Chapter 3: Leveling Methods

General Surveying 1: Measurement of Vertical Distances

Frank Stephen Balbanera

Geodetic Engineer | Instructor
Differential Leveling. The process of determining the difference in
elevation between two or more points some distance. apart

- It requires a series of set ups of the instrument along a general

route and, for each setup, a rod reading back to the point of
known elevation and forward to a point of unknown elevation
are taken.

- The basic equipment used includes a graduated leveling rod,

and a leveling instruments such as a dumpy level, automatic
level, or an engineer’s transit.
Benchmark (BM). a fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known or
assumed.

Granite tile of BGT-11 at the Mount Pulag summit

 Benchmark (BM). a fixed point of reference
whose elevation is either known or assumed.

Benchmark at the side of the Freedom Park near City

Coliseum
Backsight (BS). It is a reading taken on a rod held on a point of known or
assumed elevation.

- It is the measure of the vertical distance from the established

line of sight to the point sighted, and is always the first rod
reading taken after the instrument has been set up and
leveled.

Foresight. It is a reading taken on a rod held on a point whose elevation is to

be determined.

- It is represented as a vertical distance from the line of sight of

the instrument to the point observed.
Backsight Distance (BSD). Measured from the center of the instrument to the
rod on which a backsight is taken.

Foresight Distance (FSD). Horizontal distance from the center of the

instrument to the rod on which a foresight is taken. Its length is usually made
nearly equal to its corresponding backsight distance.
Turning Point (TP). The intervening point between two bench marks upon
which point foresight and backsight rod readings are taken to enable a leveling
operation to continue from a new instrument position.

Height of Instrument or the height of collimation is the elevation of the line of

sight of an instrument above or below a selected reference datum.
Procedure (see Fig 17-1)

• 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. However, it
still depends if bigger leveling party could be formed.

• The leveling instrument is set up at any convenient location along the

level route.
• 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 (HI) 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 a foresight on the rod. This 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 at another convenient location
beyond TP1, but still in the general direction of BMb. The exact location at
which the level is set up is of little importance.

• A backsight is then taken on TP1 to establish a new height of insturment

(HI2).

• The rodman finally moves forward to the location of BMb and a foresight
is taken on the rod held on it. Since the new HI has already been
determined, the elevation of BMb is computed by subtracting the foresight
reading from the height of instrument.
• However, if terminal point (BMB) is still some distance away such that
more turning points have to be established before it could be foresighted,
repeat the procedure until the elevation of BMb is finally obtained.

• You may also see this link to know how to use the dumpy level.
https://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Dumpy-Level
LEVELING NOTES
Dumpy Level Leveling Rod/Staff
Illustrative Problem 1.
Differential Leveling. Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the
customary arithmetic check.

Level Notes from BM1 to BM4:

STATION 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
A. Computation of HI’s and Elevation of Stations:
127.133 (Elev BM1) 125.074 (Elev BM2)
+ 1.256 (BS on BM1) + 1.189 (BS on BM2)
128.389 (HI) 126.263 (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 TP1)
127.619 (HI2) 125.316 (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 (HI3) 124.491 (HI6)
- 2.246 (FS on BM2) - 2.765 (FS on BM4)
125.074 (Elev on BM2) 121.726 (Elev on BM4)
B. Determining Backsight and Foresight Sums:

Σ BS = 1.256 + 1.116 + 1.228 + 1.189 + 1.070 + 1.831 = +7.690

Σ FS = - (1.886 + 1.527 + 2.246 + 2.017 + 2.656 + 2.765) = -13.097

C. Tabulated Solution

STATION 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
(Σ BS) = +7.690 (Σ FS) = -13.097
D. Arithmetic Check

127.133 m (Elevation of BM1)

+ 7.690 m (Σ BS)

134.823 m Sum

- 13.097 m (Σ FS)

121.726 m (Checks with Elevation of BM4)

Assignment
Differential Leveling. Prepare and complete the differential level notes for the table shown
below.
Level Notes from BM1 to BM2:

STATION BS HI FS ELEV
BMA 0.68 126.130 125.45 m
TP1 0.98 123.360 3.75 122.338

TP2 3.73 123.57 3.52 119.840

TP3 3.90 125.830 1.64 121.930

BM2 0.35 125.480

▪ Computation of HI’s and Elevation of Stations

▪ Show tabulated solution
▪ Arithmetic Check
Double-Rodded Leveling. A method of determining differences in
elevation between points by employing two level routes simultaneously.
- This method differs from conventional differential leveling in that
two turning points are established such that at each setup of
the leveling instrument, two sets of independent backsights and
foresights are taken.
Double-Rodded Leveling. A method of determining differences in
elevation between points by employing two level routes simultaneously.
Illustrative Problem 2.

Double-Rodded Leveling. Complete the differential level notes for a double-rodded line
from BM1 to BM2. Show the customary arithmetic check.

STATION BS HI FS ELEV

1.964
BM1 205.549 m
1.964
TP1 H 2.187 1.104
TP1 L 2.629 1.549
TP2 H 1.393 1.794
TP2 L 1.780 2.202
TP3 H 0.317 2.991
TP3 L 0.741 3.415
2.634
BM2
2.634
Illustrative Problem 2.

Double-Rodded Leveling. Complete the differential level notes for a double-rodded line
from BM1 to BM2. Show the customary arithmetic check.

STATION BS HI FS ELEV

1.964 207.513
BM1 205.549 m
1.964 207.513
TP1 H 2.187 208.596 1.104 206.409
TP1 L 2.629 208.593 1.549 205.964
TP2 H 1.393 208.195 1.794 206.802
TP2 L 1.780 208.171 2.202 206.391
TP3 H 0.317 205.521 2.991 205.204
TP3 L 0.741 205.497 3.415 204.756
2.634 202.887
BM2
2.634 202.863
(Σ BS) = +12.975 (Σ FS) = -18.323
Solution:

Mean Elevation of BM2 = ½ (202.887 + 202.863) = 202.875

Σ BS = 1.964 + 1.964 + 2.187 + 2.629 + 1.393 + 1.780

Σ BS = 12.975 m

Σ FS = - (1.104 + 1.549 + 1.794 + 2.202 + 2.991 + 3.415 + 2.634 + 2.634)

Σ FS = - 18.323 m

Arithmetic Check:
Get the sum of the summation of
backsight and foresight:

SUM = Σ BS + Σ FS Mean Elev. BM2 = Ave + Elev. BM1

= 12.975 m – 18.323m Mean Elev. BM2 = -2.674 + 205.549
Mean Elev. BM2 = -202.875 m
= -5.348 m
AVE = -5.348 m / 2
= -2.674 m
D. Arithmetic Check

127.133 m (Elevation of BM1)

+ 7.690 m (Σ BS)

134.823 m Sum

- 13.097 m (Σ FS)

121.726 m (Checks with Elevation of BM4)

Three-Wire Leveling. A more precise method of differential leveling
wherein three horizontal hairs (or threads) are read and recorded rather
than from a horizontal hair.

- This method is employed for high precision work

thus, it requires only precise leveling rods.
Where
a = upper stadia hair reading
b = lower stadia hair reading
c = horizontal cross-hair reading or rod reading on P
s = stadia intercept or the difference between the upper stadia hair reading and lower stadia hair reading
m = mean of three-hair readings
HD = horizontal distance from the level to the rod held at P
K = stadia interval factor
C = instrument constant
HI = height of the line of sight above datum or mean sea level
Elev. of P = unknown elevation of station P
The following equations are used in three-wire leveling:

s=a-b s, stadia intercept

Provides an indirect measure of the distance from the center of the leveling instrument to
the rod sighted

m = ( a + b + c) / 3 mean reading
Average of the three stadia hair readings

HD = Ks + C Horizontal distance, K = stadia interval factor, and C = instrument constant

For most leveling instrument, K is usually equal to 100 & C is zero.
Procedures:

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
Station Hair Mean HI Hair Mean Elevation
S S
Rdgs Rdgs Rdgs Rdgs
2.85
A 2.46
2.06
5.01
B 4.61
4.20
Illustrative Problem 3.
Three Wire Leveling. Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary arithmetic check.

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
Station Hair Mean HI Hair Mean Elevation
S S
Rdgs Rdgs Rdgs Rdgs
1.152
BM1 0.935
0.718
2.784 1.117
TP1
2.420 0.899
2.057 0.682
1.713 1.900
TP2
1.440 1.537
1.166 1.172
2.591 1.450
TP3
2.094 1.177
1.599 0.904
0.913 2.210
TP4 0.730 1.714
0.547 1.218
1.593
BM2
1.410
1.227
Illustrative Problem 3.
Three Wire Leveling. Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary arithmetic check.

BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
Station Hair Mean HI Hair Mean Elevation
S S
Rdgs Rdgs Rdgs Rdgs
1.152
BM1 0.935 0.935 0.434 445.177 444.242
0.718
2.784 1.117
TP1
2.420 2.420 0.727 446.698 0.899 0.899 0.435 444.278
2.057 0.682
1.713 1.900
TP2
1.440 1.440 0.547 446.602 1.537 1.536 0.728 445.162
1.166 1.172
2.591 1.450
TP3 445.425
2.094 2.095 0.992 447.502 1.177 1.177 0.546
1.599 0.904
0.913 2.210
TP4 0.730 0.730 0.366 446.536 1.714 1.714 0.992 445.806
0.547 1.218
1.593
BM2
1.410 1.410 0.366 445.126
1.227
D. Arithmetic Check

444.242 m (Elevation of BM1)

+ 7.620 m (Σ BS)

451.862 m Sum

- 6.736 m (Σ FS)

445.126 m (Checks with Elevation of BM4)