How to Read a Levelling

Rod

Levelling Rod

is a graduated wooden or
aluminum rod, used with alevelling
instrumentto determine the
difference in height between points
or heights of points above
adatumsurface.

 Measurements are in metres and cm (10mm blocks)

which enable heights to be estimated to 1 mm.
Alternating colours are used to differentiate each
metre length, the most common being black and red
on a white background.
Major graduations occur at 100 mm intervals and are
denoted by figures. Minor graduations are at 10 mm
intervals and form coloured squares or intervening
spaces. The lower 50 mm of any 100 mm block are
joined by a band to form the distinctive E pattern
which is designed to make reading a small section of
the staff in the telescope easier.

In this view the

staff reading is
2.993
Upper stadia =
3.040
Lower stadia =
2.946

The top mark is at 1.5

m and the lower is
at 1.345 m. The
distance between
the marks is 0.155
m, yielding a
distance to the
rod of 15.5 m.