CHAPTER 8

Trilateration and Triangulation(3 hr)

By:-
Er. Pramesh Hada
BE Civil, MSC Urban planning
Assistant Professor
Nepal Engineering College,
Changunarayan,Bhaktapur
Chp 8. Trilateration and Triangulation (3 Hour)

• Principles of Trilateration
• Principles and Classification of Triangulation
Systems (pu2013)
• Strength of Figure
• Satellite Stations and Inter – Visibility of
Triangulation Stations (pu,2011)
• Instruction on Field Works

Short note – traingulation and trilateration (Pu 2008,09*2,010,012)

Distinguish between traingulation and trilateration (2011)

Advantages of Trilateration (2011)

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
 Trilateration
• A surveying method in which the lengths of all sides of a
chain of triangles, polygons, or quadrilaterals (or any combina
tion of them) aremeasured with an electronic instrument or
others; the angles then may be computed from these field m
easurements.
• Uses in the construction of a chain or network of interconnec
ted triangles ina given area and the measurement of
all three sides of each triangle.
• Angles of the triangles and the coordinates of their vertices a
re determined by trigonometric computations.
• In contrast to triangulation, it does not involve the
measurement of angles.
• Trilateration has the same purpose as triangulation.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 Trilateration Network
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
 Sine Rule & cosine rule (for both methods)

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Trilateration and its Principles
• Trilateration is a highly accurate and precise method of establishing and
expanding horizontal control.
• Method of control survey in which a network of triangles is used as in
triangulation system.
• All the three sides of each triangle are measured in the field with the
distance measuring instruments(EDMs, tapes, other apparatus).
• Horizontal angles are not measured in the field.
• Angles in a trilateration system are computed indirectly from the lengths of
the sides of triangle by cosine formula.
• Few horizontal angles are also sometimes measured to provide a check on
computed angles.
• Trilateration is adjusted after the computation of the angles and then
coordinates of the stations are determined.
• Astronomical observations for azimuth are also made at selected stations.
• Vertical angles are also measured where elevations have not been
established.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
•An azimuth is an angular measurement in a spherical
coordinate system.
•An example is the position of a star in the sky. The
star is the point of interest, the reference plane is
the horizon or the surface of the sea, and the
reference vector points north.
•The azimuth is the angle between the north vector
and the perpendicular projection of the star down
onto the horizon.
•Azimuth is usually measured in degrees (°).
•The concept is used
in navigation, astronomy, engineering, mapping,
mining.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 Triangulation and its Principles
• It is the process of measuring the angles of a chain
or network of triangles formed by stations marked
on the surface of the earth.
• The system consists of a number of interconnected
triangles in which the length of only one base line
and the angles of the triangles are measured very
precisely which are used to calculate the coordinate
of vertices.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Note : Red – base line
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
Principle of triangulation
• If all the three angles and the length of one side of a triangle
are known, then by trigonometry the lengths of the
remaining sides of the triangle can be calculated.
• Again, if the coordinates of any vertex of the triangle and
azimuth of any side are also known, then coordinates of the
remaining vertices may be computed.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 Triangulation
Background
• In survey after the establishment of monuments it is
necessary to determine the ground position i.e.
coordinates of those monument station which prevent
the accumulation of errors and will form a frame work
on which entire survey is to be based. This is called
control point establishment.
• Such provision of control point can be made either one
or combination of both the following methods
1. Traverse
2. Triangulation
Triangulation is considered to be more accurate than
traversing as there is less accumulation of errors than
that in traverse.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
•Triangulation using AB as a base line.
•Distance AB is measured precisely.
•Then C, D, E, F, G, H, I, JEr.and K can be fixed by angular measurement only
Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
.
Triangulation and its Principles
• In triangulation all the three angles of each triangle are measured
in the field along with one baseline.
• The side of the first triangle whose length is predetermined is called
the base line and vertices of the individual triangles are known as
triangulation stations and the whole figure is called the
triangulation system or triangulation figure.
• The length and azimuth of each line is based on the length and
azimuth of preceding line.
• To minimize accumulation of errors in lengths, subsidiary bases at
suitable intervals are provided
• To control errors in azimuth of stations, astronomical observations
are made at intermediate stations.
• The triangulation stations at which astronomical observations for
azimuth are made are called Laplace station.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 Formula to compute co-ordinate of vetices

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Purpose of Triangulation Surveys
• Triangulation surveys are carried out for:
1. Establishment of accurate control points for plane and
geodetic surveys of large areas, by ground methods.
2. Establishment of accurate control points for
photogrammetric surveys of large areas.
3. Accurate location of engineering works i.e.
a. Fixing the centre line, terminal points and shafts for long
tunnels,
b. Fixing centre line and abutments of long bridges over large
rivers
c. Transferring the control points across wide sea channels,
large water bodies etc.
d. Finding the direction of the movements of cloud.
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
 Classification of Triangulations
• The basis of the classification of triangulation figures is the accuracy
with which the length and azimuth of a line of the triangulation are
determined.
• On the basis of quality , accuracy & purpose, triangulations are
classified as:
1. Primary or First order Triangulation
2. Secondary or Second order Triangulation
3. Tertiary or Third order Triangulation
Primary or First order Triangulation:
• Is the highest grade of triangulation system.
• To determine the shape & size of earth surface or to provide precise
planimetric control points to which subsidiary triangulations may be
connected.
• Stations of first order triangulation are generally selected 16 to 150
Km apart.
• Every possible precaution is taken in making linear, angular and
astronomical observations, and also in their computation.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

2. Secondary or Second order Triangulation:
• The secondary triangulation consists of a number of points fixed within
the framework of primary triangulation.
• To provide control points closer together than those of primary.
• Secondary is classified, If primary doesnot attain standard of accuracy.
• The stations are fixed at close intervals so that the sizes of the triangles
formed are smaller than the primary triangulation.

3. Tertiary or Third order Triangulation:

• Employed to provide control points between stations of primary &
second order series.
• The third order triangulation consists of a number of points fixed within
the framework of secondary triangulation, and forms the immediate
control for detailed engineering and other surveys.
• The sizes of the triangles are small and instrument with moderate
precision may be used.
• For topogaphical details, tertiary triangulations forms immediate
control points.
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
 STRENGTH OF FIGURE
• The strength of figure is a factor to be considered in
establishing a triangulation system to maintain the
computations within a desired degree of precision.
• It plays also an important role in deciding the layout of a
triangulation system.
• U.S. Coast and Geodetic Surveys has developed a
convenient method of evaluating the strength of a
triangulation figure.
• It is based on the fact that computations in triangulation
involve use of angles of triangle and length of one known
side. The other two sides are computed by sine law.
• For a given change in the angles, the sine of small angles
change more rapidly than those of large angles.
• This suggests that smaller angles less than 30° should
not be used in the computation of triangulation.
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
 Layout of Triangulation

• The arrangement of the triangles of a series is known as the layout of

triangulation.
A series of triangulation may consists of:
1. Simple triangles in chain
• This layout of triangulation is generally used when control points are
provided in narrow strip of terrain such as valley between ridges.
• Rapid and economical due to less number of stations to be sighted
• Do not provide independent check
• Check base lines and astronomical observations for a azimuth at frequent
intervals
2. Braced quadrilaterals
• It consists of figures containing four corner stations and observed
diagonals
• Best arrangement of triangles as it provides a means of computing the
lengths of sides using different combination of sides and angles

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 ..
3. Centered triangles and polygons
• It consists of figures containing centered polygons and centered triangles
• Used when vast area in all dimensions is required to be covered.
• Figures are quadrilaterals, pentagons or hexagons with central stations.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 Satellite Stations
• To secure well-conditioned triangles or to have good visibility,
objects such as chimneys, flat poles, towers, lighthouse, etc. are
selected as triangulation stations.
• Such stations can be sighted from other stations but it is not
possible to occupy the station directly below such excellent
targets for making the observations by setting up the instrument
over the station point.
• Also, signals are frequently blown out of position, and angles read
on them have to be corrected to the true position of the
triangulation station. Thus, there are two types of problems:
1. When the instrument is not set up over the true station
2. When the target is out of position.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

• In Fig. 1.39, A, B, and C are the three triangulation
stations.
• It is not possible to place instrument at C.
• To solve this problem another station S, in the vicinity
of C, is selected where the instrument can be set up,
and from where all the three stations are visible for
making the angle observations.
• Such station is known as satellite station.
• As the observations from C are not possible, the
observations form S are made on A, B, and, C from A
and B on C.
• From the observations made, the required angle ACB is
calculated. This is known as reduction to centre.

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

 Criteria for selection of triangulation stations
• Triangulation stations should be intervisible. For this purpose the station
points should be on the highest ground such as hill tops, house tops, etc.
• Stations should be easily accessible with instruments.
• Station should form well-conditioned triangles.
• Stations should be so located that the lengths of sights are neither too
small nor too long. Small sights cause errors of bisection and centering.
Long sights too cause direction error as the signals become too indistinct
for accurate bisection.
• Stations should be at commanding positions so as to serve as control for
subsidiary triangulation, and for possible extension of the main
triangulation scheme.
• Stations should be useful for providing intersected points and also for
detail survey.
• Stations should be selected such that the cost of clearing and cutting,
and building towers, is minimum.
• Grazing line of sights should be avoided, and no line of sight should pass
over the industrial areas to avoid irregular atmospheric refraction.
•

Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec

Intervisibility of Traingulation Stations
• To execute reconnaissance for triangulation, either of the
following general methods or a combination are used .
•In the first method, which can be used in hilly or
mountainous country, test the intervisibility of the stations
by visiting each one.
•If the stations are notintervisible from the ground, clear obstructions on the
line (such as trees) or adjust the tower heights to
allow intervisibility from either or both ends of the line. Find the elevations o
f intervening high pointsby lowering a weighted tape from a helicopter or
by using barometric or trigonometric leveling.
• In thesecond method, obtain the elevations of the stations and the interven
ing country from maps or othersources, and determine the intervisibility of p
oints and the required heights of towers from the data.
•Inactual practice, a combination of the two methodsis generally used.
•The reconnaissance party should
keep a total tower height for any one line to
a minimum. Determining the instrument and signal heights is a matter of
good judgment, trial computations, and experience
Er. Pramesh Hada, Assistant Professor, nec
 Field work of Triangulation Survey
• Field work of triangulation involves the following
steps:
1. Reconnaissance
2. Erection of signals
3. Measurement of the base lines
4. Measurement of horizontal angles
5. Astronomical observations at Laplace stations
6. Computations
 ….
1. Reconnaissance
• Preliminary field inspection of the entire area to be covered
• Available topographical map study
• Proper examination of the terrain
• Selection of suitable positions for base lines
• Selection of suitable positions of triangulation stations
• Determination of intervisibility of triangulation stations
• Requires great experience, judgment and skill
 ..
2. Erection of signals
• To define exact position of triangulation station during
observation from other stations signals are used.
• Various types of signals are centered vertically over
the station marks and observations are made to these
signals
• Accuracy of triangulation is entirely dependent on the
degree of accuracy of centering the signals
• Different signals may be used
a) Luminous signals(sun signals and night signals):
Heliotropes
b) Opaque signals: pole signals, traget signals, Pole and
brush signals, beacons
 ..
3. Measurement of the base lines
• Accuracy of any order of triangulation is dependent upon the
measurement of base lines.
• Length depends on order of triangulation
• The ground should be fairly level or uniformly sloping or
gently undulating, free from obstruction throughout for
baseline,
• Extremities of the base line should be intervisible at ground
level,
• Slope correction is applied in case of slope distances in
undulating ground, other tension, temperature, sag,
correction
• Standard tapes, tacheometers, EDMs(tellurometer,
geodimeters)
 4. Measurement of horizontal angles

• Instrument for triangulation surveys require great

degree of refinement
• Horizontal angles can be observed by the following
methods:
a) The repetition method( for small angles: process is
repeated for every angle reading )
b) The reiteration method or direct method( angles in
all direction is measured from face left again in
opposite direction all angles are measured from face
right)
 Astronomical observations at Laplace
stations
• Polaris observation is made at some
stations to fix the azimuth of the survey
lines
• Subsidiary observations are done at other
stations to reduce the accumulation of
error.
 Computations

• Finally calculations are made to the observed

data.
• Coordinate of the vertex(triangulation
stations) are calculated using trigonometric
relations
• Other necessary calculations are also done.
Tutorial 3 – PH (T & T)

Short note – traingulation and

trilateration (Pu 2008,09*2,010,012)

Distinguish between traingulation and
trilateration (2011)

Advantages of Trilateration (2011)