ISO 17123-3-2001 PDF

Full title and description

Optics and optical instruments — Field procedures for testing geodetic and surveying instruments — Part 3: Theodolites. This International Standard specifies simple, in‑situ field procedures for determining and evaluating the precision (repeatability) of theodolites and their ancillary equipment used in building and surveying measurements; the tests are intended primarily as field verifications of an instrument's suitability for the immediate task rather than exhaustive acceptance or laboratory performance tests.

Abstract

ISO 17123-3:2001 defines practical field test methods to assess the repeatability (precision) of theodolites and associated equipment, emphasizing procedures that require no special ancillary apparatus and that minimise atmospheric influences. The standard positions these field checks as an early step in evaluating measurement uncertainty, complementary to traceability and reproducibility assessments described in the ISO Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM).

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed at review).
• Publication date: December 2001 (2001-12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 17.180.30 (Optical measuring instruments).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2001).
• Number of pages: 21 (as recorded on the ISO bibliographic entry).

Scope

This part of ISO 17123 specifies field procedures to be adopted when determining and evaluating the precision (repeatability) of theodolites and their ancillary equipment when used in building and surveying measurements. The procedures are intended for on‑site verification of suitability for an immediate task and to support the evaluation of measurement uncertainty; they are not intended as comprehensive acceptance or laboratory performance tests. Annexes (informative) provide additional guidance for selected procedures.

Key topics and requirements

• Field test methods to assess angular repeatability and related error terms for theodolites (horizontal and vertical angles).
• Procedures designed for in‑situ application without special ancillary equipment and for minimising atmospheric effects on results.
• Guidance on statistical evaluation of repeatability and simple methods to report precision for practical surveying tasks.
• Role of the tests as part of a broader uncertainty assessment (complementary to reproducibility and traceability requirements laid out in GUM).
• Informative annexes providing worked examples and optional checks for common instrument errors.

Typical use and users

Primary users are surveyors, geodetic engineers, instrument calibration technicians, inspection bodies and manufacturers seeking straightforward on‑site checks of theodolite precision before or during field campaigns. The standard is used to verify instrument suitability for construction staking, control surveys and other tasks where a quick, traceable field check of angular precision is required.

Related standards

ISO 17123 is a multipart series covering field procedures for geodetic and surveying instruments. Related parts include ISO 17123-1 (theory), Part 2 (levels), Part 4 (electro‑optical distance meters), Part 5 (electronic tacheometers/total station topics), Part 6 (rotating lasers), Part 7 (optical plumbing instruments) and later additions such as Part 9 (terrestrial laser scanners). Users commonly consult ISO 17123-1 for theoretical background and the other parts for procedures specific to other instrument classes.

Keywords

theodolite, field procedures, survey instrument testing, repeatability, precision, geodetic instruments, measurement uncertainty, in‑situ verification, ISO 17123.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 17123-3:2001 is the part of the ISO 17123 series that specifies field procedures for testing the precision (repeatability) of theodolites used in surveying and building measurement tasks.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers simple, on‑site test methods to determine angular repeatability and related checks for theodolites, statistical treatment of results, and guidance intended to minimise atmospheric and environmental influences during the tests. It is aimed at practical verification rather than exhaustive laboratory acceptance testing.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Surveyors, geodetic technicians, instrument manufacturers, calibration and inspection bodies, and engineers who need quick and traceable field checks of theodolite precision prior to or during surveying operations.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 17123-3:2001 was published in December 2001 and—according to ISO's bibliographic record—remained published and was confirmed at subsequent reviews (confirmation recorded in ISO's lifecycle entries). Users should verify the ISO catalogue entry for any more recent amendments or replacements before purchase or formal citation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 17123 is a multipart series (Part 1: theory; Part 2: levels; Part 3: theodolites; Part 4: EDMs; Part 5: electronic tacheometers/total station topics; Part 6: rotating lasers; Part 7: optical plumbing instruments; later parts include e.g. Part 9 for terrestrial laser scanners). Practitioners often use multiple parts together depending on the instrument class being tested.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Theodolite, field testing, repeatability, precision, geodetic instruments, measurement uncertainty, in‑situ verification, ISO 17123.