INTRODUCTION TO VERTICAL

DISTANCE MEASUREMENTS

Ninia Reguindin, CE, M. Eng.

CEP 233 - Fundamentals of Surveying
College of Engineering and Technology
Tarlac State University
LEVELING
• Leveling is the process of directly or indirectly measuring vertical
distances to determine the elevation of points or their differences
in elevation.

Vertical Datum
• a base measurement point (or set of points) from which elevations
are determined.

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
VERTICAL DATUM
• Geoid (ORTHOMETRIC HEIGHTS)
determined by the earth's gravity and
approximated by MSL

• Reference Ellipsoid (ELLIPSOIDAL

ELEVATIONS)
mathematically defined surface

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
VERTICAL DATUM
• Geoid (ORTHOMETRIC HEIGHTS)
determined by the earth's gravity and
approximated by MSL

• Reference Ellipsoid (ELLIPSOIDAL

ELEVATIONS)
mathematically defined surface

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
BENCHMARK (BM)
• a fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known or
assumed
• may be permanent (PBM) or temporary (TBM)

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
TURNING POINT (TP)
• An intervening point between two bench marks upon which point
foresight and backsight readings are taken
• A BM may be used as TP

TP2

TP1

BM

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
BACKSIGHT (B.S.)
• a reading taken on a rod held on a point of known or assumed
elevation (B.M. or T.P.)
• usually taken with the level sighting back along the line sometimes
called a plus sight

BACKSIGHT DISTANCE
• measured from the center of the instrument to the rod on which a
backsight (BS) is taken

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
 upper
middle

LEVELING TERMS
lower

TP2

TP1

BM

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
FORESIGHT (F.S.)
• a rod reading taken on a point of unknown elevation (B.M. or T.P.
to be established)
• sometimes called a minus sight

FORESIGHT DISTANCE
• the horizontal distance from the center of instrument (level) to
stadia rod on which a forsesight (F.S.) is taken

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
 upper
middle

LEVELING TERMS
lower

TP2

TP1

BM

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING TERMS
HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT
• the elevation of the line of sight of an instrument above or below a
selected reference datum

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
 upper
middle

LEVELING TERMS
lower

TP2

TP1

BM

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
SIGNIFICANCE OF LEVELING
OPERATIONS
1. Provides necessary data for:
• engineering design
• engineering construction
• production of topographic maps
2. Site Suitability Analysis
3. Proper design and laying out of vertical and horizontal structures

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
TYPES OF LEVELS
1. Dumpy Level
2. Automatic Level
3. Tilting Level
4. Laser Level
5. Digital Level
6. Hand Level

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DUMPY LEVEL
• general purpose instrument and commonly referred as engineer’s
level
• provides excellent introduction to levels in general though has
been superseded by self leveling instruments
• “dumpy level” → shorter level
• LEVEL TUBE:
• sensitivity: 20” of arc per graduation (2 mm)
➢ ADVANTAGE:
weight lends stability under conditions where vibration or
wind render lighter automatic levels less stable
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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
DUMPY LEVEL

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
AUTOMATIC LEVEL
• a.k.a. self-leveling level
• like dumpy level it is also regarded as engineer’s level
• allows the establishment of a horizontal line of sight by means of a
compensator
➢ Compensator is a system of prisms and mirrors supported by
wires as in a pendulum

• designed so that the LOS is horizontal when the telescope barrel is

within +10” of being horizontal
• leveled by the use of a circular spirit or bull’s eye level and the
compensator maintains a horizontal line of sight
➢ ADVANTAGES:
light, easy to handle and operation is quick and accurate

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
AUTOMATIC LEVEL

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
TILTING LEVEL
• distinct feature: telescope is mounted on a transverse fulcrum
• has a level bubble with a sensitivity of 10” per 2 mm division and the
images of the bubble ends are viewed through the eyepiece
• equipped with coincidence bubbles used for precise leveling

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LASER LEVEL
• used commonly in construction works to maintain the elevations
needed
• saves time and effort since it can detect the prism in a whole
revolution of 3600
• advantage for layout work in construction since it is simple, one
button operation and fully automatic general construction

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LASER LEVEL

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
DIGITAL LEVEL
EASY
➢ aims the telescope at the staff, adjust focus and press a single key
and it measures height and distance simultaneously
FAST
➢ measurement is completed in < 3 seconds
ACCURATE
➢ automatic operation eliminates conventional error by the operator

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
DIGITAL LEVEL

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
HAND LEVEL
• widely used for rough leveling
• consists of a metal sighting tube about 6 in. long on which is
mounted a level vial

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
HAND LEVEL

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
LEVELING RODS
• are graduated wooden rods of rectangular cross section by means
of which difference in elevation is measured
• some are also in aluminum alloy and fiberglass

➢ Self-reading Rod
➢ Target Rod

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
 SELF-READING RODS
• may be read directly read by the leveler
while looking through the telescope of the
level
• leveler observes graduation at which the line
of sight intersects the rod and records the
reading
• should be marked so that the graduations
appear sharp and distinct for any normal
distance between level and rod
• PHILADELPHIA ROD is the most widely used
rod
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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
TARGET RODS
in using target rods, the leveler signals the
rod man to slide the target up or down until
it is bisected by the line of sight then the
target is clamped and the rod person,
leveler or both observe the indicated
reading
it is usually equipped with a vernier
1. mistakes are less likely to occur
2. under certain conditions its use
materially facilitates the work

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
1. PROCEDURES
2. CALCULATIONS

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CEP233 – Fundamentals of Surveying
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
PROCEDURES
1. A line of levels is run from B.M.A to B.M.B.
2. Leveling instrument is set-up at any convenient location along the
level route and backsight is taken on a rod held vertically on B.M.A.
3. The rodman moves forward along the general direction of B.M.B
and hold the rod at a convenient turning point (T.P.1). (Making sure
that the backsight distance is approximately equal to the foresight
distance.)
4. The level is transferred again and a backsight is taken at (T.P.1) and
foresight at (T.P.2). Repeat procedures until foresight is taken on
B.M.B.

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CALCULATIONS

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CALCULATIONS
Sta. B.S. H.I F.S. Elev
B.M. 1 3.251 ________ 72.105
T.P.1 2.539 ________ 0.012 ______
T.P.2 3.572 ________ 0.338 ______
B.M.2 0.933 ________ 3.112 ______
T.P.3 0.317 ________ 3.306 ______
T.P.4 0.835 ________ 2.716 ______
T.P.5 0.247 ________ 3.542 ______
B.M.3 3.786 ______

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CALCULATIONS
Sta. B.S. H.I F.S. Elev
B.M. 1 3.251 75.356
________ 72.105
T.P.1 2.539 ________ 0.012 75.344
______
T.P.2 3.572 ________ 0.338 ______
B.M.2 0.933 ________ 3.112 ______
T.P.3 0.317 ________ 3.306 ______
T.P.4 0.835 ________ 2.716 ______
T.P.5 0.247 ________ 3.542 ______
B.M.3 3.786 ______

Elevi = H.I. - F.S.

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CALCULATIONS
Sta. B.S. H.I F.S. Elev
Arithmetic Check:
B.M. 1 3.251 75.356
________ 72.105 BM1elev 72.105
T.P.1 2.539 77.883
________ 0.012 75.344
______ + +
T.P.2 3.572 ________ 0.338 77.545
______ ∑ B.S. 11.694
81.117
- -
B.M.2 0.933 78.938
________ 3.112 78.005
______ ∑ F.S. 16.812
T.P.3 0.317 75.949
________ 3.306 75.632
______ = _______
T.P.4 0.835 74.068
________ 2.716 73.233
______ BM3elev 66.987

T.P.5 0.247 70.773

________ 3.542 70.526
______
B.M.3 3.786 66.987
______
𝚺BS = 11.694 𝚺FS = 16.812 OK!

H.I. = B.S. + ElevBM Elevi= H.I. -F.S.

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Sources
La Putt, J.P. (2007). Elementary Surveying. Philippines: National Book Store.

Google Images

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Thank you for listening!

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