Question

A total station in drainage investigations is used to

• A. Measure water table depth
• B. Measure artesian pressure
• C. Conduct water quality surveys
• D. Conduct topographic surveys

Hint:

A "total station" is a fundamental tool for land surveying and mapping topography.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A total station is an electronic/optical instrument used in modern surveying.
It combines an electronic transit theodolite with an electronic distance meter (EDM) to measure both angles and distances.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate the application of a total station in drainage investigations:
- To design an effective drainage system (surface or subsurface), engineers must know the exact slope, elevations, and contours of the land.
- A total station is used to map these land features by measuring horizontal and vertical angles and slope distances.
- This data is used to construct a highly accurate topographic survey of the field, which is essential for determining the layout, pipe depth, and slope of drainage channels.
- It cannot measure water table depth, artesian pressure, or water quality.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The total station is used to conduct topographic surveys, which corresponds to Option (D).