Use of Total Station

On a tripod the instrument is mounted and by operating levelling screws it is levelled. Within a small range instrument is capable of adjusting itself to the level position. Then horizontal and vertical reference directions are indexed by using onboard keys. It is possible to set needed units for temperature, distance and pressure (FPS or SI). Surveyor can select measurement mode like coarse, fine, single or repeated. Horizontal and vertical angles as well as sloping distances are measured when target is sighted, and by pressing suitable keys they are recorded along with point number. After measuring those with tapes Heights of instrument and targets may be keyed in. Then processor computes much information regarding the point and displays on screen. This information is stored in the electronic note book also. The information stored is downloaded to computers at the end of the day or whenever electronic note book is full.

The point data downloaded to the computer may be used for further processing. There are software like auto plotter and auto civil clubbed with auto cad which can be used for plotting contours at any specified interval and for plotting cross-section along any specified line.