy and bimocular vision.

In the field, the method of triangulation was apparently not used by the Roman specialist land
surveyors. Abu Rayhand Birumi he also introduced triangulation method to measure the size of
the hearth and the distance between various place.

III. Principles and calculation

III.1. principles

Triangulation maybe used to find the position of the ship when the position of A and B are
known.
An observer at A measures the angle α while, while the observer at B. measures B.

That position of any vertex of a triangle can be calculated if the position of one side and two
angles are known. The following formula are strictly correct only for a flat surface. If the
curvature of the earth must be allowed, then spherical trigonometry must be used.

αα
d=?
A uhu B
e
take the angle at A= α and the angle at B= β

III.2. CALCULATION
With L being the distance between A and B we have
d d
L= + using the trigonometric identities
tanα tan β
Tanα = sinα I cosα and sinα and sin (α+β)
= sinαcosβ + cosαsinβ this is equivalent

cos α cosβ
L=d( + )
sinα sinβ

sinα sinβ
L=d
sin ⁡(α + β)
Therefore
sinα sinβ
d=L
sin ⁡(α + β)

from this it is easy to determine the distance of the unknown point from either observation.
Conclusion
Hence, triangulation station of fourth order was established which can be further used for map
making purpose( cadastral mapping and topographical mapping) it can also be used for
engineering project.

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