what is the use of total station in surveying?

Question

refer to survey tool

Answer 1

A total station measures distance using light. I pulse of light is reflected from a convex mirror back to the station. It measures the time it takes the light to return. and converts this into distance. It further breaks this distance down into its vertical and horizontal components, and thus gives a height, or grade, measurement and an accurate distance measurement.

Answer 2

Desmond is right. But it also stores all this data to be downloaded later, instead of having to write everything down and plot it by hand.