Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

BatStateU Alangilan
Alangilan, Batangas City
College of Engineering, Architecture, and Fine Arts

Civil and Sanitary Engineering Department

CE 404 – FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING

FIELDWORK NO. 17
STADIA LEVELING

Submitted by:

Agullana, Daphne Eunice Vibar

Cervano, Ericka Alila
Dela Luna, Geleen Reigil Reyes
De Los Reyes, Mary Rose Ticatic
Mesana, Angeline Cusi

CE -2201 | Group 2

Submitted to:
Engr. Marcelo Teñoso Jr.

May 16, 2022

 LAB EXERCISE NO. 17
PROBLEM : STADIA LEVELING
OBJECTIVES: To determine the elevation of a distant point by the stadia method of
indirect leveling.

-----------------------------------------LAB EXERCISE OUTLINE---------------------------------------

A. INSTRUMENTS & ACCESSORIES:

Engineer’s Transit, Tripod, Leveling Rod, and Range Pole.

B. PROCEDURE:
1) Set up and level the instrument at any convenient location along the designated
survey route.
2) Take a backsight on the rod held at the initial point or bench mark and observe and
record the following. (Refer to accompanying sketch of a typical set up):
a) Upper stadia hair reading (m)
b) Horizontal cross hair reading or rod reading (RRb)
c) Lower stadia hair reading (n)
d) Vertical angle (± ∝b) to the mark on the rod as indicated by the horizontal
cross hair.

Figure 1. Stadia Leveling

3) Establish a turning point ahead of the instrument station and along the general
direction of the survey route.
4) Take a foresight on the rod held at the turning point and observe and record the
following:
a) Upper stadia hair reading (p)
 b) Horizontal cross hair reading or rod reading (RRf)
c) Lower stadia hair reading (q)
d) Vertical angle (± ∝f) to the mark on the rod as indicated by the horizontal
cross hair.
5) Transfer the instrument to a new location in advance of the turning point and repeat
the process of taking all four readings at each point back sighted and foresighted. This
process of observing data and transferring the instrument to another advance location
is then continued until a foresight is taken on the terminal point.
6) Tabulate all observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying
sample format for the tabulation of field data.

DATA GATHERED

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
STA Sb ∝b RRb VD Sf ∝f RRf VD DIFF ELEV
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) ELEV (m) (m)
BMa 0.29 + 7°0’ 1.59 - 3.5079 --- --- --- --- --- 0
TP1 0.27 + 1°30’ 1.59 - 0.7065 0.26 - 3°30’ 1.59 -1.5843 - 5.0922 - 5.0922
TP2 0.29 + 2°30’ 1.59 - 1.2638 0.305 - 1°30’ 1.59 - 0.7981 - 1.5046 - 6.5968
TP3 0.155 + 7°0’ 1.59 - 1.8749 0.175 + 2°0’ 1.59 0.6104 - 0.6534 - 7.2502
BMb --- --- --- --- 0.17 +22°30’ 1.59 6.0104 + 4.1355 - 3.1147
Table 1. Data Gathered from Stadia rod

C. COMPUTATIONS
1. The vertical distance on the backsight (VDb) and the vertical distance on the foresight
(VDf) are calculated by the following approximate stadia formulas
VDb = Ksb Cos (∝b) Sin (∝b) or (1/2) Ksb Sin (2 ∝)
VDf = Ksf Cos (∝f) Sin (∝f) or (1/2) Ksf Sin (2 ∝)

Where: VDb = vertical distance on the backsight

K = stadia interval factor of the instrument used
Sb = stadia interval observed on the backsight or sb = m – n
∝b = vertical angle read on the backsight
VDf = vertical distance on the foresight
sf = stadia interval observed on the foresight or sf = p – q
∝f = vertical angle read on the foresight
When the computed values of the vertical distances are tabulated, the sign of VD b is made
opposite the sign of the vertical angle to the backsight, while the sign of VD f is made to
correspond to the sign of the vertical angle to the foresight.
 Note: In the following computations, the sign of the vertical distance on the backsight
(VDb) is made opposite the sign of the vertical angle to the backsight, while the sign of
the vertical distance on the foresight (VD f) corresponds to the sign of the vertical angle
to the foresight.

Solution:

 BMa : VDb = 100(0.29)cos(+ 7°0’)sin(+ 7°0’)

VDb = 3.5079 m
(Since ∝b is positive, use VDb = - 3.5079 m)

 TP1 : VDb = 100(0.27)cos(+ 1°30’)sin(+ 1°30’)

VDb = 0.7065 m
(Since ∝b is positive, use VDb = - 0.7065 m)

VDf = 100(0.26)cos(- 3°30’)sin(- 3°30’)

VDf = - 1.5843 m

 TP2 : VDb = 100(0.29)cos(+ 2°30’)sin(+ 2°30’)

VDb = 1.2638 m
(Since ∝b is positive, use VDb = - 1.2638 m)

VDf = 100(0.305)cos(- 1°30’)sin(- 1°30’)

VDf = - 0.7981 m

 TP3 : VDb = 100(0.155)cos(+ 7°0’)sin(+ 7°0’)

VDb = 1.8749 m
(Since ∝b is positive, use VDb = - 1.8749 m)

VDf = 100(0.175)cos(+ 2°0’)sin(+ 2°0’)

VDf = 0.6104 m

 BMb : VDf = 100(0.17)cos(+ 22°30’)sin(+ 22°30’)

VDf = 6.0104 m

2. The general expression for difference in elevation between any two points such as B and
F is
DE = RRb ± VDb ± VDf - RRf
 Solution:

 DE1 = 1.59 – 3.5079 – 1.5843 – 1.59

DE1 = - 5.0922 m (change in elevation between BMa and TP1)

 DE2 = 1.59 – 0.7065 – 0.7981 – 1.59

DE2 = - 1.5046 m (change in elevation between TP1 and TP2)

 DE3 = 1.59 – 1.2638 + 0.6104 – 1.59

DE3 = - 0.6534 m (change in elevation between TP2 and TP3)

 DE4 = 1.59 – 1.8749 + 6.0104 – 1.59

DE4 = + 4.1355 m (change in elevation between TP3 and BMb)

3. To determine the elevation of the ground point on the foresight, the value of DE
(difference in elevation) is added algebraically to the elevation of the ground point on the
backsight or
ELEV = ELEV of Previous Point ± DE

Solution:

 Elev TP1 = Elev BMa ± DE1

Elev TP1 = 0 – 5.0922
Elev TP1 = - 5.0922 m (elevation of the first turning point)

 Elev TP2 = Elev TP1 ± DE2

Elev TP2 = – 5.0922 – 1.5046
Elev TP2 = - 6.5968 m (elevation of the second turning point)

 Elev TP3 = Elev TP2 ± DE3

Elev TP3 = - 6.5968 – 0.6534
Elev TP3 = - 7.2502 m (elevation of the third turning point)

 Elev BMb = Elev TP3 ± DE4

Elev BMb = - 7.2502 + 4.1355
Elev BMb = - 3.1147 m (elevation of the second bench mark)
 4. The customary check is performed by determining the difference in elevation between the
initial point and the terminal point and also determining the algebraic sum of the
tabulated differences in elevation. If the two quantities are equal, it can be assumed that
the preceding computations were done correctly.

Note: The customary arithmetic check is performed by determining the difference in

elevation between the first and last benchmarks using two different equations).

Solution:

 DEa = Elev BMb – BMa

DEa = - 3.1147 - 0
DEa = - 3.1147 m

 DEb = DE1 ± DE2 ± DE3 ± DE4

DEb = - 5.0922 - 1.5046 - 0.6534 + 4.1355
DEb = - 3.1147 m

Since DEa is equal to DEb, it can be safely assumed that the above computations are
correct.

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
STA Sb ∝b RRb VD Sf ∝f RRf VD DIFF ELEV
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) ELEV (m) (m)
BMa 0.29 + 7°0’ 1.59 - 3.5079 --- --- --- --- --- 0
TP1 0.27 + 1°30’ 1.59 - 0.7065 0.26 - 3°30’ 1.59 -1.5843 - 5.0922 - 5.0922
TP2 0.29 + 2°30’ 1.59 - 1.2638 0.305 - 1°30’ 1.59 - 0.7981 - 1.5046 - 6.5968
TP3 0.155 + 7°0’ 1.59 - 1.8749 0.175 + 2°0’ 1.59 0.6104 - 0.6534 - 7.2502
BMb --- --- --- --- 0.17 +22°30’ 1.59 6.0104 + 4.1355 - 3.1147
Table 2. Tabulated Solution

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Stadia leveling is a different version of trigonometric leveling in which the elevation of a

location is calculated utilizing the Tacheometer method. The line of sight is tilted away from the
horizontal in this procedure. It is more precise and ideal for hilly terrain surveys. The technique
of getting the necessary reading for stadia leveling is similar to differential leveling. The key
variation between the two leveling is that the field of vision in stadia leveling does not have to be
at a horizontal location as opposed to differential leveling. 
 In doing the activity, the students quickly got a grasp of where to do the readings and
were able to set up and level the instrument easily. The chosen location was from the front gates
of the school up until the second floor of the ACES building. After deciding the target location of
the horizontal cross hair reading, the students proceeded to find the target measure and took note
of the necessary readings, namely the upper stadia hair reading, horizontal cross hair reading,
lower stadia hair reading, and the vertical angle. The rod is then positioned at a different location
and the same method of reading and taking notes of the readings is done. A total of three turning
points were located along with two benchmarks (one is the initial point and the other is the
terminal point). 

The students were able to finish the activity early after getting and noting all the
measured readings needed. At home, the computed values of the vertical distances on each
backsight and foresight of the points were acquired along with the difference in elevation
between any two points, as well as the elevation of the ground point on the foresight, the
difference in elevation between the initial point and the terminal point, and the algebraic sum of
the tabulated differences in elevation. The sketch of the aerial view/map of the stadia leveling
was also made for a visual presentation of how the readings were taken and to get a better grasp
of what happened and what was done.

Actual Fieldnotes
 Figure 3 & 4. Handwritten Fieldnotes for Fieldwork # 17

SKETCH OF STADIA LEVELING

D. REMARKS, HINTS & PRECAUTIONS
1. The stadia method of indirect leveling provides a faster method of leveling in rough and
hilly terrain where a high degree of precision is not required.
2. The process involved in stadia leveling is very identical to that in differential leveling.
The main difference is that the line of sight in stadia leveling does not have to be brought
horizontal as in differential leveling.
3. In stadia leveling the same sequence of operation is repeated at every set up; determining
stadia interval, taking a rod reading, and reading a corresponding vertical angle. These
three steps are done at each backsight and foresight level station.
4. The instrument constants C and K may be assumed to be zero and 100 respectively if
these are not shown or predetermined.

E. DOCUMENTATION
 Setting up and Leveling the Transit

Reading the upper, lower, and center cross hairs from BMa
Reading the upper, lower, and center cross hairs for TP1

Reading the upper, lower, and center cross hairs for TP2

Reading the upper, lower, and center cross hairs for TP3
Reading the upper, lower, and center cross hairs for BMb