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Profile Leveling

This document outlines a lab exercise on reciprocal leveling to determine the elevation difference between two points located on opposite sides of an imaginary deep ravine or wide river. The procedure involves taking level readings from two instrument set ups and using the averages to calculate the true difference in elevation, then determining the elevation of the second point.

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Shealtiel Regine Cinco-Ayala
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116 views

Profile Leveling

This document outlines a lab exercise on reciprocal leveling to determine the elevation difference between two points located on opposite sides of an imaginary deep ravine or wide river. The procedure involves taking level readings from two instrument set ups and using the averages to calculate the true difference in elevation, then determining the elevation of the second point.

Uploaded by

Shealtiel Regine Cinco-Ayala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NAME: DATE:

CODE/TIME: CE 311/ 08868/ WED-THU: 8-12nn INSTRUCTOR: ENGR. JOSE S. CONDONAR JR.

LAB EXERCISE NO. 7

PROBLEM: RECIPROCAL LEVELING

OBJECTIVE: To determine the difference in elevation between two points on opposite sides of an imaginary

deep ravine or wide river.

LAB EXERCISE OUTLINE

A. INSTRUMENTS & ACCESSORIES: Engineer’s Level or Automatic Level, Leveling Rod, Hubs or Pegs,
Range Poles, Chalk or Marking Crayons.
B. PROCEDURE:
1. Set two hubs on the ground (or mark off points on pavement with chalk) about 150 to 200 meters
apart and call these BM-1 and BM-2. The elevation of BM-2 is to be determined while the elevation of
BM-1 is known or assumed. Also, imagine that there is an intervening deep ravine or wide river
between these two points.
2. Set up and level very carefully the instrument at a point (A) near BM-1.
3. Take and record a series of three consecutive backsight rod readings on BM-1 and six consecutive
foresight rod readings on BM-2.
4. Move the instrument to point B (on the opposite side of the imaginary ravine and near BM-2), set up,
and level the instrument carefully.
5. From the new set up, take and record three consecutive foresight rod readings on BM-2 and six
consecutive foresight rod readings on BM-1.
6. Tabulate observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to the accompanying sample format for
the tabulation of field data.

INSTRUMENT SET UP NEAR BM-1


STATION BS FS

INSTRUMENT SET UP NEAR BM-2


STATION BS FS
C. COMPUTATIONS:
1. Determining Difference in Elevation.
For the first set up at A, the difference in elevation between BM-1 and BM-2 is computed by
subtracting the mean of the foresights from the mean of the backsights or

DE A =±¿ where:

DE A=difference in elevation between BM-1 and BM-2


a m = mean of the three consecutive rod readings on BM-1
b m =mean of the six consecutive rod readings on BM-2
Similarly, for the second set up at B

DE B =±(a' m −b' m ) where:

DE B =difference in elevation between BM-1 and BM-2


a ' m = mean of the three consecutive rod readings on BM-1
b ' m =mean of the six consecutive rod readings on BM-2
2.
Determining True Difference in Elevation.
The mean of the two differences in elevation ( DE A and DE B is taken as the true difference
in elevation between BM-1 and BM-2 or
TDE =± ( DE A + DE B ¿ /2
3. Determining the Elevation of BM-2.
The elevation of BM-2 is then determined by the following equation
Elevation of BM-2 = Elevation of BM-1 ± TDE
D. REMARKS, HINTS & PRECAUTIONS :
1. Reciprocal leveling is utilized when it is difficult or impossible to keep backsight and foresight
distances short and equal. Such a condition usually exists when surveys are made across rivers, lakes,
and deep canyons.
2. The location chosen for the work must be where the lines of sight will be high enough above the
ground to avoid any large and irregular refraction effects that may exist near the ground.
3. Several readings are taken for averaging. This is done by reading, turning the leveling screws to throw
the instrument out of level, releveling, and reading again. The process is repeated two, or more
times. Then the instrument is moved close to the other point and the same procedure followed.
4. The two differences in elevation between the two points sighted, determined with an instrument at
both set ups, normally will not agree because of refraction, curvature and instrumental as well as
personal errors. If the difference in elevation, determined in each set up is averaged, the large errors
should theoretically remove.
5. Changes in atmospheric density and temperature affect the refraction of a line of sight. The chance of
an atmospheric change and a variation in the refraction value will be greater if the time interval
between reciprocal long sights is longer. It is for this reason that the time elapse between the long
sights should be kept as short as possible.
6. Since temperature and atmospheric variations may appreciably affect the results of the observations
made, the instrument should be shaded from the sun and corrections for curvature and refraction
applied.
7. In reciprocal leveling, the bubble must be checked before each reading and centered carefully. If it is
off center by a slight amount, the procedure must be repeated.
8. The precision of the work can be improved if two leveling rods are used so that no appreciable times
elapse between backsight and foresight readings.
9. Two levels may also be used and the observations made simultaneously so that that conditions of
refraction will be the same for observations in both directions. A second set of observations should
be made with the instruments interchanged and the results averaged to eliminate errors of
instrument adjustment. The mean of the differences in elevation is taken as the best estimate of
actual difference in elevation.

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