SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND

ENVIROMENTAL ENGINEERING

Surveying II
CENG 2092

Chapter 1
Triangulation
and
Trilateration
Tamru T.
2012EC (2019/20GC)
2nd Sem
To refresh Surveying I
The following data were collected while running a
closed traverse ABCDA. Calculate the missing data.
Control Survey
 The determination of the precise position
of a number of stations, usually spread over
a large area, is referred to as control
surveying

 Control surveys can be horizontal (lat long

or East North) or vertical (height with
respect to mean sea level).

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 Horizontal control

 Traversing,
 Triangulation
 Trilateration
 Triangulateration
 Satellite positioning

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 Triangulation
 A triangulation survey: a network of triangles with one side
length and all the angles are measured, other lengths will be
computed
 The single measured line is the base line of the network

Triangulation surveys are carried out

1. to establish accurate control for plane and geodetic surveys
covering large areas,
2. to establish accurate control for photogrammetric surveys for
large areas,
3. to assist in the determination of the size and shape of the earth,
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Classification of Triangulation
system

 Based on the accuracy desired for the work,

triangulation system is divided into three
class which are
 First order or primary : country
 Second order or secondary: region
 Third order or tertiary: local

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 Triangulation Figures
i. Simple triangle should be preferably
equilateral,
ii. Braced quadrilateral should be preferably
approximate square,
iii. Centred polygon should be regular.

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 Chain of Triangles
 Rapid and economical when a narrow strip of terrain
is to be surveyed, e.g. highway, river, valley, etc.

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Braced Quadrilaterals
 An excellent system since the various
combinations of sides and angles can be
used to compute the lengths of the required
sides and checks can be made frequently

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 Centred triangles and Polygons

 It is generally used when vast area in all

directions is required to be covered.

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 Triangulation procedure
 Reconnaissance, select the locations of stations;
 Evaluation of the strength of figures;
 Erection of signals, and in some cases, tower for
elevating the signals and /or instruments;
 Observation of directions or angles;
 Measurement of base lines;
 Astronomic observation at one or more locations,
 Computations including reduction to sea level,
calculation of the lengths of all sides and coordinates for
all stations, and adjustment of the triangulation network
to provide the best estimates of co-ordinates of all points.
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 Trilateration
 When all the sides of a triangulation system are
measured & the technique has been made possible
by the development of EDM (Electronic Distance
Measurement)
 However, the angular measurements define the
shape of the triangulation system better than wholly
linear measurements.
 So a combined triangulation and trilateration
(Triangulateration) system in which all the angles
by theodolite and all the sides are measured by
EDM, represents the strongest network for creating
horizontal control. 12
 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
 When a point is established by taking observations from the
point (unknown) to the points of known locations, such
points are known as the resected points

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 Location by intersection
 Determine c and ABD

 Azimuth of BC and DC can be calculated

 ABC = ABD - 
 ADC = ADB + 
 Then the coordinates can be
calculated:
 Xc = XB + d.Sin(ABC)
 Yc = YB + d.Cos(ABC)
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Intersection by the base
solution
YC

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 Intersection when azimuths
are given

 When azimuth of BC and DC known or calculated 16

Resection/satellite station

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 Example 1
In a triangulation survey, four triangulation stations A, B, C, and D
were tied using a braced quadrilateral ABCD shown in Fig. below. The
length of the diagonal AC was measured and found to be 1116.40 m
long. The measured angles are as below:
α = 44°40′59″ γ = 63°19′28″
β = 67°43′55″ δ = 29°38′50″.
Calculate the length of BD.

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 Example 2
Determine the coordinates of a point R from the following data:
Coordinates of P = E1200 m, N1200 m
Coordinates of Q = E400 m, N1000 m
Bearing of PR = 62°13′40″
Bearing of QR = 38°46′25″.

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 Example 3
In a triangulation survey, the station C could not be occupied in a
triangle ABC, and a satellite station S was established north of C.
The angles as given in Table below were measured at S using a
theodolite.

Approximate lengths of AC and BC were found by estimation

as 17495 m and 13672 m, respectively, and the angle ACB was
deduced to be 59°44′53″. Calculate the distance of S from C.
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QUESTIONS?

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