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Measurement Files

The measurement files used at the Federal Office of Topography are based on fixed formats, meaning that the various indications and coordinates must be placed in specific columns.

The first line of an LTOP measurement file must begin with $$ME. The rest of the line is a comment.

Each measurement file may contain comment lines, which must begin with **.

txt
$$ME TRIANGULATION 4. ORDNUNG, KANTON AARGAU, LK-BLATT 1089
ST89.345                SCHOEN        7.            STATION1B.MEIER   01.01.85
RI89.469    .6               0.00000
RI89.472    .6              86.47140
RI89.472    .6              87.47140
HW89.469    .6               1.47220           1.164 2.000
ZD89.472    .6              98.59200           1.164 2.000
ST89.466    .6                                 1.464STATION2          02.01.85         5.0
RI89.467    .6               0.00000
RI89.470    .6              40.66420
RI89.469    .2              57.51640                                                 100.0
RI89.469    .6              67.72580
SLS287                                    YXRMHX-
LY89.466    .6          645366.165
LX89.466    .6          246188.349
LH89.466    .6             442.290
| |         |   |       |           |     |   |     |       |                 |     |     |
123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
         1         2         3         4         5         6         7         8         9

Format of station lines for terrestrial observations

Character positionDescription
1 - 2(A2)Observation type (always ST)
3 - 12(A10)Station name
13 - 16(A4)Station type
25 - 36(A12)Meteorological information
37 - 42(F6.x)General mean error of directions in cc
43 - 46(I4)General distance group
47 - 52(F6.x)Instrument height
53 - 60(A8)Field book (or field computer)
61 - 78(A18)Observer and date
85 - 90(F6.x)Centering error in mm

Format of lines for terrestrial observations

Character positionDescription
1 - 2(A2)Observation type
3 - 12(A10)Target point name
13 - 16(A4)Target point type
25 - 36(F12.x)Measured value
37 - 42(F6.x)Mean error of observation
43 - 46(I4)Observation group
47 - 52(F6.x)Instrument height
53 - 58(F6.x)Signal height
85 - 90(F6.x)Target centering error in mm

Format of GPS station lines

Character positionDescription
1 - 2(A2)Observation type (always SL)
3 - 12(A10)Comment
37 - 42(F6.x)Mean error of GPS observations in mm
43 - 52(A10)GPS series name

Format of GPS observation lines

Character positionDescription
1 - 2(A2)Observation type (only LY, LX or LH)
3 - 12(A10)Point name
13 - 16(A4)Point type
25 - 36(F12.x)Measured coordinate
37 - 42(F6.x)Mean error of coordinate in mm

List of accepted observation types

Observation codeDescription
**Comment line
STData for a terrestrial observation station
SLData for a GPS observation station
AZAstronomical azimuth
APBearing in the projection plane
RIDirection measurement in gons
RADirection measurement in sexagesimal degrees
DSSlope distance
DPHorizontal distance in the projection plane
DBHorizontal distance at the altitude of the target point
HWVertical angle in gons
ZDZenith distance in gons
HAVertical angle in sexagesimal degrees
DY,DX,DHCoordinate differences in the projection plane
YY,XX,HHCoordinates in the projection plane
LY,LX,LHCoordinates determined by GPS

Source:

Description of the LTOP format, available at the following address: https://geodesy.geo.admin.ch/reframe/ltop_fmt_descr_fr.html