ISO 9001:2015

TÜV-R 01 100 1934918 Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
www.cbsua.edu.ph

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND FOOD SCIENCE

Department of Agricultural Engineering

ELEMENTARY SURVEYING 1
Differential Leveling
Fieldwork No. 5

NAME: __________________________ RATING: _____________

SECTION & YEAR: _________________ DATE: _______________

I. Objective
a. To determine the elevation of points by differential leveling
II. Instruments
1. Theodolite
2. Tripod
3. Stadia Rod
4. Level Bar
III. Procedure
1. Designate the initial or reference point of the level route as BM1 and the
final or terminal point as BM2.
2. Set up and level the instrument at a convenient location along the
general designate route between the two points.
3. Take and record a backsight on BM-1.
4. Direct the rodman to move forward along the level route (not necessarily
in straight line between BM-1 and the next point) and establish TP-1
5. Take and record a foresight in TP-1
6. Transfer and set up the theodolite at another suitable location beyond
TP-1 and take and record a back sight on TP-1.
7. Direct the rod man to move a convenient distance ahead of the
instrument and establish TP-2.
8. Take and record a foresight on TP-2
9. Repeat the procedure until as foresight is finally taken on BM-2.
10. Refer to the accompanying sample tabulation for the recording of
observed field data.
 ISO 9001:2015
TÜV-R 01 100 1934918 Republic of the Philippines
CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur 4418
www.cbsua.edu.ph

STA BS HI FS Elevation Remarks

IV. Computation
1. Computing height of instrument and elevation
In differential leveling, the following two equations are repeatedly used

HI =Elev +BS
Elev =HI −FS
Where:
HI = height of instrument above a reference point
BS = backsight reading on the rod (or plus sight)
FS = foresight reading on the rod (or minus sight)
Elev = elevation above a reference datum of a point sight
2. Arithmetic Check
To check the accuracy of the arithmetical computations, add all
backsights as well as all the foresights. The difference between these two
sums must be equal to the difference in elevation between the initial and
final points of the level line.