LEVELS & LEVELING

Ref: Major Joarder Md sarwar Mujib

1. Surveying – Vol I by Punmia Instructor Class B
2. Surveying by Aziz & Shahjahan Dept of CE
MIST, Mirpur, Dhaka
 LEVEL
A level is an instrument by which the
relative heights of different points on
the surface of the earth are determined
 LEVELING
Leveling is the process by means of which the
difference in elevation ( relative height) of
various points on the earth’s surface is
calculated/determined
LEVELING INSTRUMENT
• Level with Tripod
• Leveling Staff
 Methods of Leveling

 Barometric Leveling
 Trigonometric Leveling
 Spirit Leveling ( Direct Leveling)
 Types of Level

Dumpy Level
Wye ( or Y ) Level
Reverse Level
Tilting Level
 What these means ?

Level Surface Datum

Level Line Elevation
Horizontal Plane Vertical Angle
Horizontal Line Mean Sea Level (MSL)
Vertical Line Bench Mark (BM)
 How to ?
Set the Level in the field
+ Important Aspects
Hold the Staff
+ Important Aspects
Take a reading
+ Important Aspects
Hand Signal while taking Reading
 Adjustment of Level
Temporary/ Situation Adjustment
Setting Up
Leveling Up
Elimination of Parallax
Focusing the Eye Piece
Focusing the Objective
Adjustment of Level
HOLDING A LEVELING STAFF

NO TILTING
 Base of Staff at Slope

Bottom plane of staff

Error
Bottom plane of staff

Point of interest Point of interest

Correct Incorrect

(a) (b)
Take a Reading
Alignment during taking reading
How Staff Looks
Reading Staff
 Terms & Abbreviations
Station
Height of Instrument (H.I.)
Back Sight (B.S.)
Fore Sight (F.S.)
Turning Point (T.P.)
Intermediate Station (I.S.)/ Change Point
Reduced Level (R.L.)
Leveling at Level Surface
Leveling at Slope
Points to remember before the start

• What is the approximate height difference

between points?
• Where should the level be placed to
ensure
– Visibility of back and forward stations
– efficiency of work
Methods of Calculating R.L.

Rise and Fall Methods

Height of Instrument / Line of

Collimation Methods
 Rise & fall method

– Compute all rises & falls

 Start at a BM with known RL

To get RL of next station:

• add rise to previous RL, or
• subtract fall from previous RL

 Repeat for all subsequent stations

 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall

Sum

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore Reading

= Total Rise ~ Total Fall
= Last R.L. ~ First R.L.
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall
A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remark
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall s

A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24
100 6.46
150 5.38
200 6.55
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remark
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall s

A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24 1.82 98.18
100 6.46 0.78 98.96
150 5.38 1.08 100.04
200 6.55 1.17 98.87
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall
A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.
50 7.24 1.82 98.18
100 6.46 0.78 98.96
150 5.38 1.08 100.04
200 6.55 1.17 98.87
B 75°45' 250 8.78 6.92 0.37 98.50 Change Pt
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distanc Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remark
e Back Inter Fore Rise Fall s

A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24 1.82 98.18
100 6.46 0.78 98.96
150 5.38 1.08 100.04
200 6.55 1.17 98.87
B 75°45' 250 8.78 6.92 0.37 98.50 Change
Pt
300 8.52 0.26 98.76
350 6.24 0.28 101.04
400 5.96 0.28 101.32
450 6.35 0.39 100.93
500 7.54 1.19 99.74
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall
A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.
50 7.24 1.82 98.18
100 6.46 0.78 98.96
150 5.38 1.08 100.04
200 6.55 1.17 98.87
B 75°45' 250 8.78 6.92 0.37 98.50 Change Pt
300 8.52 0.26 98.76
350 6.24 0.28 101.04
400 5.96 0.28 101.32
450 6.35 0.39 100.93
500 7.54 1.19 99.74
Sum 14.20 14.46 4.68 4.96
 Rise & Fall Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Difference R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall
A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.
50 7.24 1.82 98.18
100 6.46 0.78 98.96
150 5.38 1.08 100.04
200 6.55 1.17 98.87
B 75°45' 250 8.78 6.92 0.37 98.50 Change Pt
300 8.52 0.26 98.76
350 6.24 0.28 101.04
400 5.96 0.28 101.32
450 6.35 0.39 100.93
500 7.54 1.19 99.74
Sum 14.20 14.46 4.68 4.96

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore Reading= Total Rise ~ Total Fall
14.20 ~ 14.46=0.26 4.68 ~4.96=0.26
Last R.L. ~ First R.L. =99.74 ~100=0.26
 ????????
Any Question about Rise &
Fall Method ?
 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Ht of Instrument R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore Reading

= Last R.L. ~ First R.L.
 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Height of R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Instrument

A 46°15' 00 5.42 100 B.M.

 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Height of R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Instrument

A 46°15' 00 5.42 105.42 100 B.M.

 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Height of R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Instrument

A 46°15' 00 5.42 105.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24
100 6.46
150 5.38
200 6.55
 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Height of R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Instrument

A 46°15' 00 5.42 105.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24 98.18
100 6.46 98.96
150 5.38 100.04
200 6.55 98.87
 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Height of R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Instrument

A 46°15' 00 5.42 105.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24 98.18
100 6.46 98.96
150 5.38 100.04
200 6.55 98.87
B 75°45' 250 8.78 6.92 107.28 98.50 Change Pt
300 8.52 98.76
350 6.24 101.04
400 5.96 101.32
450 6.35 100.93
500 7.54 99.74
Sum

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore Reading

= Last R.L. ~ First R.L.
 Height of Instrument Method
Station Bearing Distance Staff Reading Height of R.L. Remarks
Back Inter Fore Instrument

A 46°15' 00 5.42 105.42 100 B.M.

50 7.24 98.18
100 6.46 98.96
150 5.38 100.04
200 6.55 98.87
B 75°45' 250 8.78 6.92 107.28 98.50 Change Pt
300 8.52 98.76
350 6.24 101.04
400 5.96 101.32
450 6.35 100.93
500 7.54 99.74
Sum 14.20 14.46

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore Reading= Last R.L. ~ First R.L.

14.20 ~ 14.46=0.26 99.74 ~100=0.26

 ????????
Any Question about Height of
Instrument Method ?
 Drawing of Profile on a Graph
Paper
• Approx profile of Leveling

100 ft

100 98.18 98.96 100.04 98.87 98.50

0 50 100 150 200 250

EFFECT OF CURVATURE & REFRACTION ON LEVELING

STAFF
LEVEL
l C OAC :
A h
B
(OC)2 = (AC)2 (OA)2
Or, (R+h)2 = l2 + R2
R
R Or, R2+ 2Rh+h2 = l2 +R2
So, h = l2/(2R+h)
O Since R >>> h
So, h = l2/(2R)
R= 6370 km

The Earth
 Problem on Effect of Curvature
• A student of MIST standing on a deck
of a ship just sees a light house ( 42
meter above MSL). Height of student
eye is 6 meter from sea level. Find the
distance of MIST student from the light
house.
 Two Peg Test
A B
y y
A B

x x

2y
y

x x
 Problem on Two Peg Test
• Point A and B have known RL of 100
and 101 meter respectively. During
leveling the H.I. was 102 meter and
Staff Reading was 4.0 meter at B. What
will be Staff Reading of point A ?

100 meter 100 meter

C A 100 B 101
Special Methods of Leveling

Differential / Fly Leveling

Profile Leveling
Cross-Sectioning
Reciprocal Leveling
Precise Leveling
 Errors in Leveling
Instrumental
Imperfect Adjustment
Sluggish Bubble
Incorrect Marking on Staff
Defective joint of Staff
Wear at Staff bottom
Misalignment of Telescope
Accumulation of Dirt at base of Staff
 Errors in Leveling
Natural
Curvature of the Earth
Refraction
Temperature
Wind vibration on Level & Staff
Soft Ground
 Errors in Leveling
Personal
Handling of Instrument
Verticality of Staff
Mistakes in taking Staff Reading
Mistakes in Recording
Any Doubt on Leveling as a whole