LEVELING
LEVELING
LEVELING ELEVATION A
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES INSTRUMENTS USED IN LEVELING
At the end of this module, the students will be 1. Level (Automatic or Self Leveling Level and
able to: Digital Level)
2. Tripod
1. Determine the different equipment used in
3. Level Rod
Leveling 2. Determine how to read a value for a
differential leveling survey DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
3. Define and apply differential leveling in Differential leveling is used to
computing the elevation of a point determine differences in elevation between
points (that are some distance from each other)
Vertical distances are measured by the
by using a surveyors' level and a graduated
surveyor to determine the elevations of points,
measuring rod.
in a process called running levels or, simply,
leveling.
A level line is a line in a level surface. A level
surface is a curved surface parallel to the mean
surface of the Earth. A level surface is best
visualized as being the surface of a large body of
water at rest.
𝑯𝑰 = 𝑩𝑴(𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 ) + 𝑩𝑺
𝑯𝑰 = 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒃 + 𝑭𝑺
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒃 = 𝑯𝑰 − 𝑭𝑺
∆𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗 = ∑ 𝑭𝑺 − ∑ 𝑩𝑺
MSL - 0 Elevation
𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑽𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝒙 = 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 − ∆𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗
where:
BM = Benchmark (point of known elevation)
BS = Backsight (unknown elevation)
𝐸𝑄 1 = 𝐸𝑄 2
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 + 𝑩𝑺 = 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒃 + 𝑭𝑺
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 − 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒃 = 𝑭𝑺 − 𝑩𝑺
ELEVATION A + H.I – F.S = ELEVATION B
DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION
where:
NOTE! Only applicable if 2 points
H.I = Height of the instrument
Elevation A = Known elevation Benchmark (BM) is a permanent point of
F.S = Foresight known elevation, BMs are established by
using precise leveling techniques and ERRORS IN LEVELING
instrumentation; more recently, precise GPS
Accidental errors can be minimized with a
techniques have been used.
properly maintained and adjusted instrument if
Temporary benchmark (TBM) is a semi-
the following steps are taken:
permanent point of known elevation.
Turning point (TP) is a point temporarily 1. Make sure the tripod legs are secure and
used to transfer an elevation. firmly anchored before leveling the instrument.
Backsight (BS) is a sod reading taken on a Avoid setting up on asphalt or frozen ground
point of known elevation to establish the because the sharp legs may slowly sink; this will
elevation of the instrument line of sight. change the HI. It is particularly difficult to notice
Height of instrument (H) is the elevation of such movement with a self-leveling instrument.
the line of sight through the level
2. Check to see that the bubble is centered
Foresight (FS) is a tod reading taken on a TP. before each reading; recenter it if necessary.
BM, or TBM to determine its elevation With an automatic level, gently tap the
Intermediate foresight (S) is a rod reading instrument to make sure the internal prism
taken at any other point where the elevation system is not stuck or broken.
is required
3. Do not lean on the tripod legs when reading
PROFILE LEVELING the rod. 4. Have the rod person use a rod level or
Series of determination of elevation wave the rod to make sure it is held vertically
5. Try to keep the line of sight about 0.5 m, or
1.5 ft, above the ground when positioning the
instrument, particularly when leveling over
pavement on a hot day.
6. Focus the eyepiece and objective lens
properly before reading the rod. It is best to get
in the habit of keeping both eyes open when
sighting through the telescope.
7. Without actually rushing the work (which
leads to blunders), take as little time as
possible between BS and FS readings.
8. Do not use very long BS and FS distances.
PROBLEM 1
INTERMEDIATE FORESIGHT
STATION BS HI FS ELEVATION
0+100 5.87 392.25
0+200 7.03 6.29
0+300 3.48 6.25
0+400 7.25 7.08
0+500 5.57
𝑯𝑰 = 𝑩𝑴(𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 ) + 𝑩𝑺 = 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 − ∆𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗
𝑬𝑳𝑬𝑽𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵𝒙
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒃 = 𝑯𝑰 − 𝑭𝑺
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉𝐴𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁0+300 = 392.25 − (−0.36)
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉𝐴𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁0+300 = 𝟑𝟗𝟐. 𝟔𝟏
o TRANSFERRED (FORESIGHT)
o NOT TRANSFERRED (INTERMEDIATE
F.S)
PROBLEM 2
∆𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗 = ∑ 𝑭𝑺 − ∑ 𝑩𝑺
∆𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟔
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉𝐴𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁0+300 = 𝟑𝟗𝟐. 𝟔𝟗
STATION BS HI FS ELEVATION
0+100 5.87 392.25
0+200 7.03 6.29
0+300 3.48 6.25
0+400 7.25 7.08
0+500 5.57
∆𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗 = ∑ 𝑭𝑺 − ∑ 𝑩𝑺
∆𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗 = ∑ 𝑭𝑺 − ∑ 𝑩𝑺
𝑯𝑰 = 𝑩𝑴(𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂 ) + 𝑩𝑺
𝟏. 𝟓𝟎𝟓 + ∆𝒉 = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟓𝟒 − 𝒆 (𝒆𝒒 𝟏)
𝐻𝐼 = 250 + 1.90 = 𝟐𝟓𝟏. 𝟒𝟎
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒃 = 𝑯𝑰 − 𝑭𝑺
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣1 = 251.40 − 1.5
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣1 = 𝟐𝟓𝟎. 𝟒
𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝑻𝑷𝟏 = 𝑯𝑰 − 𝑭𝑺
∆𝒉 + 𝟎. 𝟗𝟑𝟖 − 𝒆 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟒𝟗 (𝒆𝒒 𝟐)
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣 𝑇𝑃1 = 250 − 0.98
o Error depends on the distance of the
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣 𝑇𝑃1 = 𝟐𝟒𝟗. 𝟎𝟐 instrument to the rod
TWO PEG TEST Determine:
The two-peg test is used to make sure The difference in elevation of point A and B
the line of sight provides an accurate reading and
determine how much of an adjustment is ∆ℎ + 𝑒 = 2.054 − 1.505
necessary. This should be done by the installer ∆ℎ − 𝑒 = 1.449 − 0.938
periodically to make sure the instrument is
correctly leveled so it provides accurate 2∆ℎ = 1.06
readings.
∆ℎ = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑 𝒎
The error in the line of sight of the
instrument. Using eq 1:
∆𝒉 + 𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟒𝟗
0.53 + 𝑒 = 0.549
𝑒 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟗
Instrument Instrument
set up near C set up near D
Rod reading 1.103 m 0.568 m
at A
Rod reading 0.991 m 0.289 m
at B 0.568 − 𝑒1 = 0.289 − 𝑒2 + ∆ℎ
The correct reading at A when instrument is 0.568 − 𝑒1 = 0.289 − 𝑒2 + 0.112
near B
By ratio:
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝐴 = ℎ − 𝑒
𝑒1 𝑒2
=
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝐴 = 0.938 − 0.019 12 72
𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝑨 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟏𝟗 𝒎 𝑒2 = 6𝑒1
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝐵 = ℎ − 𝑒
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝐵 = 0.991 − (−0.0835)