-Most of the total stations are mounted on a tripod and leveled before use.

-They consist of a mounting bracket that includes aids for aiming the instrument.

-Most total stations use a purpose-built glass prism mounted on a pole of known height. This acts as the reflector for the EDM signal, and can measure distances out to a few kilometers.

-The prism is mounted so that its reflection point is aligned with the center of the pole on which it has been mounted.

-Most modern total station instruments measure angles by means of electro-optical scanning of extremely precise digital bar-codes etched on rotating glass cylinders or discs within the instrument.

-These survey instruments also include a simple calculator to figure the location of points sighted. The calculator can perform the necessary trigonometric functions.

-These stations also include a data recorder which reduce chances of error and eliminates manual data recording.

A total station is a combination electronic transit and electronic distance measuring device. With this device, as with a transit and tape, one may determine angles and distances from the instrument to points to be surveyed. With the aid of trigonometry, the angles and distances may be used to calculate the actual positions (x, y, and z or northing, easting and elevation) of surveyed points in absolute terms. Total station manufacturers develop the instrument by keeping in view the maximum possible convenience of work for users. Total stations offer fast, accurate electronic distance measurement, easy-to-use keypads and legendary optics to help you work more quickly and productively in the field. Rotate the total station until the back of the unit is aligned with two of the leveling screws located on the bottom plate of the total station. Accuracy of total stations is very high, and they have been in use over a period of time long enough to justify confidence in their accuracy and reliability. The largest discrepancy between the measured distance and that obtained from the total station was.005 m.The third part of the total station is an electronic distance-measuring device which determines the distance between the station and the target at which the instrument is aimed.