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 Process of directly or indirectly measuring

vertical distances to determine the elevation
of points or their differences in elevation

Leveling results are used:

 Level Surface
To design highways, railroads, canals, sewers,  A curvedd surface
f which
hi h iis att any point
i t perpendicular
di l to t the
th
water supply systems etc, having grade lines that direction of gravity or the plumb line
best conform the existing topography;
 Level Line
To lay out construction projects according to  A curved line in a level surface, all points of which are normal to
planned elevations; the direction of gravity and equidistant from the center of the
earth
To calculate volume of earthworks and other
 Horizontal Surface
materials;
 A plane that is tangent to a level surface at a particular point. It
To investigate drainage characteristics of an area; is also perpendicular to the plumb line at the same point

Production of topographic maps

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 Horizontal Line  Datum

 A straight
g line which is tangent
g to a level line at one p
point  Any convenient level surface coincident or parallel with mean sea
 This line is perpendicular to the direction of gravity at the point level to which elevations of a particular area are referred
of tangency
 Elevation
 Vertical Line
 The vertical distance above or below mean sea level or any other
 A line parallel to the direction of gravity selected datum

 Mean Sea Level  Difference in Elevation

 An imaginary surface of the sea which is midway between high
 The vertical distance between the two level surfaces in which the
and low tides
points lie
 It is taken as the reference surface to which most ground
elevations are referred  Geoid
 Zero elevation
 Serves as datum for elevations and astronomical observations

1. Direct or Spirit
p Leveling
g
2. Reciprocal Leveling
3. Profile Leveling
4. Trigonometric Leveling
5. Stadia Leveling
6. Barometric Leveling
7. Cross-Section Leveling
8. Borrow-Pit Leveling

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 Commonly employed method of determining the

 Most precise method of leveling
elevation of points some distance apart by a series of
set ups of leveling instrument along a selected route  Used when a high degree of accuracy is required
 Vertical distances are measured above or below a  Forms of direct leveling:
level line and these values are used to compute the
elevation of points or their differences in elevation  Differential Leveling

 Double-Rodded Leveling

 Three-wire Leveling

 The process of accurately determining the difference in  Used to determine differences in elevation between points at
elevation between two intervisible points located at a designated short measured intervals along an established line
considerable distance apart and between which points t provide
to id data
d t from
f which
hi h a vertical
ti l section
ti off the
th ground
d
leveling could not be performed in the usual manner surface can be plotted

 Commonly employed when leveling across canyons and  Best suits the requirements needed in the design of roads,
gullies where it would be difficult or impossible to maintain a railroads, canals, drainage systems and transmission lines
foresight and a backsight distance of nearly equal lengths

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 Combines features of direct leveling with those of trigonometric

 Employed in determining by leveling.
trigonometric computations the
difference in elevation between two  Any surveying instrument may be employed in stadia leveling as
long as it has telescope to read vertical angles and is equipped with
points from measurements of its
stadia hairs in addition to the standard cross hairs.
horizontal or slope distance and the
vertical angle between the points  Provide reasonable accuracy for preliminary surveys, mapping and
rough leveling where quick measurements are needed
 Its degree of precision may be
improved by using precise  Differences in elevation
measurements t suchh as optical
ti l b
between points
i are computed
d
theodolites and total geodetic from observed vertical angles
stations which measure angles to and the 3-intercepts on a rod
seconds held at each point backsighted
or foresighted

 Method of leveling wherein short profiles at right

angles to the line of work are usually plotted at
 Involves the determination of differences in elevation
regular intervals for the purpose of obtaining a
between points by measuring the variation in
representation of the ground surface which is
atmospheric pressure at each point by means of a
necessary in highway or railroad construction
barometer

 Depends on the basic principle that differences in

elevation are proportional to the differences in
atmospheric pressure

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 Method of leveling wherein short profiles at right angles to the

line of work are usually plotted at regular intervals for the
purpose of obtaining a representation of the ground surface
which is necessary in highway or railroad construction

Wye Level Dumpy Level Builder’s Level

Automatic Level Tilting Level Digital Level

Telescope
Common components:

 A telescope to create a line of

sight and enable a reading to be
taken on a graduated rod, and

 A system to orient the line of

Geodetic Level
sight in a horizontal plane

 Level vials
Level Vials
Transit
 Automatic compensators

Laser Level Hand Level

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Leveling Rod / Staff Tripod

 A graduated rod which is Leveling instruments are all
used for measuring the mounted on tripods
vertical distance between
the line of sight through Serve as a base to prevent
a leveling instrument movement of the instrument
and the point whose
after it is set up
elevation is either
required
i d or known
k
 Made of wood, fiberglass,
metal

1. Instrumental Errors 1. Instrumental Errors

Instrument Out of Adjustment R dN
Rod Not S
Standard
d dL Length
h
 When the line of sight of the telescope is not parallel to the axis  Usually due to imperfections in their manufacture.
of the level vial
 A rod of incorrect length will introduce a systematic error in
 When reading is taken on a rod, the result is an error consistently leveling work.
either plus or minus, and with a magnitude which is proportional
to the distance between the instrument and the rod  It is important that rod lengths are compared periodically with a
standardized steel tape.
 Th
The error will
ill also
l b be greatly
tl minimized
i i i d or eliminated
li i t d if th
the
backsight and foresight distances are kept nearly equal

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1. Instrumental Errors 2. Personal Errors

Defective Tripod Bubble Not Centered

 The movement of the level due to settling of the tripod legs can  Rod readings will be in error when the bubble is not centered
cause possible errors in leveling work. in the level vial.

 The tripod usually settles in soft ground or due to vibrations  Various conditions: tripod settling in soft ground; and factors
caused by vehicular traffic. which could all be attributed to carelessness on the part of
the instrumentman.
 Smooth surfaces such as concrete pavements and steel plates
should be avoided
avoided. Parallax

 Causing relative displacement between the image of the cross

hairs and the image formed by the focusing lens.

2. Personal Errors 2. Personal Errors

Faulty Rod Readings I
Incorrect S
Setting
i off Target
T
 Usually the result of the length of sight, poor weather  Target may slip downward because it is not clamped firmly at
conditions, and the skill of the instrumentman and the the exact position signalled by the instrumentman.
rodman.
Unequal Backsight and Foresight Distances
Rod Held Not Plumb
 It is sufficient to approximate only by eye foresight and
 It is easy to determine if the rod is held plumb or not since it backsight distances in ordinary leveling work.
can be checked if it is held parallel to the vertical cross hair.

 This type of error can e avoided either by waving the rod or

attaching a rod level to it to facilitate holding it plumb.

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3. Natural Errors

Curvature of the Earth

 The effect of the curvature of the Earth is to increase the rod

Misreading the Rod
reading Incorrect Recording
Atmospheric Refraction Erroneous Computations
 Makes the rod appear unsteady when a sight is taken it.
Rod Not Fully Extended
Moving Turning Points
Temperature
p Variations

Wind

Settlement of the Instrument

Faulty Turning Points