CE 211_H (ELEMENTARY SURVEYING)
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
TERMINOLOGIES IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
1. Differential Leveling - the operation in surveying to determine the elevation of points, which are
at some distance apart, by a series of set-ups of the instrumentalong a general route.
A rod reading back to a point of known elevation and forward to a point of unknown
elevation is takem at each set-up of the instrument.
2. Bench Mark (BM) - a definite point on an object of known elevation that serves as the reference
for leveling work. Their elevations are established by differentia lleveling.
3. Backsight (BS) - it is a definite point on an object of known elevation. It is ofter referred to as a
plus (+) sight.
4. Foresight (FS) - it is a minus (-) sight. A rod reading taken on a point of unknown elevation and
whose elevation it is being determined.
5. Turning Point (TP) - it is an intervening point between two bench marks (BM) upon which point
the foresight and the backsight rod readings are taken.
6. Height of Instrument (HI) - the height of the instrument is the elevation of the line of sight of the
telescope above a reference datum when the instrument is set-up and leveled.
7. Elevation - it is the vertical distance above or below an arbitrarily assumed level surface or
datum (usually the mean sea level).
8. Three-Wire Levelling - the process of determining differences in elevation where all three hofi-
zontal hair readingsare observed and the mean taken as the correct rod reading for
each sight.
9.Reciprocal Leveling- the process of determining the relative elevations of two intervisible points
which are at a considerable distance apart between which points levels cannot be run
in the usual manner of leveling.
10. Profile Leveling- process of determining the difference in elevation between points at desig-
nated short measured intervals along a established line to provide data from which a
vertical section of the ground surface can be plotted.
HOW TO DO A DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING:
1. INSTRUMENTS and ACCESSORIES TO BE USED:
a. Dumpy or Wye Level
b. Leveling Rod
c. Hubs or pegs
d. Range poles
e. Hammer or mallet
f. Chalk or marking pins.
2. Here is How It is Done:
a. Designate the initial point of the level route as BM-1 and the end point as BM-2.
b. Set up and level the instrument at a convenient location along the general designated
route between the two points (BM-1 and BM-2).
c. Take a backsight on BM-1, and record the reading.
d. Direct the rodman to move forward along the level route (not necessarily in a straight
line between BM-1and the next point)and establish the first intervening point between
BM-1 and BM-2; designate this intervening point as TP-1.
e. Take a foresight on TP-1; record the reading.
f. Transfer and set up the instrument at another suitable location beyond TP-1and take a
backsight on TP-1; record the reading.
g. Direct the rodman to move a convenient distance ahead of the instrument and then
establish TP-2.
h. Take a foresight on TP-2; record the reading.
i. Repeat items f,g,h until a foresight is taken on BM-2.
FIELD DATA RECORDING TABULATION
STA BS HI FS ELEVATION Remarks
BM-1
TP-1
TP-2
TP-3
TP-4
TP-5
TP-6
BM-2
3. A. Calculate the HI (height of instrument) and the Elevations
Use the following equations repeateadly
a. HI = Elev. + BS
b. Elev = HI - FS
where: HI = height of instrument above a reference datum.
BS = backsight reading on the rod (or plus sight)
FS = foresight readiang on the rod (or minus sight)
Elev = elevation above a reference datum of a point sighted.
3.B. Arithmetic Check:
As an arithmetical check, get the sum of all the backsights and also get the sum
of all the foresights. The difference between these sums must equal to the difference
in the elevations between the initial and final points of the level line.
4. Remarks, Hints, and Precautions.
a. To reduce to a negligible amount the effect of curvature and refraction, keep the backsight
distance approximately equal to the corresponding foresight distance.
b. Limit foresight and backsight distances to a maximum of 90m since most level rods cannot be
read accurately beyond this distance.
c. Always keep the telescope bubble centered at the time of sighting. The accuracy of leveling
depends on the bubble being in this position during each rod sighting.
d. Avoid reading too near the top or bottom of the rod. Select suitable locations for the instrument
so that backsight and foresight rod readings will fall between 0.50m and 1.50m marks of the
leveling rods.
e. Avoid the use of long (extended) rod specially when it is windy and the leveling rod is not pro-
vided with a rod support.
f. Since more time is spent at a set up of the instrument, care must be observed so as to prevent
settlement of instrument between the backsighting and foresighting periods. To guard against
settlement of instrument, such as when working on soft grounds during rainy days, the tripod
must be driven firmly into good bearing soil.
g. Turning points should have a rounded or leveled top to give a definite point of support for the
bottom of the leveling rod. If a hub or peg is used, avoid locating such points on soft and unsta-
ble ground.
h. The rod should be held plumb and steady when a reading is being made onit. Preferable, use
a rod level to assure that the rod will alsways be held plumb and keep fingers off the face of the
rod.
i. Use proper tension on the leveling screw. They shoud have bearing on the tripod head without
being too tight.
j. For precise surveys, rod reading may be made to the nearest hundredth of a meter.
k. The number of instrument set-ups depend largely on the configuration of the terrain, length
of the level circuit or route, and the length of sight distances. Best is to select the shortest level
route possible to reduce the amount of error closure.
THE SET-UP;
