when was the total stations first used in surveying
- Total stations are one of the most common surveying tools used today. They comprise of an electronic theodolite and an electronic distance metre/measurement (EDM) component. Robotic total stations are also available which allow for single-person operation by controlling the instrument using a remote control. History. Electronic distance measurement equipment was initially developed around 1940, and was commercially available in the 1960s. The first total station (electronic theodolite and EDM) was developed in the late 1970s. General Information. Total stations have the ability to record measurements and angles to data recorders or cards which can be processed using computer software upon return from the survey. For optimal accuracy, they are used with a prism which reflects light waves back to the measurement device to determine a measurement. In circumstances where accuracy is not required to be at a maximum, most total stations can be used in reflectorless mode whereby they can obtain a distance measurement to a feature without ...