Station Surveying
Theodolite v/s Total Station
These are two of the main surveying instruments that are used for measuring vertical and horizontal angles during engineering projects and surveying. However, there are certain basic differences between theodolite and total station.
What is Theodolite?
A theodolite is a scientific precision instrument which measures angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. It is mainly used for surveying operations. Some of the adapted types of theodolites are even used in fields like meteorology and rocket launch technology. To know more about theodolites, read What is a Theodolite-Types and Uses
What is Total Station?
A total station essentially is a theodolite- an electronic theodolite (transit) to be specific. Thus it can be called a type of theodolite which is integrated with an electronic distance meter (EDM) for reading slope distances between the instrument and a particular point.
Difference Between Theodolite and Total Station
The comparison of theodolite and total station can be done on a number of criteria like components, features, ease of operation, cost etc. though the basic function of both remains the same- measurement of horizontal and vertical angles.
- A theodolite has a telescope between the horizontal and vertical axes. However, the axes angle can be calculated accurately only if the operator knows enough of trigonometry. On the other hand, most of the total stations are equipped with softwares for site calibration, coordinate geometry calculations and other features for maximized productivity.
- An assistant is always required to operate for facilitating the measurement and alignment of angles. This is not the case with a total station, especially when using robotic total station as it allows the operator to work single handedly with the help of a remote control.
- A theodolite is generally suitable for surveys of small size plots whereas total stations are more suitable for survey requirements over large distances, especially for difficult terrain as their results in such environments are more accurate and dependable.
- As far as cost factor is concerned, total stations are more expensive than theodolites and also require surveying training as well as software training according to the specific product and models.
Thus, after analyzing the differences between a theodolite and a total station, it seems that total station is a superior surveying tool as compared to theodolite due to its digital integration and all-inclusive features. However, factors related to time, expertise available, and cost also determine whether one would like to use a theodolite or a total station! If you have decided in favor of total station, then there is more to decide about whether to use GPS total station or not? For guidance, read GPS Total Station- Benefits and Drawbacks
About the Author
Deepa Roy has interest in fields like health, home decor & remodeling, furniture & handicrafts etc. She has a considerable knowledge base regarding various industries like soaps and detergents, food industry, packaging industry, brazing alloys and other metal products. She uses practical experiences, acquired knowledge, facts & statistics from research & industry reports to write her articles. To read more articles of industry experts, visit the blog Industry Mart
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WFKY(AM)-FRANKFORT, KY ORIGINAL RADIO STATION MUSIC SURVEY 9/5/69 $0.99 |
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KRBE(FM)-HOUSTON, TX ORIGINAL RADIO STATION MUSIC SURVEY FROM 5/7/80 $1.49 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY APRIL 14, 1977 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $1.99 |
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WLS(AM)-CHICAGO, IL ORIGINAL RADIO STATION MUSIC SURVEY FROM 11/1/63 $2.49 |
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WCFL(AM)-CHICAGO, IL ORIGINAL RADIO STATION MUSIC SURVEY FROM 5/26/66 $2.49 |
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WOKY Milwaukee Radio Station Top 30 Music Survey for January 6, 1967 $2.50 |
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OLD ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP CHIGWELL STATION 1914 $3.84 |
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OLD ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP, LEEDS STATIONS 1847-1863 $3.84 |
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OLD ORDNANCE SURVEY MAP MARCH STATION NEAR WISBECH 1900 $3.84 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY OCTOBER 6 1981 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY JANUARY 12, 1979 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY JUNE 1 1982 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY JANUARY 27, 1978 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY APRIL 14, 1978 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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13Q RECORD SURVEY APRIL 9, 1977 PITTSBURGH RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KSTT RECORD SURVEY JANUARY 13 1978 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KIIK RECORD SURVEY APRIL 28, 1986 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KIIK RECORD SURVEY JANUARY 6, 1986 DAVENPORT, IOWA RADIO STATION $3.99 |
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KHJ(AM)-LOS ANGELES, CA ORIGINAL RADIO STATION MUSIC SURVEY 6/14/67 $3.99 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey -July 7, 1969 $5.00 |
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WCOL-Columbus, Ohio-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- March 30, 1970 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey-September 5, 1965 $5.00 |
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WJJD-Chicago, IL-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- January 27, 1958 $5.00 |
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WVLK-Lexington, Kentucky- Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- July 21, 1971. $5.00 |
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WJJD-Chicago, IL-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey-March 17, 1958 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey -June 27, 1965 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey – April 4, 1965 $5.00 |
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KOIL-Omaha, Nebraska-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey-March 13-19, 1968 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey – May 16, 1965 $5.00 |
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WJJD-Chicago, IL-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- May 18, 1959 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey -February 12, 1967 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey -June 5, 1966 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey -January 23, 1966 $5.00 |
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WOKY-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- May 4, 1967 $5.00 |
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WOKY-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- January 8, 1966 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- September 13, 1964 $5.00 |
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WJJD-Chicago, IL-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- August 5, 1957 $5.00 |
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KOIL-Omaha, Nebraska-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey-November 22-28, 1967 $5.00 |
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WRIT-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey-September 8, 1963 $6.00 |
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An Historical Survey Of Selected Great Western Stations & Layouts Volume One $9.41 |
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An Historical Survey Of Selected Great Western Stations & Layouts – Volume Three $9.41 |
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Nikon NE 101-205 Total Station Handle ONLY For Surveying (Hard to Find) $9.99 |
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Radio Broadcasting Stations Survey old photo 1926 $11.20 |
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1904 ANTIQUE MAP:FLORIDA, ASTRONOMIC STATIONS, SURVEY, PRIMARY RATES OF TRAVERSE $12.96 |
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Protective Prism / Tribrach Bag , Total Station Surveying 210mm x 210mm x 110mm $14.04 |
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A PICTORIAL SURVEY OF RAILWAY STATIONS by Gordon Buck $14.88 |
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Nikon RS-232 Cable for Total Station And Data Collector For Surveying $16.99 |
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WOKY-Milwaukee-Top 40 Radio Station Music Survey- Beatles- April 18, 1964 $19.99 |
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Trimble Geodimeter 400 Horseshoe Battery for Total Station Surveying $25.00 |
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Leica Type Mini Prism Housing for 17.5mm Offset, Total Station Surveying MINIH17 $28.23 |
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VINTAGE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS MAP CONTROL STATION BRASS SURVEY MARKER DISK $33.99 |
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SOIL SURVEY Van Buren County Iowa 1918 & 1962 Books Maps Agriculture Station $35.00 |
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All Metal Prism Set w/ Bag for total station surveying $38.00 |
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NEW 14 cm MINI PRISM POLE FOR TOTAL STATION SURVEYING $38.88 |
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NEW 14 cm MINI PRISM POLE FOR TOTAL STATIONS SURVEYING（5/8″ THREAD ） $38.88 |
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NEW MINI PRISM POLE FOR TOTAL STATION SURVEYING $38.99 |
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29 KXOK (AM) ST LOUIS, MO ORIGINAL RADIO STATION MUSIC SURVEY 9/10/66 to11/15/67 $41.00 |
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RED Prism Set for total station (surveying) NEW $42.99 |
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(NEW) All Metal Prism Set w/ Bag for total station surveying, RED PRISM $45.00 |
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NEW Mini Prism For Total Station , Surveying （5/8″ mounting thread ） $48.88 |
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(NEW) South Survey Total Station Battery NB-20,for NTS-352,NTS-355 $49.00 |
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South Survey Total Station Battery NB-20a South NB20a $49.00 |
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New Mini Prism For Total Station , Surveying, EDM $49.00 |
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BRAND NEW South Survey Total Station Battery NB-20,for NTS-352,NTS-355 $49.00 |
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THREE-JAW TRIBRACH ADAPTER ,surveying, total station, GPS NEW 5/8×11 thread GPS $49.99 |
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BDC58 BDC-58 Li-ion battery ,for total Station and GPS Surveying instrument. $53.99 |
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Floor Spider for Leica/Topcon Total Station/Surveying $54.10 |
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NEW Mini Prism #3mini0100 for total station, surveying $55.00 |
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Leica Prism Bag for GRZ4 360 Degree Prism, Total Station Surveying, 725512 $54.89 |
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RED PRISM and TARGERT Single Tilt Prism & Bag for total station . SURVEYING $56.00 |
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NEW ALL METAL PRISM SET W/ BAG FOR TOTAL STATION SURVEYING $58.88 |
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Leica Type Mini Prism Housing & Prism for 17.5mm, Total Station Surveying MINIH4 $58.81 |
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Battery for Leica GPS Survey GPS900 GEB211 ATX1230 TPS1200 RX900 Total Station $63.79 |
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BT-65Q BT65Q NIMH Battery for Survey Instrument TOTAL STATION $63.99 |
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Rotating Tribrach Adapter Prism Total Station Surveying $64.95 |
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#4 New Mini All-Metal Prism Package for total station,surveying $64.95 |
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1878 Pennsylvania Geological Survey, Topography MAP Railroad Stations Elevations $65.00 |
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BRAND NEW SOUTH SURVEY TOTAL STATION BATTERY NB-20A SOUTH NB20A $68.99 |
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Pole .carbon fibre survey rod, 2M,Total station GPS brand new $69.99 |
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LEICA DOWN LOAD CABLE LEMO TOTAL STATION SURVEYING $70.00 |
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2.15M Prism Pole with Bipod for total station surveying $73.00 |
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South Survey Single Tilt Prism Set for Total station $79.00 |
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Wooden Tripod for Survey Instrument Total Station Level $79.95 |
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NEW PRISMS SURVEYORS PRISM, FOR TOTAL STATION,TOPCON,SOKKIA,TRIMBLE.SURVEYING $79.99 |
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NEW Leica , Topcon FS GTS Total Station surveying 2MB Memory card Survey $79.99 |
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GEODIMETER BATTERY 12V TOTAL STATION SURVEYING SURVEYOR $80.00 |
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South Survey Total Station Battery NB-20b South NB20b $84.95 |
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South Survey Total Station Battery NB-28 South NB28 $84.95 |
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South Survey Total Station Battery NB-20a South NB20a $84.95 |
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Advanced Sokkia Style BDC25A Battery For Sokkia Total Station For survey $94.99 |
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Pole .carbon fibre survey rod, 2M,Total station GPS $96.00 |
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Prism for Topcon Total Station Surveying $94.09 |
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TPI MINI PRISM FOR TOTAL STATION, SURVEYING, PEANUT PRISM, SOKKIA, TOPCON $98.00 |
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Leica Type Mini Prism with Poles, Spike & Bag, 0mm Offset, Total Station Survey $98.01 |
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SECO 8.5′ TLV PRISM POLE, FOR SURVEYING, TOTAL STATION, SOKKIA,TOPCON,TRIMBLE, $99.00 |
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Heavy Duty Wooden Tripod for Survey Instrument Total Station Level $99.95 |
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BRAND NEW Gowin BT-L1 Battery for Total Stations Surveying $99.99 |
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TOTAL STATION SURVEYING INST. $100.00 |
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GEODIMETER GEOTRONICS GEODEMETER BATTERY TOTAL STATION SURVEYING $100.00 |
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LEICA DOWN LOAD CABLE GEV189 TOTAL STATION SURVEYING SURVEYOR $100.00 |
