CHAPTER 4 LEVELLING 4.1 Object and Use of Levelling Object The aim so levelling is to determine the relative heights of different objects on or below the surface of the earth and to determine the undulation of the ground surface. Uses Levelling is done for following purposes: To prepare a contour map for fixing sites for reservoirs dams, barrages etc... and to fix the alignment of roads. railways. irrigation canals. and so on. A) To determine the altitudes of different important points on a hill or to know the reduced levels of different points on or below the surface of the earth. 3 To prepare a longitudinal section and cross-section of a project (roads. railways irrigation cannel, etc) in order to determine the volume of earth work. 4 To prepare a layout map for water supply . sanitary or drainage schemes 4.2 Definitions Levelling The art of determining the relative heights of different point on or below the surface of the earth is known as levelling. Thus. levelling deals with measurement in the vertical plane 2. Level surface Any surface parallel to the mean spheroidal surface of the earth in side to be a level surface, Such a surface is obviously curved. The water surface of a still lake is also considered lo be Level surface 3 Level line Any line lying on a level surface is called a level line, This line is normal to the plumb Jing (direction of gravity ) at ail points (Fig 4.1). 4 Horizontal plane Any plane tangential to the level surface at any point is known as the horizontal prune It is perpendicular to the plumb line which indicates the direction of gravity Horizontal line t line Any line lying on the horizontal plane is said to be a horizontal line. Its a straig 1angential to the tes ine (Fig 4.1)6. Vertical line The direction indicated by a plumb line (the direction of gravity ) is known as the vertical line. This line is perpendicular to the horizontal line ( Fig 4.1) HORIZONTAL UNE LEVELLINE UNE, Fig 4.1. Different Line 7. Vertical plane Any plane passing through the vertical line is known as the vertical plane 8. Datum surface or line This is an imaginary level surface or level line from which the veritical distances of different points (above or below this line } are measured. 9, Reduced level (RL) The vertical distance of a point above or below the datum line is known as the reduced level (RL) of that point. The RL of a point may be positive or negative according as the point is above or below the datum. 10, Line of the collimation Ic is an imaginary line passing through the intersection of the cross hairs at the diaphragm and the optical centre of the object glass and its continuation. It is also knowr ling of sight Ul. Axis of the telescope this axis iy an imaginary line passing through the optical centre of the object glass and the optical centre of the eye-pieee 12. Axis of bubble tube Iu is an imaginary line tangential 1 the longitudinal curve of the bubble tbe at its middle points 13. Bench-marks (BM) These are fixed points or marks of known RL. determined with reference to the datum line. These are very important marks. They serve as reference points for finding the RI. of new points or for conducting levelling opreations in projects involving roads railways. ete l4. Backsight reading (BS) This is the first staf reading taken in any set up of the instrument after the levelling has been perfectly done . This reading is always taken on a point of known RL ie on a bench - murk or change points (Fig 4.2) 15, Foresigh reading (FS) It is the last staff reading in any set up of the instrument. and indicates the shifting of the latter (Fig 4.2) 16. Intermediates sights reading (IS) itis any other staff reading between the BS and FS in the same set up of the instrument (Hig 4.20 17. Change point (CP) This point indicates the shifting of the instrument .At this point, an F is taken from one seiting and a BS trom the next setting (Fig. 4.2) 18. Height of instrument (HI) When the levelling instrument is properly levelled. the RI. of the line of collimation 1s Known ay the height of the instrument, Phis is obtained by adding the BS reading wo the RE of the BM or CP on which the staff reading was taken 19. Focussing The operation af setting the eye-pieee and the object glass @ proper distance apart or on of the abject is Known as focussing, This is done by turning the focussing sere glear clockwise or anticlockwise