University of the Immaculate Conception

Bonifacio St., Davao City

Engineering and Architecture Program

Field Work No. 11

MEASUREMENT OF VERTICAL OR ZENITH ANGLES

Objectives:

- To learn how to determine index error vertical circle readings.

- To learn how to measure vertical or zenith angles and apply index correction.

Instruments and Accessories:

- Theodolite or Engineer’s transit

Procedure:

1. Determine Index Error and Index Correction.

a. Set up and level the instrument over a designated station.
b. Select a point such as X either above or below the horizontal plane of the
instrument to which a vertical angle is to be measured.
c. With the telescope in direct (or normal) position, raise or lower the line of sight by
setting the intersection of the vertical and horizontal cross hairs approximately on
the point then, clamp the telescope and all horizontal motions.
d. Slowly turn the vertical circle tangent screw and a horizontal tangent screw to
attain exact pointing on the selected point.
e. Read the vertical circle and record this as Ꝋn.
f. Release the horizontal and vertical clamps, rotate the instrument 180 degrees, and
again sight approximately on the point, this time with telescope in reversed (or
inverted) position. Then, clamp all motions.
g. Get an exact pointing by manipulating the tangent screws for the vertical circle
and the horizontal motion.
h. Read the vertical circle and record this as Ꝋr.
i. If Ꝋn is equal to Ꝋr, the instrument’s vertical circle and Vernier has no index error.
However, if the two quantities are not equal, an index error exists and should be
determined. The index correction is determined from the index error.
2. Applying Index Correction to observed vertical or Zenith Angles.
a. With the instrument still set up at the same station, check if the plate bubbles have
remained centered. If not, level the instrument and center the plate bubbles.
b. Select two points (one above the horizontal plane and the other below) and call
these P and Q, respectively. See accompanying sketch.
c. With the horizontal motions clamped, sight the telescope (in normal position)
approximately at the first point P, then set the cross hairs exactly on the point.
Where: P = a selected point found above the horizontal plane
Q = another point found below the horizontal plane
Ꝋ = a plus vertical angle or an angle of elevation
Φ = a minus vertical angle or an angle of depression

d. Read the angle in the vertical circle and record it accordingly.

e. Repeat the above steps, this time sighting the second point Q.
f. Determine the correct values of the vertical angles just read by applying the index
correction as determined in the first part of this lab exercise
g. Tabulate observed and calculated values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying
sample format table for the tabulation of field data.

Computations:

1. The index error (IE) is determined by subtracting the values of Ꝋr from Ꝋn and dividing
the difference by two or

Where: IE = index error in the vertical circle and Vernier

Ꝋn = observed value of the vertical angle with telescope in direct (or normal)
position
Ꝋr = observed value of the vertical angle with telescope in reversed (or inverted)
position

2. The Index Correction (IC) is equal in amount to the index error (IE) but opposite in sign
or

𝐼𝐶 = −𝐼𝐸
 3. To determine the correct value of any vertical angle read from the same instrument, the
index correction is added algebraically to the observed vertical angle or

𝐶𝑉𝐴 = 𝑂𝑉𝐴 ± 𝐼𝐶

Where: CVA = corrected value of the observed vertical angle.

OVA = observed value of the vertical angle taken with telescope in normal position.
IC = the computed or predetermined index correction.

Due consideration should be made for signs. An angle of elevation is a positive angle and an
angle of depression is a negative angle.

POINT OBSERVED ANGLE INDEX ADJUSTED ANGLE

TELESCOPE DIRECT CORR.
P
Q

Remarks, Hints, and Precautions:

1. Vertical angles are commonly measured in stadia surveys, astronomical observations,

trigonometric leveling, and in surveys where EDM instruments are used.
2. The telescope of a transit is in direct position when the telescope bubble tube is positioned
below the telescope. It is in reversed or inverted position if above the telescope.
3. When a transit is used and a positive vertical angle is read with the telescope in direct
position, the vertical circle is read to the right zero and the Vernier is read on the right
side of the index. A negative vertical angle is read to the left of zero and on the left side
of the Vernier index.
4. If a theodolite is used, the measurement of a vertical angle follows the same procedure
as that described for the transit, except that the vertical circle is oriented by either an
automatic compensator or an index level vial.
5. The vertical circle reading of the theodolite given zenith angles. A zenith angle is an angle
measured in a vertical plane downward from an upward directed vertical line through the
instrument. The theodolite’s vertical circle is graduated from 0 deg clockwise to 360 deg.
Then the telescope is pointed vertically toward the zenith the reading is zero deg. It is 90
deg when pointed horizontally in direct position. With the telescope in the reversed
position, the zenith angle is 360 deg minus the circle reading.
6. The bubble in the telescope level vial should remain centered when the telescope is
clamped in a horizontal position. If the vertical Vernier does not read zero when the bubble
is centered, there is an index error.
7. If the instrument has a full vertical circle, the index error may be eliminated by taking the
average of two vertical angle readings where one is secured with the telescope in normal
position, the second in inverted position. This method is called bubble centering.