They are the same - they are precision instruments having telescopic sights for establishing horizontal and sometimes vertical angles
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In the US and Canada they are called Transit Levels, in the UK Theodolites.
Transit and non-transit theodolite.
What is the difference between theodolite and total station?
A theodolite is a survey instrument. A tachometer tells you how many Revs per minute an engine is turning.
What is the difference between theodolite and total station?
a transit is a van
In dumpy level we can check only horizontal angles whereas in theodolite we can check vertical angles also.
Dumpty level can be used only for vertical measurements while a theodolite functions in both horizontal and vertical measurements.
Half of the difference between the two positions is called the "index error".
To check vertical deviation of tower using theodolite, measure the distance between the target and the point of burst in the plane. There must be a normal line of position along a line perpendicular to the lateral deviation.
a transit, a theodolite or a builders level. they are used for laying out curves, building layout lines and wall heights/plumb
Vertical and Horizontal. These are absolutely vital. some have The Horizontal ( latitude or Azimuth) scale given priority- some the Vertical or Altitude scale, but both are essential to a true theodolite- unlike a transit or level instrument no matter how powerful the telescope.
Transit theodolites (or just 'Transits') are those in which the telescope can rotate in a complete circle in the vertical plane, whereas the rotation in the same plane is restricted to a semi-circle for non-transit theodolites