Objectives

– Identify the use, operations and applications

of hydrographic surveying.
– Familiarize with different sounding methods.
– Solve point fixing problems.
– Perform volume and discharge computations.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Outline
– Hydrography, Hydrographic Surveys, and Maps
– Operations in Hydro-Survey
– Tides, Tidal Datums, and Tide Stations
– Soundings
– Point Fixing
– Dredging/Reclamation
– Scow Measurements (Volume)
– Stream Velocity
– Stream Discharge Measurement
– Capacity of Lakes and Reservoirs (Volume)

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Wet equivalent of topographic
surveying
 Hydrography
Hydrography – the art and science of compiling and
producing charts/maps, of water-covered areas of the
Earth’s surface; includes charting of water column
parameters, geology of the seabed sediments and
positioning issues.
Hydrology - the study of the
movement, distribution, and
quality of water throughout
the Earth.
Hydraulics - deals with the
mechanical properties of liquids.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Branch Overview
Nautical
Charting

Remote Military
Sensing Hydrography

Coastal Zone
Offshore Management
Construction (dredging)

Inland Waters
Offshore
Hydrography
Seismic
(dredging)
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Hydrographic Surveys
Process that determines depths and terrain configuration
of the bottoms of water bodies, used to prepare
hydrographic maps.

Datum

+ Depth

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Hydrographic Surveying

Hydrographic surveys are those done on

bodies of water such as a rivers,
reservoirs, bay, harbor, lakes or oceans.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Purposes
1. Determination of channel
depths for navigation
2. Determination of
quantities of bottom
excavation
3. Location of rocks, sand
bars, wrecks, coral reefs
4. Measurement of areas
subject to silting

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Purposes
5. Offshore structure
positioning
6. Construction of water
supply, bridges,
pipeline crossings,
underground cable
crossings and water
storage
7. Flood control and
management
 Some Project Types Related to
Hydrography

1. Oil/Gas Development
2. Dredging
3. Sea Defences
4. Deep Sea Mining
5. Marinas
6. Outfalls

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Display of Hydrographic Data

Boat Sheets – hydrographer’s

worksheet used in the field to
plot the details of the survey
while it is still in progress.
Smooth Sheets – office plots
of all data gathered during
survey. These represent the
data after all corrections have
been applied. Depths are
commonly in fathoms (6 feet)

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Hydrographic Chart Display of Hydrographic Data

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Bathymetric Map
Display of Hydrographic Data

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Display of Hydrographic Data
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e7/Quicks_hole.jpg/220px-Quicks_hole.jpg
Digital Elevation Models

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Operations in Hydro-Survey

Establishment Establishment Hydrographic

Topographic Hydrographic
Reconnaissance of Horizontal of Vertical Chart/Maps or
Survey Survey
Control Control other products

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
International Hydrographic
Organization (IHO)
• Sets hydrographic
standards to be agreed
upon by the member
nations.
• As these standards are
uniformly adopted, the
products of the world's
hydrographic and
oceanographic offices
become more uniform.
NATIONAL MAPPING AND RESOURCE INFORMATION
AUTHORITY (NAMRIA)
 Among other things,
NAMRIA conducts
hydrographic and physical
oceanographic surveys and
produces nautical charts.
 NAMRIA is also the national
hydrographic office of the
Philippines and focal point
for IHO and East Asia
Hydrographic Commision
(EAHC)
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 What do we do?
Hydrographic Procedures:

SOUNDINGS ✓Determination of depths

LOCATING SOUNDINGS/
POINT FIXING
✓Determination of positions

The techniques used for these tasks depend on the water

body’s size, required accuracy, equipment and personnel.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Equipment for Hydrography

✓Sounding Craft ✓Fathometer

✓Sounding Pole ✓Signals
✓Leadline ✓Tide Gauge
✓Sounding Machine ✓Sextant

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Equipment for Hydrography
Sounding Craft Sounding Pole Lead Line

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Equipment for Hydrography

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Equipment for Hydrography

Signals (e.g.
buoy, lighthouse,
etc.)

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Equipment for Hydrography

Tide gauge
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Equipment for Hydrography

Sextant

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Sounding Party

✓Chief of Party ✓Coxswain

✓Instrument Man ✓Lookout
✓Recorder ✓Signalman
✓Leadsman ✓Fathometer Attendant

Range lines – well-defined lines on courses whose position

are known and along which soundings are taken.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tides

half daily cycle of rhythmic rise and fall of the surface of bodies of
water due to the gravitational attraction of the sun and the moon
and the rotating earth
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tides

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tidal Definitions
✓Tide ✓High Water
✓Tidal Current ✓Low Water
✓Flood Tide ✓Tide Range
✓Ebb Tide ✓Tidal Day
✓Slack Water ✓Stand
✓Set and Drift ✓Tidal Waves

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tidal Definitions

Tidal Current – horizontal movement of water

accompanying tides

Flood Tide – water surface is rising and moving

towards the shore

Ebb Tide – water surface is falling and moving seaward

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_currents/02tidal1.html
 Tidal Definitions
High Water – high tide; max height of water surface
above a standard datum plane on a given period

Low Water – low tide; greatest depression of water

surface below a standard datum plane on a given
period

Tide Range – difference between the high and low tide

at a location on a given date

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tidal Definitions

Slack Water – instant when tidal current is changing

direction and flows either in or out

Set and Drift – direction (set) and speed (drift) of

current flow

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tidal Definitions
Tidal Day – idealized average period of 24 hours and
50 minutes between the occurrence of two successive
high tides of the same type and location

Stand – stand of the tide is the period around which

the greatest peak or depression of the tides is reached
and during which the changes in height of the tide is
scarcely noticeable

Tidal Waves – large head or front of water generated

at the surface of oceans
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
http://fostersfourth.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/3/0/3
1300515/7572835_orig.gif
 Tides

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Types of Tides

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Neap and Spring Tides

✓ Minimum Tide Range

✓ Maximum Tide Range

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Neap and Spring Tides

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/ldeo/v1011x-
GE 12 – General Surveying II
1/jcm/Topic2/Topic2.html
 Co-tidal Charts

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/M2_tidal_constituent.jpg
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tidal Datums
Specific tide levels used as surfaces of reference for
depth measurements in the sea and as a base for the
determination of elevation on land (localized).
a. Mean lower low water (MLLW)
b. Mean low water (MLW)
c. Mean sea level (MSL)
d. Mean high water (MHW)
e. Mean higher high water (MHHW)

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tidal Datums

A tidal benchmark is
a fixed vertical
monument used to
reference a local
tidal datum.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Tide Stations
To facilitate the
process of
establishing tidal
datums, tide
stations are
operated at
various
locations.
19-year epoch.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 This schematic depicts a typical Next
Generation Water Level Measurement
System tide station.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
“SOUNDING”
 Soundings
The process of measuring the depth of a body of water
at a particular point.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 How Depth is Measured

A. Acoustic Techniques using Transducers

1. Singlebeam Echosounder
2. Multichannel Echosounder
3. Scanning Sonar/Profiler
4. Side Scan Sonar
5. Multibeam Echosounder
B. Other Non-acoustic Inspection Techniques
1. Lead Line
2. Sounding Pole
3. Wire and Bar Sweeps

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Acoustic Techniques
using Transducers
 Transducers

The antenna in the

Sonar converts the
electric energy from
the transmitter to
high frequency
sound.
Sonar (SOund Navigation
And Ranging)

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Acoustic Techniques using
Transducers
1. Singlebeam Echosounder
2. Multichannel Echosounder
3. Scanning Sonar/Profiler
4. Side Scan Sonar
5. Multibeam Echosounder

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Singlebeam Echosounder

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Multichannel Echosounder

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Scanning Sonar/Profiler

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Side Scan Sonar

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Multibeam Echosounder

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Non-acoustic Techniques
 Lead Line

5-10m. Water depth.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Sounding Pole

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Wire Drag
Wire and Bar Sweeps Wire Sweep
Sweep Bar

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
“LOCATING SOUNDINGS/
POINT-FIXING”
 Locating Soundings
The process of measuring the horizontal position of a
depth of a body of water at a particular point.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Locating Soundings
1. Time Intervals Along a Range Line
2. Range Line and an Angle from Shore
3. Intersecting Range Lines
4. One Angle and Stadia Distance from Shore
5. Two Angles from Shore Intersection Problem
6. Two Angles from Boat Resection Problem
7. Distances Along a Cross Rope or Wire
8. Direction and Vertical Angle
9. Electronic Positioning Systems
10. Land-Based Positioning Systems
11. GNSS
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Time Interval Along
a Range Line
• Known range line length
• Known, uniform speed of the
boat
• Soundings are taken at
regular intervals (echosounder)
• Locate positions of soundings
by proportioning the time
intervals
•Limited accuracy
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Range Line and an
Angle from Shore
instrument base line flags
• For short range lines θ
(e.g. small lakes) s h o r e a r e a
• Theodolite/transit at
one end of the base

range line
range line

range line

range line

range line
line on shore is used to
measure the angle from
the base line to the LOS
of the boat
marker buoys
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Range Line and an
Angle from Shore
• From a point along the instrument Lk flags
base line, (point of known θ
position) the theodolite is s h o r e a r e a
setup.
•Given the distance along a
base line (Lk), and

range line
range line

range line

range line

range line
measured angle, the
distance(Ls) & azimuth(Azs)
from the theodolite to the
boat can be calculated
Azs= Azk+ 𝜽
𝑳𝒌
Ls=
marker buoys 𝒄𝒐𝒔 (𝜽)
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Intersecting Range Lines
base line flags

s h o r e a r e a

base line
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 One Angle and Stadia
Distance from Shore
instrument Reference Line
• Theodolite/transit
θ s h o r e a r e a
set up on shore, stadia
rod on the boata
• Upper and lower
stadia hair readings
(HD)
• Read the azimuth
from a reference line

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Distances Along a
Cross Rope or Wire
(Tag-line Method)
• Stretching a graduated
wire or cross rope along
a narrow stream (for
profiles)
• Employs a calibrated
wire rope stretched
perpendicular from
hubs on a baseline to
the survey boat
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Direction and Vertical Angle
• Observe the instrument
HD
depression angle from α
the instrument on a
higher ground to the DE
boat
• The horizontal
distance is computed l a n d a r e a
by using the
trigonometric formula
W A T E R

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Electronic Positioning Systems

 Designed to measure the time of transit or difference

in transit times of electromagnetic waves in the
atmosphere

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Electronic Positioning Systems
Consists of:
 transmitter from the ship;
 3 triangulation stations on the shore with known
position;
 relay station on the shore with a transmitter,
receiver and an amplifier;
 reference transmitter on the shore
EPS tradenames for hydrographic surveys:
 Shoran, Loran, Raydist, Del Norte

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Short-range Navigation (Shoran)
 Method of short range electronic positioning for
rapid determination of position even under adverse
weather conditions
 Originally developed for blind bombing by the
military and aerial reconnaissance
 Ship’s position is determined with respect to two
previously established shore stations which transmit
and receive signals simultaneously
 80-120 km
 Low frequencies

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Long-range Navigation (Loran)
 The principle employed in long range navigation,
similar to Shoran, except for the use and transmission
of high pulses electromagnetic energy
 Follow curvature of the Earth better than low
frequency signals
 Greater distances

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
Land-Based Positioning Systems
 All these systems use time difference and trilateration
techniques to determine a position.

Modulated light wave and

infrared spectrum electronic
distance measurement
instruments can be used over
relatively limited distances,
usually less than 3 to 5 miles
offshore.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite
System (GNSS) is a real-time,
all-weather, 24-hour,
worldwide, 3-dimensional
absolute satellite-based
positioning system

Two positioning services:

- Precise Positioning Service
- Standard Positioning Service
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Two Angles from Shore

instrument A
(Intersection Problem) instrument B
α
• An offshore vessel or s h o r e a r e a
β
platform can be
triangulated by transit
or theodolite angles
observed from base
line points on shore

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Try: Intersection Problem
Given the ff. data for an intersection problem, compute for the coordinates of A:
STA. EASTING (m) NORTHING (m)
B 3,369.287 2,890.836
C 3,300.259 3,082.183 C
STA OCC. STA. OBS HOR. ANGLE (clockwise)
B A 0 ˚00’10”
C 81˚17’48”
C B 0 ˚00’10”
A 64˚32’38”

A
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Try: Intersection Problem
Steps in solving the intersection problem:
1. Plot the relative position of A, B, and C based on the position
and given angle
2. Compute for the interior angles and the distance of the
length of the baseline C
𝐵𝐶 = 𝐶𝑁 − 𝐵𝑁 2+ 𝐵𝐸 − 𝐵𝐸 2

𝐶𝐸 − 𝐵𝐸
𝛽𝐵𝐶 = tan−1
𝐶𝑁 − 𝐵𝑁
BC=203.417m
∠B=81˚17’38”
∠C= 64˚32’28” B
𝛽𝐵𝐶 =N 19°50’12.46” W
A
𝛽𝐶𝐵 =S 19°50’12.46” E
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Try: Intersection Problem
Steps in solving the intersection problem:

3. Using the geometric property of triangles, the angles A, B and C should have a
total of 1800. Solve for the unknown angle at A. C
∠A=180°-81˚17’38”- 64˚32’28” = 34°09’54”

4. Using sine law, compute for the length of the other side(s)
sin 81˚17’38” ∗203.417𝑚
𝐴𝐶 = =358.050m
sin 34˚09’54”
sin 64˚32’28” ∗203.417𝑚
𝐴𝐵 = =327.050m
sin 34˚09’54”
81˚17’38”
B

A
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Try: Intersection Problem
Steps in solving the intersection problem:
5. Given the interior angles, solve for the azimuths of the other line/s.
𝐴𝑧𝐵𝐶 = 180 −19°50’12.46”=160°09’47.54”
𝐴𝑧𝐵𝐴 = 160°09’47.54”-81˚17’38”=78°52’9.54”
𝐴𝑧𝐶𝐵 = 360 −19°50’12.46”=340°09’47.54”
𝐴𝑧𝐶𝐴 =340°09’47.54”+64°32’28”-360°=44°42’15.54”
C
6. Determine the coordinates of A using the length and azimuth
of a line with one endpoint with known coordinates.
𝐴𝐸 = 𝐵𝐸 − 𝐵𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑧𝐵𝐴
= 3369.287 − 327.050sin(78°52′ 9.54“)=3048.389m
𝐴𝑁 = 𝐵𝑁 − 𝐵𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑧𝐵𝐴
= 2890.836 − 327.050cos(78°52′ 9.54“)=2827.700m
7. Use the other side to compute for the coordinates of A 81˚17’38”
as a check.
𝐴𝐸 = 𝐶𝐸 − 𝐶𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑧𝐶𝐴 𝐴𝑧𝐵𝐴
B
= 3300.259 − 358.050sin(44°42′ 15.54“)=3048.389m
𝐴𝑁 = 𝐶𝑁 − 𝐶𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝐴𝑧𝐶𝐴
= 3082.183 − 358.050cos(44°42′ 15.54“)=2827.700m
A
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Two Angles from Boat
target A target B
(Resection Problem) D1
target C
• Involves simultaneous s h o r e a r e a
observation of two
horizontal angles
between three known
objects from which the ϕ
θ
position of an offshore
platform is resected

boat with sextant

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
Principles of the Three-Point Fix:
1. The circumference of the circle can be described
through any three given points.
2. If two of the given points are fixed in position, the
angle between them measured at a third point will be
the same for all points on that part of the
circumference of the circle on the same side of a line
joining the two fixed points (a.k.a. inscribed angle).

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Thales
_inscribed_angle.gif
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
Principles of the Three-Point Fix:
1. The circumference of the circle can be described
through any three given points.
2. If two of the given points are fixed in position, the
angle between them measured at a third point will be
the same for all points on that part of the
circumference of the circle on the same side of a line
joining the two fixed points (a.k.a. inscribed angle).
3. If, in addition to the first angle, a second angle is
measured from the same unknown point to two
points, one of which always, and both of which
occasionally, differ from the first two, the position of
the unknown point will also be defined by a second
circle. Since the unknown point lies on the
circumference of two circles, its position will be
defined by their intersection.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
Strength of Three-Point Fix:
• Depends on the angle of intersection of the two circumferences
defined by the two angles and the three known points.
• Stronger fix if the intersection nearly approaches 90o.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
General rules:

a. The stronger fix is when the observer is inside the triangle formed
by three objects. In such case, the fix is strongest when the three
objects form an equilateral triangle, the observer is at the center,
and the objects are close to the observer.

B
O

A
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
General rules:

b. The fix is strong when the sum of the two angles is equal to or
greater than 180o and neither angle is less than 30o. The nearer
the angles equal each other, the stronger will be the fix.
c. The sum of the angles should not be less than about 50o.
C

B
`
A
O
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
General rules:

d. The fix is strong when the three objects are in a straight line, or the
center object lies between the observer and a line joining the
other two and the center object is nearest to the observer.

C
A

O
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
General rules:

The fix becomes weaker as the two circles approach tangency.

There will be an indeterminate fix when:
Angle BAC + Angle BOA + Angle COA = 180o
A
C

“Danger Circle”
B

O
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 Three-point Resection
Outline of solution for three-point resection problem:
1. Check for strength of fix and compute for R. → (α + β + Φ) >> 180o
Case I: R = 360o – (α + β + Φ)
Case II: R = 360o – (α + β + Φ)
Case III: R = (Φ - α – β)
2. Compute for γ.
cot γ = cot R + [(b sin α) / (c sin β sin R)]
3. Compute for θ.
θ=R–γ
4. Solve for AO using b, γ and β.
5. Solve for Angle CAO or BAO to determine the direction of AO.
6. Solve for OC and OB and determine the direction of CO and BO.
7. Compute for the coordinates of point O and perform a check.
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 HW: Resection Problem
Given the ff. data for a three-point resection, compute for the coordinates
of Sta. O:

STA. EASTING NORTHING

A 10,000.00 20,000.00
B 16,672.50 20,000.00
C 27,732.76 14,215.24

STA OCC. STA. OBS HOR. ANGLE (clockwise)

O A 00 ˚00’00”
B 20˚05’53”
O B 00 ˚00’00”
C 35 ˚06’08”
Department of Geodetic Engineering
Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
 References
• Anderson, James & E. Mikhail (1998), Surveying: Theory
and Practice 7th Edition, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

• Davis, Raymond E., et.al. (1981), Surveying: Theory and

Practice 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

• La Putt, Juny P. (1987), Higher Surveying 2nd Edition,

Cacho Hermanos Inc.

Department of Geodetic Engineering

Training Center for Applied Geodesy and Photogrammetry GE 12 – General Surveying II
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