Engineering surveying 1

ASSIGNMET 3 AND 4 FOR SURVEY

Oguti Thomas NDCE

Otee Isaac NDCE

Olila Denis NDAR

QN1a). state the aid of the two-peg test.

 Tripod stand.
 Auto level
 Centering a bubble by use of foot screws.
 Parallax removal.
 Perfect leveling by foot screws.
 Pen book and ruler

b). outline the procedure of carrying out a two-peg test.

 Choose two points P and Q on affair ground 50m distant.

 Set up the instrument mid-way between the pegged points P and Q and take readings on a
staff held at each point intern.
 Since P and Q are equal distance, the error in the staff reading e will be the same at each
station, hence if the staff readings observed are a 1 and a2.
 True difference in level P and Q

 ∆H = (a 1+ e) – (b 1- e)
 ∆H = [a 1+ e - b 1 - e]
∆H = ( a 1- b 1)

 Set up the instrument in the new position no more than 3m from Q, but for enough from Q to
be able to focus a staff held at that point.
 Staff reading a2 and b2 at P and Q respectively are observed.
 Apparent difference =change in height H2 = a2-b2.

C) true difference H1 =1.645-1.408=0.237m.

Apparent difference =H2 = 2.009-1.362

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= 0.642
the mean height difference = (true diff + app diff)/2

= (0 .237 + 0.67)/2

= 0.884/2

= 0.442

Collimation error = apparent diff – true difference

= 0.647 – 0.237

= 0.410/d , where d is the horizontal distance

Assignment 4
1. The following readings were taken with a level and a levelling staff, along the road center line
0.683, 1.109, 1.838, 3.398 [3.877 and 0.451] CP, 1.405, 1.896, 2.676 BM (102.120 AOD), 3.478
[4.039 and 1.835] CP, 0.649, 1.707, 3.722
Draw up a level book and reduce the levels by:
(a) Rise -and-fall. (b) Height of collimation
2. The following staff readings were observed in the field (in the order given) when levelling up a
hillside from a TBM 135.2 m AOD. Excepting the staff position immediately after the TBM, each
staff position was higher than the preceding one.
1.408, 2.728, 1.856, 0.972, 3.789, 2.746, 1.597, 0.405, 3.280, 2.012, 0.625, 4.136, 2.664, 0.994,
3.901, 1.929, 3.478, 1.332
Enter the readings in level-book form and Reduce the levels using:
(i). Rise-and-Fall . (ii). collimation systems

3. (a). With the aid of diagrams, explain how a two peg test is used to test for a collimation error.
In doing so also indicate why it is best practice to set up midway between two points when
undertaking differential leveling.
(b). State 6 factors that could affect the accuracy of a levelling exercise apart from a collimation
error in the instrument.
(c). The following consecutive readings were taken with a level on continuously sloping ground
at a common interval of 20 m. The last station has an elevation of 155.272 m. Rule out a page of
level book and enter the readings. Calculate the reduced levels of the points by rise and fall
method, and the gradient of the line joining the first and last points. 0.420, 1.115, 2.265, 2.900,
3.615, 0.535, 1.470, 2.815, 3.505, 4.445, 0.605, 1.925, 2.885.
Answer
Qn1). The following readings were taken with a level and a leveling staff, along the road Centre
line. 0.683,1.109,1.838,3.398(3.877 and 0.451) cp,1.405,1.896,2.676BM
(102.120AOD),3.478(4.039 and 1.835) cp,0.649,1.707,3. 722.Draw up a level book and reduce the
levels by;

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a) Rise and fall.

soln

BS IS FS Fall Rise RL REMARKS

0.683 107.539
1.109 0.426 107.113
1.838 0.729 106.384
3.398 1.560 104.824
0.451 3.877 0.479 104.345 CP
1.405 0.954 103.391
1.896 0.491 102.900
2.676 0.780 102.120 102.120(AOD
)
3.478 0.802 101.318
1.835 4.039 0.561 100.757 CP
0.69 1.186 101.943
1.707 1.058 100.885
3.722 2.015 98.870
∑BS=2.969. ∑FS=11.638 ∑FALL=9.855 ∑RISE=1.186
. . .

ARITHMETIC CHECKS.

∑BS-∑FS=∑RISE-∑FALL=LAST RL-FIRST RL.

2.969-11.638=1.186-9.855=98.870-107.539.

-8.669=-8.669=-8.669.

b) Height of collimation

BS IS FS HOC RL REMARKS
0.683 108.222 107.539
1.109 108.222 107.113
1.838 108.222 106.384
3.398 108.222 104.824
0.451 3.877 104.796 104.345 CP
1.405 104.796 103.391
1.896 104.796 102.900
2.676 104.796 102.120 102.120(AOD
)
3.478 104.796 101.318
1.835 4.039 102.592 100.757 CP
0.649 102.592 101.943
1.707 102.592 100.885
3.722 102.592 98.780

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 Engineering surveying 1

∑BS=2.96 ∑FS=11.63
9 8
ARITHMETIC CHECKS

∑BS-∑FS=LAST RL -FIRST RL.

2.969-11.638=98.780-107.539

-8.669=-8.669

2a. The following staff readings were observed in the field (in the order given) when leveling up a hill
site from ATBM 135.2m AOD. Excepting the sf position immediately after the TBM , each staff
position was higher than the proceeding one. 1.408,2.728, 1.856,
0.972,3.789,2.746,1.597,0.405,3.280,2.012,0.625,4.136,2.664,0.994,3.901,1.929,3.478,1.332.

Entre the readings in level book form and reduce the levels using

i. Rise and fall

ii. Height of Collimation.

i)Rise and fall method

BS IS FS FALL RISE RL REMARKS

1.408 135.200 TBM135.200MAOD
2.728 1.320 133.880
1.856 0.872 134.752
3.789 0.972 0.884 135.636 CP
2.746 1.043 136.679
1.597 1.149 137.828
3.280 0.405 1.192 139.020 CP
2.012 1.268 140.288
4.136 0.625 1.387 141.675 CP
2.664 1.472 143.147
3.901 0.994 1.670 144.817 CP
3.478 1.929 1.972 146.789 CP
1.332 2.146 148.935

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 Engineering surveying 1

∑BS=19.992 ∑FS=6.25 ∑FALL=1.320 ∑RISE=15.055

7

ARITHMETIC CHECK

∑FS-∑BS=∑FALL - ∑Rise =FIRST RL-LAST RL

6.257-19.992=1.320-15.055=135.200-148.935

-13.735=-13.735=13.735

II).Height of collimation

BS IS FS HOC RL REMARKS
1.408 136.608 135.200 TBM135.200AO
D
2.728 136.608 133.880
1.856 136.608 134.752
3.789 0.972 139.425 135.636 CP
2.746 139.425 136.679
1.597 139.425 137.828
3.280 0.405 142.300 139.020 CP
2.012 142.300 140.288
4.136 0.625 145.811 141.675 CP
2.664 145.811 143.147
3.901 0.994 148.718 144.817 CP
3.478 1.929 150.267 146.789 CP
1.332 150.267 148.935
∑BS=19.99 ∑FS=6.257
2

ARITHMETIC CHECK

∑FS-∑BS=FIRST RL -LAST RL.

6.257-19.992=135.200-148.935.

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-13.735=-13.735

3. (a). With the aid of diagrams, explain how a two peg test is used to test for a collimation error.
In doing so also indicate why it is best practice to set up midway between two points when
undertaking differential leveling.

 On a relatively flat site establish two pegs A and B about 50m apart and set up the instrument at I 1

,appoint half – way between them.(such that d 1= d 2=d=25m).

 After careful leveling and focusing , sight on staff held vertically at A and record reading a 1 .repeat
with the staff held at B and record reading b 1
 Assuming the line of collimation is not horizontal but inclined at an angle ҽ . Then ҽ will be the
collimation error of the instrument in radians.
 Let the true difference in level between A and B be ∆H
 ∆H = (a 1- d 1e) – (b 1- d 2e)
 = [a 1- d 1e- b 1 + d 2e]
 But d 1 = d 2 =d
 ∆H = (a 1- b 1)…………………………………………equation 1

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 Equation 1 shows that the collimation error e does not affect the true difference in
height , provided the instrument is set mid-way.

 The instrument is shifted to I2, the distance d3 away from B on Line AB produced. Such that
d1=d2=d3=30m.
 Reading a2 and b2 are recorded at A & B respectively.
 Let the true difference in level between A & B be ∆H
 ∆H=[a -(d +d +d )e] – [b -d e] but d =d =d =d
2 1 2 3 2 3 1 2 3
 =a -d e-d e-d e-b +d e = (a -b )-(d +d )e = (a -b )-2de … equation
2 1 2 3 2 3 2 2 1 2 2 2
2.
By equating equation 1 and 2

 a -b = a –b -2de. ⤇2de = ( a -b ) –(a -b ) ⤇ e = (a 2−b2 )−(a1−b 1)

1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2d
 If e ≤ │0.000005│ then the instrument is good enough to be used.
 If e is big , with instrument still at I the line of sight is lowered down , using adjusting screw
2
until a reading a -(d +d +d )e is observed on a staff at A. this will however cause the
2 1 2 3
bubble to move to the centre. This procedure is repeated until when the absolute value is
e≤│0.000005│.
(b). State 6 factors that could affect the accuracy of a levelling exercise apart from a collimation
error in the instrument
1. Effects of change in the instrument height: If say after taking a BS reading, the instrument
level sinks down a bit before taking a FS reading, then the height difference obtained will
have some error.
2. The effect of zero error on the staff: This occurs when the zero graduation does not
coincide exactly with the base of the staff. Use only one staff so that the error is eliminated
at each instrument set up.
3. Graduation of the staff: If this is detected during a laboratory calibration, the correction is
applied to the observed staff reading.
4. None verticality of the staff: Since the staff is used to measure a vertical difference
between the ground and the line of collimation, failure to hold the staff vertical will result

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in incorrect readings. This error is eliminated by using a staff provided with circular spirit
level.
5. Tripod Legs Loose: Tripod leg bolts that are too loose or too tight allow movement or
strain that affects the instrument head. Loose metal tripod shoes cause unstable setups.
6. Booking errors: Care must be taken when booking staff reading
(c). The following consecutive readings were taken with a level on continuously sloping ground
at a common interval of 20 m. The last station has an elevation of 155.272 m. Rule out a page of
level book and enter the readings. Calculate the reduced levels of the points by rise and fall
method, and the gradient of the line joining the first and last points. 0.420, 1.115, 2.265, 2.900,
3.615, 0.535, 1.470, 2.815, 3.505, 4.445, 0.605, 1.925, 2.885.

Rise and fall method

BS IS FS Fall Rise RL Remarks
0.420 150.817 20
1.115 0.695 150.122 40
2.265 1.150 148.972 60
2.900 0.635 148.337 80
3.615 0.535 2.365 150.702 100
1.470 2.145 152.847 120
2.815 1.345 151.502 140
3.505 0.690 150.812 160
4.445 0.605 2.900 153.232 180
1.925 2.520 156.232 200
2.885 0.960 155.272 220(155.272m)

∑BS=8.480 ∑FS=4.025 ∑Fall=5.475 ∑Rise=9.930

ARITHMETIC CHECK

∑FS - ∑BS=∑Fall - ∑Rise = First RL – Last RL

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4.025 - 8.480 = 5.475 - 9.930 = 150.817 - 156.272

- 4.455 = - 4.455 = -4.455

Gradient = change in y / change in x

Gradient = (155.272 – 150.817) / (220 -20)
=1 in 45

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