DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Differential leveling is the process of determining the elevation of a new point from
the known elevation of an existing point. The resulting data from leveling is a
significant piece of engineering design. This data is also used for mapping and
construction projects such as buildings, roads, canals, and other vertical and horizontal
structures can be designed and laid out to best conform to the configuration of the
ground. Such elevation information is usually given in terms of meter or feet relative to
a vertical datum such as mean sea level (MSL). Mean sea level is the average height of
the sea’s surface at all tidal stages over a period of 19 years.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:
1. Level Surface. Level surface is the
continuous surface parallel to the
mean spheroid of the earth. It is a
curved surface which is at any point
perpendicular to the direction of
gravity or the plumb line.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:
2. Level Line. The line
representing the level surface
is termed as level line. The level
line makes right angles to the
vertical line or plumb line at
any point. It means the any
point on level line is
equidistance from the center
of earth. Even though it is a
curved surface, it is considered
as plane surface for smaller
area works.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:
3. Horizontal Surface. It is a
plane that is tangent to a level
surface at a particular point. The
horizontal surface is also
perpendicular to the plumb line
at the same point.
4. Horizontal Line. Horizontal line
is the line of sight of instrument
which is tangential to the level
surface and It is perpendicular
the plumb line. The surface
along horizontal line of sight is
called as horizontal surface.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:

5. Vertical Line. It is the line which

is indicated by plumb at required
station. So, this is also called as
plumb line. It’s just decided
based on the consideration of
earth’s gravity. Vertical line
connects the station point to the
center of the earth. A plumb is
released from the instrument
height with the help of thread
and instrument is set up at that
point as its center.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:

6. Mean Sea level. Mean sea level

is an imaginary surface of the sea
which is midway between high
and low tides. It is taken as the
reference surface to which most
ground elevations are referred.
Mean sea level is established by
taking the average height of tides
in the sea over a very long period
(generally 19years). Mean sea
level or MSL is used as datum level
for all important surveys of that
zone.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:

7. Datum. Datum is any convenient

level surface coincident or parallel
with the mean sea level to which
elevations of a particular area are
referred. Any surface may be used
as a datum when relative
elevations over a limited area
needs to be established. It is done
by assigning an assumed elevation
of other points in the vicinity with
regard to this value.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
DEFINITION OF TERMS IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
To better understand leveling operations, the following basic terms are defined below:
8. Elevation. For a particular point,
its elevation is the vertical distance
above or below mean sea level or
any of the selected datum. Points
on or near the surface of the earth
have either positive or negative
elevations, depending if the point
is above or below mean sea level.
9. Difference in Elevation. The
difference in elevation between
two points is the vertical distance
between the two-level surfaces in
which the points lie.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Types of Levels
There are different types of levels that can be used to determine the elevation
data of points by means of the differential leveling method. The Five (5) types
discussed in this text are:
1. Dumpy levels
2. Level transits
3. Automatic levels
4. Laser level
5. Hand Level
Levels in each of these categories, though slightly different in design, have a
telescope for viewing and establishing line and a means of orienting the line of
sight in a horizontal plane. All types of levels are capable of being mounted on a
tripod and are used to sight a graduated level rod.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Dumpy Level
Dumpy level is commonly used leveling instrument to locate the points in same
horizontal plane. It is also called as automatic level or builder’s level. Elevations of
different points and distance between the points of same elevation can be
determined by dumpy level. The telescope is fixed to its supports in dumpy level and
hence it cannot be rotated in vertical axis. It is invented by William Gravatt in 1832.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Level Transit
A transit level is an optical instrument,
or a telescope, complete with a built-in
spirit level that is mounted on a tripod.
Transit levels are used mainly for
surveying and building, but they can be
used to determine the relative position
of lines and objects as well. Transit
levels are very precise. They are used to
establish a reference line, but they are
also used to provide readings of angles
in precise measurements.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

The Self Levelling Level (Auto Level)

The self-leveling level (also called automatic level)
is equipped with a small bull’s-eye level and three
leveling screws. The leveling screws are used to
approximately center the bubble of the bull’s-eye
level. As long as the bubble remains centered, the
line of sight automatically remains horizontal. A
prismatic device called a compensator makes this
possible. The compensator is suspended on fine,
non-magnetic wires. The action of gravity on the
compensator causes the optical system to swing
into the position that defines a horizontal sight.
The horizontal line of sight is maintained despite a
slight out of level of the telescope or even when a
slight disturbance occurs on the instrument.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Laser Level
In surveying and construction, the laser
level is a control tool consisting of a
rotating laser beam projector that can
be affixed to a tripod. The tool is leveled
according to the accuracy of the device
and projects a fixed red or green beam
in a plane about the horizontal and/or
vertical axis.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

The Hand Level

The Hand Level is a device commonly used in construction when a great degree of
accuracy is not required. An experienced observer can get satisfactory results with
the Hand Level when the distances involved are approximately 50 feet or less. At
distances greater than 50 feet, readings with the Hand Level may be questionable.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Levelling Rods
A leveling rod is a graduated pole or
stick, used with a surveyor's level to
measure differences in elevation. There
are many types of leveling rods
available, however the rod most
commonly used in construction
surveying is called the "Philadelphia"
rod. Leveling rods can be made of wood,
fiberglass or aluminum and come in
lengths varying from 12’ to 25’ (3 to 7.5
m).
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Reading the Rods

The figure below shows a view of
the Philadelphia level rod. The face
of the rod is painted white with the
graduations painted in black and
spaced 0.01 m apart. The tops of
the black graduations are the even
hundredths, and thus the tops of
the white graduations are the odd
hundredths. The smaller numbers
painted black represent tenths of a
meter; the large numbers painted
red indicate footmarks.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Holding the Rod

The level rod must be held vertically for the reading to be correct, a tilted
or non-vertical rod will result in a rod reading greater than the correct rod
reading. See figure 5-5. Rod levels are available for use as an aid in holding
the rod plumb.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Holding the Rod

Another means of ensuring that the correct rod reading is observed is
called "waving the rod." Waving the rod is waving or swinging the rod
slowly back and forth toward the instrument, using the base of the rod as a
pivot point. The instrument person can observe the lowest reading, which
is the true vertical reading.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
DETERMINING ELEVATIONS – DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
The leveling process is started from a benchmark of known elevation or from one that
has been assigned an arbitrary elevation such as 100.00 ft or meter. In construction
surveying any point with a known elevation can be termed a benchmark. The following
definitions are of several common terms normally used in leveling.
Benchmark (B.M.) - Monument or point with known elevation.
Elevation - Vertical distance above a reference or datum plane.
Backsight (B.S.) - Rod reading taken on a point of known elevation, sometimes called a
plus (+) shot.
Foresight (F.S.) - Rod reading taken on a point to determine the elevation on that point,
sometimes called a minus (-) shot.
Turning Point (T.P.) - An intermediate reference point used when it is necessary to
move the instrument ahead while running a line of levels.
Height of Instrument (H.I.) - The elevation of the level line sight projected by the
instrument, when properly set up.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Procedure
The level should be set up at some convenient distance from the benchmark. A good
rule of thumb to follow in leveling is to keep all observations to within 300'.
Observations in excess of 300' may introduce errors. The instrument person should be
careful to set up the instrument at a point that is neither too high, nor too low. Usually
a quick check with a hand level before setting up will verify whether the rod can be
seen from a particular point.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Procedure
Once the instrument is set up, the
instrument is ready to take a rod reading
on the benchmark:
• This reading is called a backsight (BS).
• From the Figure 5-6, the rod reading
on BM “A” is 10.63.
• The backsight (10.63) is added to
B.M. “A” elevation (100.0) to calculate
the height of instrument (HI).
• The height of instrument (HI) = 100.0
+ 10.63 = 110.63.
• Remember backsights are always
added.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Procedure
Once the height of instrument is known, the elevation of other points can be
determined from that set up as long as a rod reading is visible on the point. If the
instrument person is unable to observe a rod reading on the point due to difference in
elevation, distance limitations, physical obstructions, etc., it will be necessary to
establish one or more turning points (TP) in order to progress to the required points.
A turning point should be a solid, clearly defined point, such as a stake or embedded
rock, which is not likely to change in elevation during the leveling process. It should also
be of such configuration that the elevation of the bottom of the rod would not change
when the rod is faced in different directions.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Procedure
To determine the elevation of a turning
point (TP):
• This reading is called a foresight (FS).
• The foresight (1.15) is subtracted
from the height of instrument (HI)
(110.63) to determine the elevation
of TP-1
• Elev. TP-1 = 110.63 – 1.15 = 109.48.
• Foresights are always subtracted
from the H.I. to calculate elevations. Note:
Whenever a line of levels is run involving two
Once the elevation of TP-1 is
or more set ups, the field work should always
determined, the level can then moved
be checked by running a line of levels back to
ahead and the entire process is
the original BM or to another BM
repeated.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Procedure
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Note Keeping
In construction surveying, level notes are kept in bound level books. As with all
field notes, level notes should be written with a 3H pencil or harder, and with no
erasures. Erroneous entries should be lined through and initialed. Also, for each
day's operation, the date, party members, and the weather should be recorded.
It is also a good idea to make a copy of the days work. Field books occasionally
get left on work truck toppers, in the field, etc. Having a second copy of previous
notes can be invaluable.
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Note Keeping
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Example
Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary
arithmetic check.
Level Notes from BM1 to BM4 :
Backsight Heigth of Inst. Foresight
STA. Elevation
(BS) (HI) (FS)
BM1 1.256 127.133
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
 Backsight Heigth of Inst. Foresight
STA. Elevation
(BS) (HI) (FS)
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING BM1 1.256 127.133
TP1 1.116 1.886
TP2 1.228 1.527

Solution BM2
BM3
1.189
1.070
2.246
2.017
TP3 1.831 2.656
a) Computation of HI and Elevation of Stations: BM4 2.765

127.133 (Elev. BM1) 125.074 (Elev. BM2)

+ 1.256 (BS on BM1) + 1.189 (BS on BM2)
128.389 (Ht. of Inst. HI1) 126.263 (Ht. of Inst. HI4)
- 1.886 (FS on TP1) - 2.017 (FS on BM3)
126.503 (Elev. TP1) 124.246 (Elev. BM3)
+ 1.116 (BS on TP1) + 1.070 (BS on BM3)
127.619 (Ht. of Inst. HI2) 125.316 (Ht. of Inst. HI5)
- 1.527 (FS on TP2) - 2.656 (FS on TP3)
126.092 (Elev. TP2) 122.660 (Elev. TP3)
+ 1.228 (BS on TP2) + 1.831 (BS on TP3)
127.320 (Ht. of Inst. HI3) 124.491 (Ht. of Inst. HI6)
- 2.246 (FS on BM2) - 2.765 (FS on BM4)
125.074 (Elev. BM2) 121.726 (Elev. BM4)
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Solution
b) Tabulated Solution:
Backsight Heigth of Inst. Foresight
STA. Elevation
(BS) (HI) (FS)
BM1 1.256 128.389 127.133
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

7.690 13.097
(ΣBS) (ΣFS)
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Solution
c) Determine the Backsight and Foresight Sums:
ΣBS = 1.256 + 1.116 + 1.228 + 1.189 + 1.070 + 1.831 = + 7.690 m
ΣFS = -(1.886 + 1.527 + 2.246 + 2.017 + 2.656 + 2.765) = - 13.097 m
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

Solution
d) Arithmetic Check:
127.133 (Elev. of BM1)
+ 7.690 (ΣBS)
134.823 (Sum)
- 13.097 (ΣFS)
121.726 m (Checks with Elev. of BM1)