Modelling the Accuracy Equation of Sokkia 530RK Reflectorless Total Station due to Incident Angle on the Above-Ground Pipeline’s Surface

摘要

The specificity of monitoring the above-ground pipelines requires rapid remote measurements. In most cases, it’s impossible to set up reflecting prisms on the construction elements to measure distances. Using total stations with reflectorless mode provide fulfilment of these requirements. This article compares the results of a priori and a posteriori accuracy estimation for pipeline coordinate determination by reflectorless total station Sokkia 530RK. This research carried out on the laboratory and field tests, as well as results of surveying on an existing gas pipeline (pipe diameter 1420 mm). The results of experiments showed that the value of horizontal coordinates error exceeds the expected error for incidence angle more than 37°. The values of the vertical position errors of the points exceed the theoretically calculated values for incidence angles more than 33°. The analysis of the error sources on distance determination by the reflectorless mode of total stations was performed. The obtained accuracy equation based on experimental data allows us to determine the distance measurement error according to the distance and incidence angle.