Transit -vs- Theodolite
James Robinson
>
> Can someone please tell me the difference(s) between a transit and a theodolite
> please? Are they the same thing?
The names have tended to merge over time with some people considering
them synonyms. Originally, a theodolite could not be "transited" i.e.
the telescope "dumped" to face in the opposite direction. Also, some
theodolites couldn't measure vertical angles, only horizontal.
Referring to a dictionary:
The surveyor's transit differs from the theodolite in having the
horizontal axis attached directly to the telescope which is not mounted
in Y's and can be turned completely over about the axis.
tiger44a
DSmith1997 wrote:
> Can someone please tell me the difference(s) between a transit and a theodolite
> please? Are they the same thing?
>
> TIA, Daniel
Generally a theodolite is more precise. The increments and the optics. A theo
generally has a larger plate, so you have more incrementations on the circle, say
1" whereas a transit is used for general work were precision may not be
necessary...the least incrementation on a transit I saw years ago was 15". You can
achieve high accuracy with repetition of observations with a transit but may not
need as many reps with a theo.
DSmith1997
tiger44a
tiger44a wrote:
> Generally a theodolite is more precise. The increments and the optics. A theo
> generally has a larger plate, so you have more incrementations on the circle, say
> 1" whereas a transit is used for general work were precision may not be
> necessary...the least incrementation on a transit I saw years ago was 15". You can
> achieve high accuracy with repetition of observations with a transit but may not
> need as many reps with a theo.
I liked James Robinson's definition. I had forgotten about that aspect of a theo.
Cliff Mugnier - University of New Orleans
or it can have just an upper motion (direction theodolite).
I explain the difference to my students as being similar to
a vase and a "vaaaze."
Your Momma keeps a vase on the window sill in the kitchen, but she keeps
Aunt Emma's "vaaaze" on the dining room table.
A theodolite (nowadays) is like a vaaaze.
--
Clifford J. Mugnier (cj...@uno.edu)
The Topographic Engineering Laboratory
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans, Louisiana 70148
Voice and Facsimile: (504) 280-7095
---------------------------------------------------------------
Richard L. Schaut
dsmit...@aol.com (DSmith1997) wrote:
> Can someone please tell me the difference(s) between a transit and a
theodolite
> please? Are they the same thing?
>
> TIA, Daniel
>
one side of the graduated circle, whether it is horizontal or vertical;
and the theadolite uses optics to read both diametrically oppisite
sides of the graduated circle.
--
Richard L. Schaut
Pax/Pox upon you.
Delete whichever you feel is inappropriate.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Mike Falk, PE, LS
micrometers?
--
Regards
Mike Falk,PE,LS
P.L.I. Engineering & Surveying, Inc.
5979 McCasland Avenue
Portage, IN 46368
email: fa...@crown.net
Ph: 219.762.7024
DSmith1997 <dsmit...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991105192029...@ng-xb1.aol.com...
Jack Schidt
micrometers?<<
LOL, I can see why you're listed as PELS and not LSPE. All repeating,
angle measuring instruments are theodolites. The word "transit" came to
play once a theodolite was developed with a scope that could "flop", as in
"transit the scope". if you don't believe me, this story is true. ask the
blind man, he saw it too
Jack
--
"If we haven't met, you really don't know Jack Schidt"
tiger44a
"Mike Falk, PE, LS" wrote:
> Could it be a Transit measures angles with verniers and a Theodolite uses
> micrometers?
>
> --
>
> Regards
>
> Mike Falk,PE,LS
>
> P.L.I. Engineering & Surveying, Inc.
> 5979 McCasland Avenue
> Portage, IN 46368
> email: fa...@crown.net
> Ph: 219.762.7024
> DSmith1997 <dsmit...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:19991105192029...@ng-xb1.aol.com...
> > Can someone please tell me the difference(s) between a transit and a
> theodolite
> > please? Are they the same thing?
> >
> > TIA, Daniel
Could be.....but theos have very percise verniers....yes the do.You may be
thinking of a Wild type theo but in the old days Theos had very large degree
plates and you read them with the aid of a movable magnifing glass or you did
use a magnifing glass......similar to a transit but far more precise.
tiger44a
"Mike Falk, PE, LS" wrote:
> Could it be a Transit measures angles with verniers and a Theodolite uses
> micrometers?
>
> --
>
> Regards
>
> Mike Falk,PE,LS
>
> P.L.I. Engineering & Surveying, Inc.
> 5979 McCasland Avenue
> Portage, IN 46368
> email: fa...@crown.net
> Ph: 219.762.7024
> DSmith1997 <dsmit...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:19991105192029...@ng-xb1.aol.com...
> > Can someone please tell me the difference(s) between a transit and a
> theodolite
> > please? Are they the same thing?
> >
> > TIA, Daniel
Thinking again a vernier is the plate that is incremented. Both transits and
Theos have verniers,,,,what made the difference was the size and fineness of
incrementation
Mike Falk, PE, LS
personal?
Let's keep this board above the petty BS.
--
Regards
Mike Falk,PE,LS
P.L.I. Engineering & Surveying, Inc.
5979 McCasland Avenue
Portage, IN 46368
email: fa...@crown.net
Ph: 219.762.7024
Jack Schidt <jack....@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:802jm6$sh$2...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net...
> >>Could it be a Transit measures angles with verniers and a Theodolite
uses
> micrometers?<<
>
Jack Schidt
personal?
Let's keep this board above the petty BS.<<
What's the matter with you? Can't take a joke, or some simple razzing?
Cheers,
Jack
Michael G. Shackelford, PLS
news:19991105192029...@ng-xb1.aol.com...
> Can someone please tell me the difference(s) between a transit and a
theodolite
> please? Are they the same thing?
>
> TIA, Daniel
Mr. Robinson and Mr. Schidt have basically given you the answer to what I
believe to be your question, but I have added some history for reading
enjoyment:
"An instrument capable of altitude and azimuth readings was developed in the
sixteenth century, which was a prototype of the theodolite. The oldest known
theodolite is dated 1574 and was made by Humphrey Cole in England. In the
eighteenth century, an instrument maker by the name of Jesse Ramsden
developed the first successful dividing machine or engine. This device was
used to divide circles to be used in sextants, octants and theodolites. This
began the development of the modern theodolite by combining a telescope with
an accurately divided circle with vernier that could be easily read with a
microscope-type eyepiece.
Variations of this theodolite were used for about one hundred years. Ramsden
constructed a brass theodolite with a three-foot horizontal circle, divided
into ten minutes arc that could be read to one second of arc by means of two
micrometer microscopes. Several variations of the theodolite were made and
used during this time period, including the circumferentor. The
circumferentor instrument usually incorporated a compass in the center with
either two or four sighting vanes. Theodolites, though, were generally
instruments with a telescope that pivoted about a horizontal axis and did
not include any means for measuring vertical angles.
During the first half of the nineteenth century, the transit theodolite was
developed with a pivoting telescope for easy back-sighting and doubling of
angles for error reduction. The brass transit quickly became one of the most
popular instruments used by the surveyor because it incorporated all of the
principles of the surveyor's compass, sighting telescope, horizontal circle,
and vertical circle. The surveyor now had one instrument to measure both
horizontal and vertical angles with a compass mounted in the center of the
base for directional readings. Some transit instruments were capable of
reading angles directly to thirty seconds with interpolations possible to
ten seconds of arc or better.
This transit instrument also underwent several modification stages for
adaptation to particular surveying applications. Auxiliary telescopes were
added for its use in mine surveying. Solar telescopes and attachments were
added to some models of the transit, which aided the surveyor in determining
true north. The basic concept of the American transit instrument went
virtually unchanged for over one hundred years after it was invented by
William J. Young of Philadelphia, PA, in 1831. Another Philadelphia
instrument maker named Edmund Draper built a graduating or dividing engine
for making his version of the American transit around the same time
(1830-1835) as Young. "
--
Michael G. Shackelford, PLS
mcs...@enteract.com
Dennis Novak
can be inverted. The term theo has come to imply greater recisio than a
transit, although with modern instruments, the distinction appears to be blurred
again.
-Dennis Novak
Mike Falk, PE, LS wrote:
> What's the matter Jack? I was just floating an Idea. You gotta get
> personal?
>
> Let's keep this board above the petty BS.
>
> --
>
> Regards
>
> Mike Falk,PE,LS
>
> P.L.I. Engineering & Surveying, Inc.
> 5979 McCasland Avenue
> Portage, IN 46368
> email: fa...@crown.net
> Ph: 219.762.7024
> Jack Schidt <jack....@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:802jm6$sh$2...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net...
> > >>Could it be a Transit measures angles with verniers and a Theodolite
> uses
> > micrometers?<<
> >
> > LOL, I can see why you're listed as PELS and not LSPE. All repeating,
> > angle measuring instruments are theodolites. The word "transit" came to
> > play once a theodolite was developed with a scope that could "flop", as in
> > "transit the scope". if you don't believe me, this story is true. ask
> the
> > blind man, he saw it too
> >
> > Jack