Levelling

Lecture - 08
Levelling:
Levelling is a branch of surveying, the object of which is to
Find the elevation of a given point with respect to the given or
assumed datum.
Establish a point at a given elevation with respect to the given
or assumed datum.
Levelling:
 Levelling involves measurement in vertical direction. With
the help of levelling difference in elevation between two
points or level of one point with respect to another point of
known elevation can be determined.
Levelling helps in
(i) knowing the topography of an area,
(ii) in the design of highways, railways, canals, sewers, etc.
(iii) locating the gradient lines for drainage characteristics of an
area,
(iv) calculating the volume of earthwork and reservoir.
Important Terms:
Important Terms:
VERTICAL LINE: It follows the direction of gravity at any point on the
earth’s surface and is indicated by a plumb at that point.

HORIZONTAL LINE: A line at any point which is perpendicular to the

vertical line at the earth’s surface.

LEVEL SURFACE: A continuous surface that is perpendicular to the

vertical (plumb) line. A large surface of still water is the best example of
level surface.

Bench Mark (BM): It is a point of known elevation above or below the

datum (MSL). It is usually a permanent object e.g. top of a metal disc set
in concrete, top of a culvert etc.

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Important Terms:
Mean Sea Level (MSL): The average height of
the sea’s surface for all stages of the tide over a
very long period.
Datum: A datum is any reference surface to which
the elevations of points are referred. The most
commonly used datum is that of mean sea level (MSL).
In Pakistan, the datum adopted for GTS (Grand
Trigometical Survey) bench marks is the mean sea level
(MSL) at Karachi.
Important Terms:
Elevation: Vertical distance above or below the datum. It is
also called Reduced Level (RL).

Line of collimation: The line joining the intersection of the

cross-hairs to the optical center of the object glass. It is
also called line of sight.

Back-sight (BS): A first level reading taken after setting

the instrument on a point.
Fore-sight (FS): A last level reading taken before shifting
the instrument.
Intermediate sight (IS): All sights taken in between BS
and FS with same set-up of instruments is called IS.

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 Important Terms:

Change Point (CP): A point/station denoting the

shifting of the instrument (level). At CP, both BS and
FS are taken. Also called as Turning point.

Height of Instrument (HI): It is the elevation (or RL)

of the line of collimation or line of sight when the
instrument is correctly levelled.

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Equipments:
 The equipment used in the levelling process comprises optical
levels and graduated staffs.
 Basically, the optical level consists of a telescope fitted with a
spirit bubble to ensure long horizontal sights onto the vertically
held graduated staff.

 Different type of levels includes:

A. Tilting Level
B. Digital Level
C. Dumpy level
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*Wooden design or aluminum

*Wood, aluminum
*INVAR tape for high precision leveling

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*Helps to keep the pole upright because
any tilt will disturb your readings

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PROFILE LEVELING/HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT METHOD

*Profile leveling: is the process of determining the

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elevations of a series of points at measured
intervals along a line.
*A profile survey is extremely useful for locating
drains, roads, dams, and other earth structures.

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PROFILE LEVELING
The usual procedure is to determine the profile elevations,

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choose the grade elevations, and compute cuts or fills.
Profile leveling is actually differential leveling with a number of
intermediate foresights added between turning points.

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Booking and Reducing of Levels:
 Before discussing the booking and methods of
reducing levels, the following terms associated with
differential levelling must be understood.
 Station: A station is the point where the levelling
staff is held. (Points A, a, b, B, c, and C in Fig. 4.5).
 Height of instrument (H.I.) or height of
collimation: For any set up of the level, the
elevation of the line of sight is the height of
instrument. (H.I. = hA + SA in Fig. 4.4).
Back sight (B.S.): It is the first reading taken
on the staff after setting up the level usually to
determine the height of instrument.
 It is usually made to some form of a bench

mark (B.M.) or to the points whose elevations

have already been determined. When the
instrument position has to be changed, the first
sight taken in the next section is also a back
sight. (Staff readings S1 and S5 in Fig. 4.5).
 Important Terms

Fig. 4.5
 Important Terms

 Fore sight (F.S.): It is the last reading from

an instrument position on to a staff held at a
point. It is thus the last reading taken within a
section of levels before shifting the instrument
to the next section, and also the last reading
taken over the whole series of levels. (Staff
readings S4 and S7 in Fig. 4.5).
 Change point (C.P.) or turning point: A change
point or turning point is the point where both the fore
sight and back sight are made on a staff held at that
point. A change point is required before moving the
level from one section to another section.
 By taking the fore sight the elevation of the change
point is determined and by taking the back sight the
height of instrument is determined. The change points
relate the various sections by making fore sight and
back sight at the same point. (Point B in Fig. 4.5).
 Important Terms

 Intermediate sight (I.S.): The term ‘intermediate sight’ covers all

sightings and consequent staff readings made between back sight
and fore sight within each section. Thus, intermediate sight station
is neither the change point nor the last point. (Points a, b, and c in
Fig. 4.5).
 Reduced level (R.L.): Reduced level of a point is its height or
depth above or below the assumed datum. It is the elevation of the
point.
 Rise and fall: The difference of level between two consecutive
points indicates a rise or a fall between the two points. In Fig. 4.4, if
(SA – SB) is positive, it is a rise and if negative, it is a fall. Rise and
fall are determined for the points lying within a section.
 Important Terms

Fig. 4.5
 Important Terms

 Section: A section comprises of one back sight, one

fore sight and all the intermediate sights taken from
one instrument set up within that section. Thus the
number of sections is equal to the number of set ups
of the instrument. (From A to B for instrument
position 1 is section-1 and from B to C for
instrument position 2 is section-2 in Fig. 4.5).
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PROFILE LEVELING

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PROCEDURE:
• The procedure for completing a profile survey is
relatively simple. Take the first reading on a benchmark.
• Benchmark: is a permanent point of known or assumed
elevation from which leveling surveys are started.
Then turn the instrument and take readings along the
stations of the profile until it is necessary to establish a
turning point.
Move the instrument, compute a new height of
instrument, and continue to take readings.

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PROFILE LEVELING

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Table 4.1
 Checks

 For the rise and fall method

Σ B.S. – Σ F.S. = Σ Rise – Σ Fall = Last R.L. – First R.L.
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ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 18: LEVELING

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ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 12: LEVELING

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ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 12: LEVELING

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ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 12: LEVELING

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ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 12: LEVELING

The readings given in Table below, were recorded in a levelling operation

from
points 1 to 10. Fid the Reduce Levels by the height of instrument method and

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apply appropriate checks. The point 10 is a bench mark having elevation of
66.374 m.

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ENGINEERING SURVEY Lecture 12: LEVELING

Given the following data in Table 3.8, determine the R.L.s of the
points 1 to 6. If an uniform upward gradient of 1 in 20 starts at

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point 1, having elevation of 150 m, calculate the height of
embankment and depth of cutting at all the points from 1 to 6.

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Problem-1:
 Following consecutive readings were taken with a level and
staff rod:
 8.75 ft at A, 6.50, 4.21, 5.65, 1.12, 3.75, 5.50, 9.21 , 7.32, 5.81
and 6.65 at B.
 The instrument was shifted after 4th and 7th reading. If the
reduced level of A = 500 ft.
 Find the reduced level of staff points and B and also apply
usual checks.
Problem-2:
 Following consecutive readings were taken with a level and
staff rod:
 2.5 ft at A, 3.35, 4.75, 6.38, 8.91, 1.21, 3.76, 5.98 , 3.11, 6.74
and 7.75 at B.
 The instrument was shifted after 5th and 8th reading. If the
reduced level of A = 300 ft.
 Find the reduced level of B and also apply usual checks.
Problem-3:
 Following consecutive readings were taken with a level and
staff rod:
 8.75 at A, 6.50, 4.21, 5.65, 1.12, 3.75, 5.50, 9.21, 7.32, 5.81,
6.65 on B.
 Instrument was shifted after 4th and 7th reading.
 Find the RL of staff points and difference of RL between
change points.
 Given that reduced level of A is 500 ft, also apply usual
checks.