Accuracy of Reflectorless Technology for Distance Measurements in Practice

Abstract

Utilization of reflectorless technology for distance measurements is very useful in surveying practice and improves efficiency of geodetic measurements. Some experience, however, has shown that measurements of distance by utilization of reflectorless technology could differ more than expected. In this research, the main aim was to find out if the accuracy and reliability of measured distances by reflectorless technology are on the acceptable level for determination position of the points i.e. their coordinates. Common characteristic of investigated accuracy of distances obtained by reflectorless technology in literature is careful design of experiments and controlled conditions, but in practice it is not the case. That is the reason for designing the experiment, which reflects the conditions as near as possible to the real conditions in practice. The surfaces for measurement were divided into two groups: regular and irregular and differences of distances obtained by reflectorless measurements were investigated in the case of manual and automated sighting. Obtained results show that distances, when measured by using reflectorless technology in only one position of telescope, could not be reliable while the average value of measurements obtained in two positions of telescope are of higher accuracy especially for the longer distances.