ELECTROMAGNETIC DISTANCE MEASUREMENT (EDM)

First introduced by Swedish physicist Erik Bergstrand (Geodimeter) in 1948. Used visible light at night to accurately measure distances of up to 40km. In 1957, the first Tellurometer, designed by South African, Dr. T.L. Wadley, was launched. The Tellurometer used microwaves to measure distances up to 80km day or night.
first models bulky and power hungry, they revolutionized survey industry which, until their arrival, relied on tape measurements for accurate distance determinations. The picture above shows the remote unit of the CA1000 Tellurometer, which was used

INITIAL IMPACTS OF EDM

SCALE DETERMINATION IN TRIGONOMETRICAL CONTROL NETWORKS EDM Traverses (and Trilateration) Trigonometric Base Line Extension

TRAVERSES TO EXPAND AND DENSIFY NATIONAL CONTROL NETWORKS

Propagation of Electromagnetic Energy

Velocity of EM energy V = (cycles/second) is the frequency in hertz is the wavelength

In vacuum the velocity of electromagnetic waves equals the speed of light. V = c/n n >1, n is the refractive index of the medium through which the wave propagates c is the speed of light = 299 792 458 m/sec

f = c/n or = cf/n Note that n in any homogeneous medium varies with the wavelength . White light consists of a combination of wavelengths and hence n for visible light is referred to as a group index of refraction. For EDM purposes the medium through which electromagnetic energy is propagated is the earths atmosphere along the line being measured. It is therefore necessary to determine n of the atmosphere at the time and location at which the measurement is conducted.

Propagation of Electromagnetic Energy

The refractive index of air varies with air density and is derived from measurements of air temperature and atmospheric pressure at the time and site of a distance measurement. For an average wavelength : na= 1 + ( ng-1 ) x p 5.5e x 10-8 1 + 0.003661T 760 1 + 0.003661T Where ng is the group index of refraction in a standard atmosphere
(T=0C, p=760mm of mercury, 0.03% carbon dioxide)

ng = 1+ ( 2876.04 + 48.864/2 +0.680/ 4 ) x 10-7 p is the atmospheric pressure in mm of mercury (torr) T is the dry bulb temperature in C and e is the vapor pressure Where e= e+de and e=4.58 x 10a, a=(7.5T)/(237.3+T), de=-(0.000660p (1+0.000115T) (T-T) and T is the wet-bulb temperature So measuring p, T and T will allow for the computation of n for a specific

THE FRACTION OF A WAVELENGTH AND THE PHASE ANGLE

90

+r
Amplitude
0

180

-r 360

270

A fraction of a wavelength can be determined from a corresponding phase angle Note: For = 0 the fraction is 0 For = 90 the fraction is For = 180 the fraction is For = 270 the fraction is For = 360 the fraction is 1

EDM INSTRUMENTS CAN MEASURE PHASE ANGLES

Principles of Electronic Distance Measurement

If an object moves at a constant speed of V over a straight distance L in a time interval t, then L= Vt = (c/n)t Knowing the speed of light c and being able to determine the refractive index, we could measure the time interval it takes for an electromagnetic wave to move from A to B to determine the distance L between A and B. But since the speed of light (c) is very high, the time interval t would need to be measured extremely accurately. Instead, the principle of EDM is based on the following relationship:

L = (m + p)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

B L p

m is an integer number of whole wavelengths, p is a fraction of a wavelength

So L can be determined from , m and p

Solving for the integer number (m) of whole wavelengths (Resolving the ambiguity in the number of whole wave lengths)
p3
6 7 8 9 10 11

2
5

p2

12

B L p1

Additional waves of known lengths 3 = k2 and 2 = k 1 (k is a constant), are introduced to measure the same distance L: L = (m3 + p3) 3 L =(m2 + p2) 2 L =(m1 + p1) 1 Determining p1 p2 and p3 by measuring phase angles 1 2 and 3 and solving the above equations simultaneously yields L ( Note: For L < 3 , m3 = 0).

USING DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS

For example, if 1 = 10.000 meters, k = 10.000 and p1 = 0.2562, p2 = 0.2620 and p3 = 0.0125 (measured)
Then 2 = 10.000m x 10.000 = 100.000 and 3 = 100.000 x 10.000 = 1000.000

L= (m3 + p3) 3 = (0+0.1250)x 1000.000 = 125.000m approximately

M2 = 125/ 2 = 125/100= 1 and hence

L = (1+0.2620)x100.000 = 126.200m approximately

M1 = 126.2/ 1 = 126.2/10 = 12 and hence

L = (12+ 0.2562)x10 = 122.562m

[mi = whole wavelengths; pi = fractional parts of a wavelength; k = constant]

Basic Components of an EDM Instrument

Reflector
Reflector
Le ng th pa of th me is as 2x ur L ed

Beam Splitter
Variable Filter

Transmitter
F4 F2 F3

F1

Interference Filter

Measurement signal Reference signal

Frequency Generator

Receiver Optics and phasedifference circuits Phase Meter

Display

To obtain the phase angle the reflected signal phase is compared to the reference signal phase. Note also that the measured distance equals 2 x L.

General Remarks on EDM

The original Tellurometer models, using microwaves, consisted of two units, the master and the remote, both of which required an operator The carrier wave was used to establish a voice channel between the operators in order to coordinate the manual switching of the frequencies. For long lines careful measurements of pressure and the wet- and dry-bulb temperatures were made at each end of the line. Measurements were very susceptible to multipath reflections (ground swing). Developments in electronics reduced the size of the components so EDMs could be mounted on theodolites to allow for simultaneous measurement of distances and directions.

 Eventually EDMs were completely integrated into total stations Total stations allow for the direct input of temperature and pressure and automatic application of meteorological corrections Most of the current EDM instruments use LASER beams and passive optical reflectors, thus reducing the possibility of multipathing The latest models provide for reflector-less measurements, thus improving efficiency for certain applications

Sources of Error in EDM:

Personal: Careless centering of instrument and/or reflector Faulty temperature and pressure measurements Incorrect input of T and p Instrumental Instrument not calibrated Electrical center Prism Constant (see next slide)

Natural Varying met along line Turbulence in air

Remember: L = (m + p)

Sources of Error in EDM:

Determination of System Measuring Constant
A B C

1. 2. 3. 4.

Measure AB, BC and AC AC + K = (AB + K) + (BC + K) K = AC- (AB + BC) If electrical center is calibrated, K represents the prism constant.

Blunders: Incorrect met settings Incorrect scale settings Prism constants ignored Incorrect recording settings (e.g. horizontal vs. slope)

Good Practice: Never mix prism types and brands on same project!!! Calibrate regularly !!!