Sunday, May 24, 2015

Choosing The Best Theodolite

By Carey Bourdier


There are many different types of useful optical instruments, including clinometers, inclinometers and theodolites. Theodolites are one of the main tools used by surveyors, but many other professionals also use this tool, including aerospace engineers and even the meteorologists that forecast our weather. The theodolite is used to measure angles, and it can do so in the horizontal plane as well as the vertical plane.

When purchasing a theodolite, it is imperative that you select the proper device for your needs. For instance, one type of theodolite, known as a telemetering theodolite is used to calibrate several different important navigational aids. These include instrument landing systems, as well as TACAN and VORTAC. Primarily these telemetering theodolites are used in regards to aircraft, including private, commercial and military aircraft.

An observation theodolite can be used to observe and also measure angles of elevation and azimuth of aircraft, pilot or weather balloons, ships and other moving objects. Some can be transported easily, while others are designed to be permanently fixed in a specific location. Many observations theodolites illuminate for night use. Sometimes these are known as pilot balloon observation theodolites or pibal theodolites. Some of these theodolites are used by meteorologists and others might be used on military vessels or perhaps commercial ships.

The pibal theodolite can be used to track a weather balloon; however, there are theodolites specifically designed for use by meteorologists. Not surprisingly, these are simply called meteorological theodolites and there are many different models to consider. Manufacturers such as Warren Knight produce meteorological theodolites that rapidly record information such as elevation angles and azimuth. These theodolites are designed to withstand many different conditions.

A transit theodolite is probably the type of theodolite most people have seen, as these are used by engineers and surveyors to help design or make improvements to roads. These also can be used at construction sites for buildings, homes and bridges. Aside from surveyors concerned with construction and civil engineering, these theodolites might be used for other types of engineering tasks, such as railway engineering.

When you combine a theodolite with a distance meter, you get another helpful device known as a total station. This includes an electronic distance meter and an electronic transit theodolite. These total stations provide excellent, highly accurate measurements and are particularly useful when you need to measure underground. This is why the total station is an optical instrument very commonly used by mining engineers around the world.




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