The paper introduces the requirements of the establishing of the plumbing points of the tunnel portals, the features, applicability and, the indoor calculation methods of geodetic quadrangle survey method and some application cases. By means of comparison and analysis, it describes the theories and methods of the application of geodetic quadrangle survey method in tunnel control survey, concludes that geodetic quadrangle control method is a convenient and accurate method for control survey of tunnel portals. The calculation methods and application cases  can be used as reference for selection of positions of plumbing points, establishing control survey net for tunnel portals and indoor treatment of data in construction of similar tunnel projects.