CE331: Principles of Geoinformatics 2023-24/II
Name: Shreya Gupta Roll Number:221027
Laboratory Exercise Report – 3
Objective
This lab activity aims to identify the scale error, cyclic error curve, and zero error for a certain EDMI.
This lab teaches us how to use and comprehend the EDMI.
Eventually, we identify the many issues with the equipment.
Methodology
Setting up the instrument
o Instruments Used: The setup includes two primary instruments—the EDMI and a
reflector, both requiring precise leveling and centering. Points are marked every meter
along a 30-meter stretch, with one point designated for the EDMI's placement.
o Centering and Levelling: After aligning the EDMI with the marked point on the
tripod, the instrument is mounted perpendicularly. The levelling process involves
adjusting the leveling screws until the bubble is centered within the designated circle.
Instrument Initialization
o Connect the batteries to the instrument and press the POWER (PWR) switch it on.
o Using the electronic level that is visible on the screen, fine-tune the instrument by
using the "three levelling screws" method.
o To initialize the instrument, press ENTER. The instrument will then convert to P0
MODE.
o Enter values like temperature, pressure.
o Set the horizontal angle (HA) reference to 0° 0' 0" and point the instrument roughly
northward. Press ENTER.
o Using the Trimble-provided measuring tape, determine the instrument height (h) and
press F3. Enter the instrument height when requested, then hit ENTER.
o Determine the reflector height (SH) from the graduations on it. Press F6, and when
prompted for the signal height (SH), input the value and press ENTER.
o Sight the target or reflector, and press the AIM button to measure the horizontal
distance (HD), vertical distance (VD), sloping distance (SD), and other values such as
Northing and Easting. For this experiment, you can disregard the Northing and
Easting measurement.
Principle of Error Determination
This will require accurate measurement of distances using tape on a flat ground and comparison
of the same with EDMI measured distances. Using these, one can estimate various calibration
errors/correction. The order of corrections is as follows: cyclic, reflector-instrument constant,
scale.
Cyclic Error
The error that repeats itself in a cyclic pattern. In this experiment this error can be determined
by comparing the measured distances using a tape and the EDMI over a flat surface.
CE331: Principles of Geoinformatics 2023-24/II
1. Measure the initial length ‘Do’ using EDMI.
2. Calculate ‘ei` for every length by using the formula
ei = Di–(Do+di)
3. Calculate the correction `ci`
𝑒𝑖
.ci = -ei+ 10
Station Taped dist. EDMI dist. D0 + di (m) ei= Di– 𝑒𝑖
- ci = -ei+
(1) di, Di, (m) (Do+di) 10
(m) D0 = 20 (m)
0 0 19.984 20 -0.016 -0.017
1 1 20.976 21 -0.024 -0.009
2 2 21.966 22 -0.034 0.001
3 3 22.973 23 -0.027 -0.006
4 4 23.971 24 -0.029 -0.004
5 5 24.960 25 -0.032 -0.001
6 6 25.966 26 -0.034 0.001
7 7 26.963 27 -0.037 0.004
8 8 27.967 28 -0.033 0.000
9 9 28.972 29 -0.028 -0.005
10 10 29.963 30 -0.037 0.004
eavg -0.033
Zero Error
This is type of error that is in-built within the machine when the instrument does not analyse
the accurate value.
1. we can obtain this error by following steps
2. divide the distance D into n segments
CE331: Principles of Geoinformatics 2023-24/II
3. use EDMI and reflector set up to measure all the distance.
4. measure small segments d1, d2, d3…….from the total distance D for n segments.
5. Calculate reflector constant by using the formula
(𝐷− 𝑑𝑖)
6. K = (𝑛−1)
n Distance measured di di (in m)
from the tape(m) (measured in m)
1 3 3.010
2 4 3.997 0.987
3 5 4.991 0.994
4 6 5.989 0.998
5 7 6.989 1
6 8 7.986 0.997
7 9 8.988 1.002
8 10 9.989 1.001
9 11 10.983 0.994
10 12 11.990 1.007
11 13 12.986 0.996
Sum di 9.976
Our observations:
D = 10.000 m
Summation di = 9.976 m
n-1 = 9
K = (10.000 – 9.976)/9 = 0.002
Scale Error
This is the error which arises when there are discrepancy between the actual scale and a
measuring scale. Here we would compare the actual length of the calibrated line with the
distance measured by the EDMI.
Dk = 30 m
Dm = 29.963 + 0.002 (zero error) = 29.965
Scale error = [(30 – 29.965). 10 6 ] / 30 = 233.333 ppm
Eg of corrected distance: => Dm = 24.968 + 0.033 – 0.004 = 24.997
D(corrected) = 24.997 + 0.00023 x 24.997 = 25.003m
Results and Discussion
The result of this experiment included the determination of all three types of errors and do we
deal with them while working on the field. At the end we plotted the graph for cyclic error.
CE331: Principles of Geoinformatics 2023-24/II
Zero error = 0.002
Cyclic error = graph plotted
Scale error = 233.333 ppm
Conclusions
In this laboratory exercise, the cyclic error, reflector-instrument constant, and scale errors for
the given EDMI were successfully determined. This exercise enhanced the understanding of
the calibration process for EDMI and the importance of accuracy in distance measurement
References
- Lab manual from hello IITK
