LEVELING METHODS

DIFFERENTIAL
LEVELING
Differential Leveling

 It is the process of determining the difference in

elevation between two or more points at some distance
apart.
Graduated Leveling Rod Dumpy Level

Engineer’s Transit

Automatic Level
Definition of Terms
◦ The different terms commonly used in differential leveling work are geographically illustrated
in the figure. A cursory look at the figure may imply that the points along the leveling route all lie in a
straight line.
1. Bench Mark (BM)
- A fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known or
assumed. They may be permanent or temporary.
✓ Permanent Bench Marks (PBM)
- Are established at intervals throughout the country by Philippine
Coast and Geodetic Surveys (PCGS) or the Bureau of Lands.
✓ Temporary Bench Marks (TBM)
- Are those set up by the surveyor for his own use in
a particular surveying project and may have
assume elevations.
Take note: It is important that bench marks are
easily recognized and located where they will
have the smallest likelihood of being disturbed.
2. Backsight (BS)
- A reading taken on a rod held on a point of known or assumed elevation.
- A measure of vertical distance from the established line of sight to the
point sighted.

3. Foresight (FS)
- A reading taken on a rod held on a point whose elevation is to be
determined.
- Represented by a vertical distance from the line of sight of the instrument
to the point observed.

4. Backsight Distance (BSD)

- Measured from the center of the instrument to the rod on which a
backsight is taken.
5. Foresight Distance (FS)
- Horizontal distance from the center of the instrument to the rod on which
a foresight is taken.

6. Turning Point (TP)

- An interving point between two bench marks upon which point foresight
and backsight rod readings are taken.

7. Height of Instrument (HI)

- The elevation of the line of sight of the instrument above or below a
selected reference datum.
- Determined by adding the rod reading on the backsight to the elevation
of the point on which the sight is taken.
17-3. Procedure of Differential Leveling
 There should be at least two persons to undertake differential
leveling; the rodman who carries and holds the rod, and the
instrumentman who sets up the level and determines the
required rod readings.
 The instrumentman can record the data in a field notebook or a
third person may be employed as a recorder.
 If a bigger leveling party could be formed, a chief of party, a
pacer, an axeman, and utilitymen may be added to complete
the team.
 The leveling instrument is set up at any convenient location
along the level route.
 A backsight is taken on a leveling rod held vertically on BMa.
 The backsight reading added to the known or assumed
elevation of the initial bench mark gives the height of instrument
above datum or
HI = Elev BMa + BS
 The rodman moves forward along the general direction of
BMb and holds the rod at a convenient turning point (TP1)
 The instrumentman takes the foresight on the rod.
 The foresight reading subtracted from the height of instrument
gives the elevation above datum of the turning point or
Elev TP1 = HI – FS
 The level is then transferred and set up of another convenient
location beyond TP1, but still in a general direction of BMb
 A backsight is then taken on TP1 to establish a new height of
instrument (HI2)
 The rodman finally moves forward to the location of BMb and
a foresight is taken on the rod held on it.
BMb = FS – HI
 If BMb is still some distance away such that more turning
points have to be established before it could be foresighted.
This is done as many as necessary until the elevation of BMb
is finally obtained.
17-4. Leveling Notes
It is important that all
data gathered in differential
leveling work be properly
recorded in a special field
notebook ruled with suitable
lines. There is a standard
format used in recording
leveling notes and a typical
example is this:
17-5. Checking Level Notes
 The calculations in differential leveling work are limited only to
determining heights of instrument and the elevation of stations
or points.
 There are only two simple steps performed in the computation.
 First, the backsight reading is added to the elevation of bench
mark to determine the height of the instrument.
 Second, the foresight reading is subtracted from the height of
the instrument to determine the elevation of bench mark.

HI = Elev BMa + BS & Elev BMb = FS – HI

Sample Problem:
Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary
arithmetic check.

Sta BS HI FS ELEV
BM1 1.256 127.133 m
TP1 1.116 1.886
TP2 1.228 1.527
BM2 1.189 2.246
BM3 1.070 2.017
TP3 1.831 2.656
BM4 2.765
 Sta BS HI FS ELEV

Level Route from BM1 to TP2 BM1

TP1
1.256
1.116 1.886
127.133
HI = Elev BM1 + BS on BM1 Elev TP1 + BS on TP1 = HI2
TP2 1.228 1.527
128.389 = 127.133 + 1.256 126.503 + 1.116 = 127.619
BM2 1.189 2.246
Elev TP1 = HI – FS on TP1 HI2 – FS on TP2 = Elev TP2
BM3 1.070 2.017
126.503 = 128.389 - 1.886 127.619 – 1.527 = 126.092
TP3 1.831 2.656
BM4 2.765
 Sta BS HI FS ELEV

Level Route from BM1 to TP2 BM1

TP1
1.256
1.116 1.886
127.133
Elev TP2 + BS on TP2 = HI3 Elev BM2 + BS on BM2 = HI4
TP2 1.228 1.527
126.092 + 1.228 = 127.320 125.074 – 1.189 = 126.263
BM2 1.189 2.246
HI3 – FS on BM2 = Elev BM2 HI4 – FS on BM3 = Elev BM3 BM3 1.070 2.017
127.320 – 2.246 = 125.074 126.263 – 2.017 = 124.246 TP3 1.831 2.656
BM4 2.765
 Sta BS HI FS ELEV

Level Route from BM1 to TP2 BM1

TP1
1.256
1.116 1.886
127.133
Elev BM3 + BS on BM3 = HI5 Elev TP3 + BS on TP4 = HI6
TP2 1.228 1.527
124.246 + 1.070 = 125.316 122.660 + 1.831 = 124.491
BM2 1.189 2.246
HI5 – FS on TP3 = Elev TP3 HI6 – FS on BM4 = Elev BM4 BM3 1.070 2.017
125.316 – 2.656 = 122.660 124.491 – 2.765 = 121.726 TP3 1.831 2.656
BM4 2.765
Sample Problem:
Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary
arithmetic check. Sta BS HI FS ELEV
BM1 1.256 128.389 127.133 m
TP1 1.116 127.619 1.886 126.503
TP2 1.228 127.320 1.527 126.092
BM2 1.189 126.263 2.246 125.074
BM3 1.070 125.316 2.017 124.246
TP3 1.831 124.491 2.656 122.660
BM4 2.765 121.726
Arithmetic Check: + 7.690 -13.097
∑BS ∑FS
127.133 (Elev of BM1)
+ 7.690 (BS)
134.823 (Sum)
-13.097 (FS)
121.726 (Check with Elevation of BM4
DOUBLE-RODDED LEVELING
AND THREE WIRE LEVELING
18-1 Double-Rodded Leveling

• A method of determining the differences in elevation between

points by employing two level routes simultaneously
• Two turning points are established such that at each set up of
the leveling instrument, two sets of independent backsights
and foresights are taken

Note: Although this leveling method can use one rodman, but
preferable to deploy two rodman to speed up the process
18-2 Three Wire Leveling

• More precise method

• Method of determining the differences in elevation wherein
three horizontal hairs are read and recorded rather than from a
single horizontal hair
• Any level equipped with three horizontal cross hairs can be
used for three-wire leveling

Note: Use only Stadia Crosshair not the regular

Vertical and Horizontal Crosshairs
LEVELING
METHOD
PROFILE LEVELING
Defined as the operations
involved in determining the
elevation of ground surface
at small spatial interval
along a line is called profile
leveling.
.
• Profile
- curved line which graphically portrays the intersection of a vertical plane with the
surface of the earth.
• Stationing
- a numerical designation given in terms of horizontal distance any point along a profile
line is away from the starting point.
• Intermediate Foresights (Ground Rod Readings) (IFS)
- are taken along the centerline of the proposed project to provide an accurate
representation of the ground surface.
- sights observed at regular intervals (10 to 30 meters along the centerline) and at points
where sudden changes in elevation occur
• Full Stations
- points which are established along the profile level route at uniformly measured
distances
• Vertical Exaggeration
- process of drawing the vertical scale for a profile much larger than the horizontal scale
in order to accentuate the differences in elevation
• Profile Paper
- a special heavy grade graphing paper used for plotting profiles.
Information Found in the Profile Paper:
Plotting Scales
Stationing
Marginal Information
Locating Stations Problems 2. From the given problem earlier,
1. A turning point along a profile determine the stationing of this
level route measures 126.44m turning point if it is instead located
beyond station 1+824.50. 83.45m before the given reference
Determine the stationing of this station.
turning point. dtp = 83.45m

dtp = 126.44m dsta = 1+824.50m or 1824.50m

dsta = 1+824.50m or 1824.50m
DS = dsta - dtp
DS = dsta + dtp
S = 1824.50m - 83.45m
S = 1824.50m + 126.44m
S = tp +/- sta S = 1741.05m
S = 1950.94m
S, Stationing Hence, Stationing of Turning Point
Hence, Stationing of Turning Point
is :
is : Tp, Turning Point
1+741.05
1+950.94 Sta, Station
3. Determine the distance between station
33 + 45.02 and station 26 + 62.75.
D1 = 33+45.02 or 3,345.02
D2 = 26+62.75 or 2,662.75
D = d1 – d2
D = d1 – d2
D, Distance between
given stations D = 3345.02 – 2662.75
D1, 1st distance D = 682.27
D2, 2nd distance

2/7/20XX 37
Determine the profile for a proposed sidewalk that connects two existing
sidewalks (Sidewalk– Road – Sidewalk)

2/7/20XX 39
Determine the profile for a proposed sidewalk that connects two existing
sidewalks (Sidewalk– Road – Sidewalk)
Step 1 : Establish the standard stations

2/7/20XX 40
Determine the profile for a proposed sidewalk that connects two existing
sidewalks (Sidewalk– Road – Sidewalk)
Step 2: Determine the critical sites for the critical features

2/7/20XX 41
Determine the profile for a proposed sidewalk that connects two existing
sidewalks (Sidewalk– Road – Sidewalk)
Step 3: Set-up the instruments and start recording data

2/7/20XX 42
Determine the profile for a proposed sidewalk that connects two existing
sidewalks (Sidewalk– Road – Sidewalk)
Step 4: Start recording the rod readings for each station

2/7/20XX 43
 STA = Station
BS = Back sight
HI = Height of
Instrument
FS = Fore sight
IFS = Intermediate Fore
sight
ELEV = Elevation
HI = ELEV + BS
ELEV = HI - FS
STATION BS HI FS IFS ELEV
BM 4.95 771.45 766.5
0 4.55 766.9
25 4.63 766.82
50 4.77 766.68
75 4.89 766.56
100 5.01 766.44
125 5.1 766.35
150 4.98 766.47
TP 5.03 771.72 4.76 766.69
STATION BS HI FS IFS ELEV

BM 4.95 771.45 766.5

0 4.55 766.9
25 4.63 766.82
50 4.77 766.68
75 4.89 766.56
100 5.01 766.44
125 5.1 766.35 SIDE WALK LEVEL
150 4.98 766.47 767

TP 5.03 771.72 4.76 766.69 766.9

ELEVATION - FEET
766.8

766.7

766.6

766.5

766.4

766.3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
STATIONS - FEET
RISE AND FALL METHOD OF
LEVELING
20-1 Rise and Fall Method Leveling

• Another method of carrying out a levelling operation is by the

rise and fall method which is popularly adapted by the British. It
is very simple method and serve as an alternate method for
profile levelling or differential levelling or it may also be used to
check a completed set of level notes.
PRINCIPLE OF METHOD

• Applies on the computation of the height difference

between 2
successive levelling points in the series of levelling.

• The difference is classified as either “RISE (+)” or

“FALL (-)”

• The RL of each point is then found by adding rise or

subtracting fall to or from the RL.
SOME DEFINITION

• Backsight(BS) – the reading on the rod when held on a known or assumed elevation

- Backsights are used to establish the height of instrument.

Foresight(FS) – the reading on the rod when held at a location where the
elevation is to determined.
-Foresights are used to establish the elevation at another location, often a turning
point

Intermediate sight (IS) – the reading on the rod when held at a location where the
elevation is to be determined, but not used as a turning point.
ARITHMETICAL CHECK
◦ As done in other methods of levelling, the customary arithmetic check
should always be made either at the end of the levelling work or at the end
of each page when entries are carried forward over succeeding levelling
pages. One method of checking is to determine if the algebraic sum of
summation of back sights and the summation of foresights is equal is equal
to the difference between the sum of rises and sum of the falls. Both
differences should also be equal to the difference in elevation between the
first reduced level and last reduced level.
RECIPROCAL LEVELING AND
TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELING
21-1 Reciprocal Leveling

• Employed to determine the difference in elevation between

two points when it is difficult or impossible to keep backsights
and foresights short and equal
• Such conditions are running a line of levels across wide rivers,
lakes, and rugged terrain (deep canyons)
• Two sets of rod readings are observed (Method of Reversion)
• One set taken with the instrument set up close to one point
and another instrument on the other
21-2 Procedure of Reciprocal Leveling
• The level Ie First set up very close to A at L and a back- night reading, a, In
taken on a leveling rod held at at A after which a foresight reading, b, is
taken on the rod held at B.
• From these reading the difference in elevation between the two points Is
DE1 = (a – b)
• The level in then taken across the body of water and set up at
L2 near B.
• From this second position, readings are again taken on both
points and recorded as a' and b. A second afference in
elevation is again obtained as follows
DE2 = ( a’ – b’ )
• The two differences in elevation between A and B, as determined with
the Instrument set up at L1 and L2 normally will not agree because of
instrumental errors and the effects of curvature and refraction.
• It would be sufficiently precise to assume that the average of the two
quantities determined to the true difference in elevation on between
the two points. Thus

Conclusion:
If the value of TDE is negative it only tell that point A In higher than point
B. Correspondingly, point B is higher than point A if the value is positive.
21-3 Obtaining more Accurate Measurements
• Accurate observations can only be obtained if refraction
remains constant during the leveling process. It is therefore
Important that atmospheric condition be almost identical for
both positions of the level otherwise serious error will be
introduced.
• If the retraction is expected to change considerably between the
two setups, the time interval between observations should then
be made a short as possible. Good results are usually obtained
on cloudy days or in the middle of a sunny afternoon when the
temperature does not rise rapidly.
21-2 Trigonometric Leveling

• “Indirect Leveling”
• Determine the difference in elevation from observed vertical angle and
either horizontal or inclined distances
• Used extensively when undertaking topographic surveys over rugged or
rolling terrain since it provides a rapid means of determining vertical
provides a rapid means of determining vertical distances and elevation of
points
• For horizontal distance is greater than 300 meters, effects of the
earth’s curvature and refraction must Trigonometric Leveling
effects of the earth s curvature and refraction must be considered
in the calculation of the vertical distances.