CE-303 (L) Engineering Survey – I

Lecture 7

Determination of elevation of various points with automatic level, by collimation,

plane method and rise & fall Method (Differential levelling)

Engr. Muhammad Afrasiyab

Civil Engineering Department

SUIT, Peshawar
 Introduction
Levelling Datum
• Levelling is the process to determine the vertical position of • Point or height of known elevation from vertical
different points below, on or above the ground. distances of different points are measured.
Differential Levelling Bench-Mark (BM)
• Fixed points or marks of known reduce level.
• Adopted when;
• It serves as reference points for finding reduce level of
1. Points are at great distance apart. new points or for conducting levelling.
2. The difference of elevation b/w points is large.
3. There are obstacles between points.
Reduction of Level or Reduce Level (RL)
• To determine level of different points w.r.t datum is called
Reduction of level or reduce level.
• Two methods are commonly in practice to determine RL:
1. Rise and fall method
2. Line of collimation method.

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 Components of level machine

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Line of Collimation
• Imaginary line passing through the intersection of cross hairs at the diaphragm
and the optical center of the object glass and its continuation. Also known as
line of sight.

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 How to read staff rod ?

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Objective
• The aim of 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.

Equipment’s
• Automatic level, tripod, staff rod.

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 Differential Levelling Procedure
1. Instrument level is setup at convenient positions near first point (say A).
2. Temporary adjustments should be done, (setting up, leveling up) are Performed.
3. First sight of B.M (point of known elevation) is taken and reading is entered in back Sight
column.
4. If distance is large instrument is shifted, the instrument becomes turning point (or)
changing point.
5. Take intermediate sight readings of visible stations and take the fore sight reading at
changing point (before shifting instrument).
6. After setting up instrument at new position, performing temporary adjustment and Take
back sight as turning point.
7. Thus turning point will have both back sight and fore sight readings (in both collimation
method and rise & fall method).
8. Link wise the process is repeated till last point (say F) is reached.
9. Readings are entered in a tabular form is given Below and Reduced levels are calculate
either by height of instrument method (or) rise and fall method.
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 Calculation Table (Line of Collimation Method)
Station BS IS FS H.I RL Remarks
A 1 101 100 BM
B 1.5 99.5
C 1 100
D 1.5 2 100.5 99 CP
E 2 98.5
F 3 97.5

HI = BS + BM Check
HI = 1 + 100
𝐵𝑆 − 𝐹𝑆 = 𝐿𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑅𝐿 − 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑅𝐿
HI = 101
RL of Point = H.I – IS
2.5 − 5 = 97.5 − 100
RL of Point = H.I – FS = 101 – 1.5 = 99.5
−2.5 = −2.5

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 Calculation Table (Rise and Fall Method)
Rise Fall
Station BS IS FS RL Remarks
+ -
A 1 100 BM

B 1.5 0.5 99.5

C 1 0.5 100

D 1.5 2 1 99 CP

E 2 0.5 98.5

F 3 1 97.5

Check:
𝐵𝑆 − 𝐹𝑆 = 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 − 𝐹𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 𝐿𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑅𝐿 − 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑅𝐿
2.5 − 5 = 0.5 − 3 = 97.5 − 100
− 2.5 = −2.5 = −2.5

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 Uses of leveling
• To design highways, railroads, canals, sewers, water supply system etc.
having grade lines that best confirm existing topography.
• To layout construction projects according to planned elevations.
• To calculate volume of earth work and other materials.
• To investigate drainage characteristics of an area etc.

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