Collimation Error: Collimation error occurs when the collimation axis is not truly horizontal when the instrument is level. The effect is illustrated in the sketch below, where the collimation axis is tilted with respect to the horizontal by an angle α: Figure ( ) In this particular example, the effect is to read too high on the staff. For a typical collimation error of 20", over a sight length of 50m the effect is 5mm. If the sight lengths for back sight and foresight are equal, the linear effect is the same for both readings. When the height difference is calculated, this effect cancels: δh = (b + s. α) - (f + s. α) = b - f That is, the effect of the collimation error is eliminated if sight lengths are kept equal.
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