Unit 1A Part 2

Advanced Surveying
TE Civil Engineering
TRIANGULATION FIGURES AND SYSTEMS
• A triangulation figure is defined as a group or system of
triangles such that any figure has only one side common to
each of the preceding and following figure.
The triangles in a triangulation system can be arranged in a
number of ways.
1. Single chain of triangles

2. Double chain of triangles
3. Braced quadrilaterals
4. Centered triangles and polygons
Single chain of triangles
• Control points are established in a narrow strip of terrain such as a valley between
ridges.
• It is a layout consisting of single chain of triangles.
• This system is rapid and economical
• This system can provide only one route through which distances can be computed, and
hence, this system does not provide any check on the accuracy of observations.
• Check base lines and astronomical observations for azimuths are taken at frequent
intervals to avoid excessive accumulation of errors
Double chain of triangles
• This arrangement is used for covering the larger width of a belt.
• This system has disadvantages same as the single chain of triangles
system.
Braced quadrilateral
• The quadrilateral with four corner stations and observation made along
the diagonals without any central station is known as braced quadrilateral
• The system is most accurate as lengths of sides are computed with
different combinations of sides and angles
• Preferred for long and narrow areas.
• Most of the triangulation systems use this arrangement.
Central point figures
• It consists of triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, or hexagons with central stations.
• A triangulation system which consists of figures containing interior stations in
triangle and polygon is known as centered triangles and polygons.
• It is used when vast area in all directions is required to be covered i.e. flat country.
• It provides checks on the accuracy of the work, but it is not strong as the braced
quadrilateral arrangement.
• The progress of work is quite slow due to the fact that more settings of the
instrument are required.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF BEST TRIANGULATION
FIGURE OR SYSTEM
1. Simple triangles as far as possible be equilateral.
2. Figure should be such that computations can be done through two
independent routes
3. The arrangement should be such that at least one route and preferably two
routes form well conditioned triangles.
4. Figures with minimum number of stations with maximum number of
conditions should be preferred
5. Lengths of sides of selected figure should not be too small or too long
6. The arrangement of figure should be such that progress of the work is
satisfactory and the desired accuracy in computation work is obtained
BEST SHAPED WELL-CONDITIONED TRIANGLES
• The arrangement of triangles should be such that any error in
the measurement of horizontal angles will have least effect on
the lengths of its computed sides. Such triangles are called as
well conditioned triangles
• No angles will be less than 30⁰ and more than 120⁰.
• In any triangle, the length of one side will always be known
from computation of adjacent triangle
• To keep error in computed lengths of other two sides have
least effect on accuracy they should be as far as possible equal
in length i.e. triangles should be isosceles having base angles
56⁰14’ approximately, near to 60⁰
• In practice take 60⁰. Therefore best shape of well conditioned
triangle is equilateral
Criteria for selection of triangulation stations
1. Triangulation stations should be intervisible. For this purpose the station points should
be on the highest ground such as hill tops, house tops, etc.
2. Stations should be easily accessible with instruments.
3. Station should form well-conditioned triangles.
4. 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.
5. Stations should be at commanding positions so that they can be used as controls for
preceeding triangulation survey
6. Selected stations should be freely accessible
7. In wooded country, the stations should be selected such that the cost of clearing and
cutting, and building towers, is minimum.

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Advanced Surveying

1. Single chain of triangles

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