Triangulation and Trilateration

TRIANGULATION AND
TRILATERATION
Definition of terms:
• Triangulation – a method for extending horizontal control for topographic and similar surveys
in which require observations of triangular figures whose angles are measured and whose
sides are determined by trigonometric computations.
• Triangulation System – consist of series of triangles in which one or more sides of each
triangle are also sides of adjacent triangles.
• Triangulation Stations – are the vertices of the triangles in a triangulation system.
• Base Line – one of the lines in a triangulation system whose length is precisely measured and
its true direction determined by astronomical observations. It is usually locates at the
beginning of the triangulation system and its length is used as the basis for computing the
lengths of other lines of the system.
• Check base – one of the lines in a triangulation system whose length is also precisely
measured and may be located at regular intervals or at the end of the triangulation system. It
serves as a check for triangulation computations involving lengths of lines.
• Trilateration – a method used for horizontal control surveys which is based exclusively on
measured horizontal distances. It consists of a series of joined or overlapping triangles where
sides are measured and the angles are computed.
• Horizontal Control Surveys – are surveys made to establish geodetic latitudes and
longitudes, and plane rectangular coordinates of a fundamental network of reference
stations.
• Vertical Control Surveys – are surveys usually run by barometric, trigonometric or differential
leveling to establish elevations for a network of monuments called bench marks.
• Least Squares Method – a method of adjustment used in triangulation systems and other
types of traverse surveys. It is based on the theory of probability and is used to
simultaneously adjust the angular and linear measurements to make the sum of the squares
of the residuals a minimum.
• Station adjustment – an approximate adjustment used in triangulation systems of lower
orders of precision. It is sometimes referred to as local adjustment. Its objective is to make
the sum of the angles above each triangulation station equal to 360 degrees.
• Figure Adjustment – in this adjustment the objective is to make the sum of the three angles
in each triangles within a triangulation system equal to 180 degrees. The adjustment is an
approximate method used in most low order triangulation systems.
Triangulation
• It is based on the trigonometric proposition that if one side and the three angles of a
triangle are known, the remaining sides can be competed.
• Triangulation utilizes geometric figures composed of triangles.
• The survey station are points on the ground which defined the vertices of triangle
forming parts of quadrilaterals or chains of triangles.
• Horizontal angles and a limited number of sides are measured. By using the measured
angles and baseline lengths, triangles are solved trigonometrically and positions of
stations calculated.
• If the direction of one side is known, the directions of the remaining sides can be
determined.
• In triangulation a large number of inherent checks and closure conditions are available
which help detect blunders and errors in field data and increase the possibility of
attaining a high standard of accuracy.
TRIANGULATION SYSTEM
Triangulation System
• Consists of a network of connected triangles which adjoin or overlap each other.
• There are different geometric figure arrangements used to form triangulation
systems which can be used for a particular survey. Four of the commonly used
types include:
1. Chain of single and independent triangles

2. Chain of quadrilaterals formed with overlapping triangles
3. Chain of polygons or central-point figures
4. Chain of polygons each with an extra diagonals.
•Chain of Triangles
•A chain of single triangles is the simplest form of triangulation system since it involves a minimum of
angular measurement and calculation for the amount of area covered.
•Angles less than 30° or more than 120° are not permitted
Advantages:
Simple and rapid
Economical method
Disadvantages:
Least accurate method
No. of base lines must be introduced
•Chain of Quadrilaterals
•The chain of quadrilaterals is the most commonly used triangulation system. It is best adapted to
long and narrow surveys where a high degree of precision is required.
•The best quadrilateral is square
•Best suited for hilly areas
Advantage
Most accurate system as the number of checks are more
•Chain of Polygons
•`This triangulation system is composed of a group of triangles having within it a station which is at a
vertex common to all triangles.
•When areas are very wide in proportion to their lengths are to be surveyed then pentagonal or
hexagonal figures may be economical.
•These may or may not have a central station
Advantage
This is also more accurate as the desired number of checks are more
Choice of Figures
• It is important and very essential that only well-shaped figures be used in
triangulation systems since the errors in measurement of lines and angles,
no matter how small, will affect the computed values.
• The ideal shaped triangle is equilateral and the ideal shaped quadrilateral
is a perfect square.
Adjustments of a Chain Triangles
1. Methods of least squares
-is the most frequently used estimation procedure.
-complex, lengthy computations
2. Approximate Method
-simple and convenient method used for adjusting the angles and sides of the
triangulation system which are of lower orders of precision
a. Station Adjustment
b. Figure Adjustment
sum of angles at station = 360°

sum of interior angles = (n – 2)x180°, where n=no. of sides of the figure
STEPS IN TRIANGULATION WORKS
• Reconnaissance
• Refers to the selection of a suitable pattern for the system, and the triangulation stations which would
best fit the topography of the area and meet the requirements of the surveys.
• The survey information to be gathered include the following:
1. The selection and location of baselines and check bases.
2. Type, height, and construction of signals and towers.
3. Accessibility and permanence of the triangulation stations.
4. Intervisibility of stations.
5. Number of stations and their descriptions.
6. Determination of the size and shape of the resulting triangles.
7. Number of angles to be observed.
8. Estimates for the amount of clearing to be done.
• Measurement of base lines
• Base lines and angle measurements define the shape and strength of the triangulation system. The accuracy with
which lines in a triangulation systems are determined depends upon the measurements of the angles and the
selected baseline.
• Erection of signals and towers
• Stations of the triangulation figure must be marked by a signal visible from station from which it is to be sited.
• The type of signals to be used will depend on the locality of the available materials.
• Measurement of angles
• In triangulation work, direction or repeating theodolites are used for the measurements of the angles.
• They type of instrument used and the desired precision will dictate the number of repetitions to be made.
• Astronomic Check
• Astronomical observations are made to check accurately the position and direction of the stations and lines.
• The astronomical work furnishes the date necessary for correctly locating and orienting the map on the Earth’s
surface.
• Office computations
• The complete solution for an extensive triangulation network will usually involves lengthy computations, and will
require adjustments to satisfy the geometric and trigonometric conditions.
• Reduction to Sea Level
• Linear measurements for any triangulation network which extends over a large area, particularly over regions of
widely varying relief, must be reduced to a common vertical reference datum.
• The commonly used datum is the Plane of Mean Sea Level.
• Office computations
• The complete solution for an extensive triangulation network will usually involves lengthy computations, and
will require adjustments to satisfy the geometric and trigonometric conditions.
• Reduction to Sea Level
• Linear measurements for any triangulation network which extends over a large area, particularly over regions
of widely varying relief, must be reduced to a common vertical reference datum.
• The commonly used datum is the Plane of Mean Sea Level.
• Derivation of Sea Level Reduction Factor
• When the triangulation system is extensive, all linear distances are reduced to their equivalent sea-level
lengths.
Trilateration
• Is another method used in extending horizontal control.
• It is based in a trigonometric propositions that if three sides of a triangle are
known, the three angles can be completed.
• In trilateration, the geometric figures are similar to those employed in
triangulation.
• It is also important that stations be intevisible and located in highly elevated
located portions of the terrain.
• Trilateration is ideally suited when there is a need to densify control such as
on large engineering products for surveys of wide metropolitan areas.
Assignment:
Prepare a written report of the following:
1. Adjustment of a Quadrilateral
• Angle condition equations
• Side condition equations
• 1 Sample Problem with a complete solution
2. Strength of figure
• 1 Sample Problem with a complete solution
END OF SLIDE

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TRIANGULATION AND

1. Chain of single and independent triangles

sum of angles at station = 360°

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