Modeling Systematic Errors for the Angle Measurement in a Virtual Surveying Instrument

Abstract

The minimization and elimination of errors caused by instrumental imperfections or human operation is an important topic in surveying education. Nevertheless, despite the clear and definite behaviors of each surveying error, it is usually not easy to demonstrate on a blackboard their actual effects in field surveys. This is because multiple errors not only occur simultaneously, but also interact with one another. This study aims to develop a more effective teaching approach by simulating and visualizing a surveying instrument using computers. The emphasis is on modeling systematic errors that occur in real instruments. Nine kinds of instrumental errors were reconstructed and implemented as a module in SimuSurvey, an existing computer-aided instruction tool for surveying training. Based on the results of a user test, the computer-aided instruction tool with error modules provides a more realistic teaching material and thus can be an effective aid in surveying training.