Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela

LEVELING
MEASUREMENT OF VERTICAL DISTANCES
CE Department
 DEFINITION OF LEVELING TERMS
DATUM – any convenient level surface to which
elevations of a particular area are referred.

MEAN SEA LEVEL – an imaginary surface of the sea

which is midway between high and low tides.

VERTICAL LINE – the line parallel to the direction of

the gravity.
 LEVEL SURFACE – curved surface which is at any
point perpendicular to the direction of gravity, or
the plumb line.
LEVEL LINE – curved line in a level surface, all points
of which are normal to the direction of gravity and is
equidistant from the center of the earth.

HORIZONTAL SURFACE – a plane that is tangent to

a level surface at a particular point.
HORIZONTAL LINE – a straight line in a horizontal
surface which is tangent to a level line at one point.
 LEVELING – is the process of directly or indirectly
measuring vertical distances to determine the
elevation of points or their differences in elevation

ELEVATION – it is the vertical distance above or

below mean sea level or any other selected datum

DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION between two points is

the vertical distance between the two level
surfaces in which the points lie.
TYPES OF LEVELS
 COMMON SPIRIT
LEVELS

BULL’S EYE LEVEL LEVEL VIAL

HAND LEVEL
DUMPY LEVEL WYE LEVEL
DUMPY LEVEL GEODETIC LEVEL
BUILDER’S LEVEL
AUTO LEVEL
ENGINEER’S TRANSIT
LASER LEVEL
ERRORS AND MISTAKES IN
LEVELING
 I. Instrumental Errors
a. Instrumental Out of Adjustment
SOURCES – caused by the level being out of adjustment
– frequent testing of the instrument and adjustments
OF ERROR – keep backsight and foresight distances nearly equal
IN
LEVELING b. Rod Not Standard Length
– inaccurate graduations and divisions on the rod
– periodic comparison with a standardized steel tape
and necessary corrections applied to all
measurements made with the rod
c. Defective Tripod
– settling of the tripod legs
– set up the instrument in a firm and stable ground
 II. Personal Errors
a. Bubble Not Centered
SOURCES – unnecessary instrument motion can turn the bubble
out of center
OF ERROR – carelessness of the instrumentman
IN – when taking a sight, do not lean or grasp the tripod,
LEVELING nor apply any vertical pressure on the instrument
– always check on the leveling bubble before taking a
sight
b. Parallax
– caused by the reader’s eye being positioned at an
angle to the measurement markings
 II. Personal Errors
c. Faulty Rod Readings
– misreading of the rod graduation markings
SOURCES – carelessness of the instrumentman
OF ERROR – reduce the length of sight, should be <90m
IN – reference the stadia hairs for checking
LEVELING d. Rod Not Held Plumb
– leveling rod out of “plumb”
– waving the rod, or using a rod level
e. Incorrect Setting of Target
– rod not set properly, or is not on the exact position
f. Unequal Backsight and Foresight Distances
 III. Natural Errors
a. Curvature of the Earth
SOURCES – occurs in extra long sights and when backsight and
OF ERROR foresight distances are not made equal
IN
LEVELING
Example:
1. Determine the combined effects of the earth’s
curvature and atmospheric refraction on sight
distances of 60, 90, 120, 150, and 500 meters.
 III. Natural Errors
a. Curvature of the Earth
– occurs in extra long sights and when backsight and
SOURCES foresight distances are not made equal
OF ERROR – frequent testing of the instrument and adjustments
IN – keep backsight and foresight distances nearly equal
LEVELING Example:
2. Two points, A and B, are 525.850 meters apart. A
level is set-up on the line between A and B and at a
distance of 240.500m from A. If the rod reading on A
is 3.455m and that on B is 2.806m, determine the
difference in elevation between the two points, taking
into account the effects of curvature and atmospheric
refraction
 III. Natural Errors
a. Curvature of the Earth
– occurs in extra long sights and when backsight and
SOURCES foresight distances are not made equal
OF ERROR – frequent testing of the instrument and adjustments
IN – keep backsight and foresight distances nearly equal
LEVELING
Example:
3. A man on shore standing close to the sea’s water
edge looks out toward the direction of the sea. If his
eyes measure 1.72m above sea level, determine how
far out of the sea is his visible horizon, neglecting the
effect of waves.
 III. Natural Errors
a. Curvature of the Earth
– occurs in extra long sights and when backsight and
SOURCES foresight distances are not made equal
OF ERROR – frequent testing of the instrument and adjustments
IN – keep backsight and foresight distances nearly equal
LEVELING
Example:
4. A woman standing on a beach can just see the top
of a lighthouse 24.140 km away. If her eye height
above sea level is 1.738m, determine the height of the
lighthouse above sea level.
 III. Natural Errors

SOURCES
OF ERROR b. Rod Not Standard Length
IN – inaccurate graduations and divisions on the rod
LEVELING – periodic comparison with a standardized steel
tape and necessary corrections applied to all
measurements made with the rod
c. Defective Tripod
– settling of the tripod legs
– set up the instrument in a firm and stable ground
 a.Misreading of the Rod
– carefully note the correct markings on the rod
COMMON – rodman can confirm the readings with the
MISTAKES instrumentman
IN b. Incorrect Recording
LEVELING – recorder should always call out the readings as
he/she records them
– the recorder should always be aware of the
operation and record in the correct column readings
c. Erroneous Computation
– always perform the necessary
mathematical/arithmetic checks
COMMON
MISTAKES d. Rod Not Fully Extended
IN – always check if the sections are locked properly
LEVELING e. Moving Turning Points
– use stable and clearly defined turning points
– mark the position of the turning point
ADJUSTMENT
OF LEVEL
1. Adjustment of Cross Hairs
2. Adjustment of Level Vial
3. Adjustment of the Line of Sight
 TWO-PEG TEST
In the two-peg test of a dumpy level, the following
observations is taken:
ADJUSTMENT ROD READING Instrument Set-up near A Instrument Set-up near B
OF LEVEL On Point A 1.505m 0.938m
On Point B 2.054m 1.449m

a. Determine if the line of sight is in adjustment

b. If the line of sight is not in adjustment, determine
the correct rod reading on A with the instrument
still set up near B.
c. Determine the error in the line of sight for the net
distance AB
 TWO-PEG TEST
In the two-peg test of a dumpy level, the following
observations is taken:
ROD READING Instrument Set-up near M Instrument Set-up near P
On Point A 0.296m 1.563m
ADJUSTMENT On Point B 0.910m 2.140m
OF LEVEL Point M is equidistant from both A and B, while P is 2.50m
away from A along the extension of line AB and 79.27m from B
a. Determine the true difference in elevation between points
A and B
b. Check if the line of sight is in adjustment
c. If the instrument needs to be adjusted, determine the
following: “false” difference in elevation, inclination of the
line of sight, and the error in the reading on the far rod.
d. With the level still set up at P, determine the rod reading on
B to which the line of sight should be adjusted.
e. Perform the customary check
 TWO-PEG TEST
In the two-peg test of a dumpy level, the following
ADJUSTMENT observations is taken:
OF LEVEL ROD READING Instrument Set-up near M Instrument Set-up near P
On Point A 2.598m 1.537m
On Point B 1.620m 0.623m

Point M is equidistant from both A and B, while P is 3.75m

away from A along the extension of line AB and 83m from B
a. With the level still set up at P, determine the rod reading on
B to which the line of sight should be adjusted.
b. Perform the customary check
LEVELING METHODS
 DIRECT or SPIRIT LEVELING
- Method for determining the elevations of points
by a series of set ups of a leveling instrument
(commonly spirit level) along a selected route.

-Differential Leveling
-Double Rodded Leveling
-Three Wire Leveling
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Method of direct leveling by a series of set ups of
the instrument along a general route and, for each
setup, a rod reading back to the point of known
elevation and forward to a point of unknown
elevation are taken
 TERMS USED IN DIRECT LEVELING
• Bench Mark (BM) – a fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known
or assumed
• Temporary Bench Mark (TBM) – temporary bench marks set up by the surveyor
for his own use in a particular surveying project
• Turning Point (TP) – intervening point between two bench marks upon which
point foresight and backsight rod readings are taken to enable a leveling
operation to continue from a new instrument position.
• Backsight (BS) – reading taken on a rod held on a point of known or assumed
elevation.
• Foresight (FS) – reading taken on a rod held on a point whose elevation is to be
determined
• Backsight distance (BSD) – distance from the center of the instrument to the
rod on which a backsight is taken.
• Foresight distance (FSD) – distance from the center of the instrument to the
rod on which a foresight is taken.
 Complete the differential level notes shown below and
perform the customary arithmetic check
STATION BS HI FS ELEV
BM1 1.256 127.153m
TP1 1.116 1.886
TP2 1.228 1.527
BM2 1.189 2.246
BM3 1.070 2.017
TP3 1.831 2.656
BM4 2.765
Prepare and complete the differential level notes for the information shown in the
accompanying illustration. Include the customary arithmetic check
The accompanying schematic arrangement of lines portray a differential route. The
values indicated represent backsight and foresight readings taken at different
points as labeled. Prepare and complete differential level notes for the information
shown and show the customary arithmetic check.
 DOUBLE-RODDED Leveling

Is a variation of differential leveling but employing

two level routes simultaneously.
 Complete the differential level notes for a double-rodded line
from BM1 to BM2. Show the customary arithmetic check.
STATION BS HI FS ELEV

BM1 1.964 205.549m

TP1 H 2.187 1.104
TP1 L 2.629 1.549
TP2 H 1.393 1.794
TP2 L 1.780 2.202
TP2 H 0.317 2.991
TP2 L 0.741 3.415
BM3 2.634
 The figure below shows a schematic arrangement of a differential level route
employing two rods. The values indicated represent backsight and foresight
readings taken on two sets of turning points. Prepare and complete differential
level notes for the information shown and perform the customary arithmetic check
 THREE-WIRE LEVELING

Is a variation of differential leveling, wherein three

horizontal hairs (or threads) are read and recorded
rather than from a single horizontal hair.
Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary arithmetic check
BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
STA HI ELEV
HAIR RDGS MEAN RDG S HAIR RDGS MEAN RDG S
1.152
BM1 0.935 444.242m
0.718
2.784 1.117
TP1 2.420 0.899
2.057 0.682
1.713 1.900
TP2 1.440 1.537
1.166 1.172
2.591 1.450
TP3 2.094 1.177
1.599 0.904
0.913 2.210
TP4 0.730 1.714
0.547 1.218
1.593
BM2 1.410
1.227
 PROFILE LEVELING
- This method of leveling is used to determine
differences in elevation between points at
designated short measured intervals along an
established line to provide data from which a
vertical section of the ground surface can be
plotted.
 TERMS USED IN PROFILE LEVELING
• Profile – a curved line which graphically portrays the intersection of a vertical
plane with the surface of the earth. It depicts ground elevations of selected
critical points along a surveyed line and the horizontal distances between these
points
• Stationing – A numerical designation given in terms of horizontal distance any
point along a profile line is away from the starting point.
• Intermediate foresights – these sights are taken along the centerline of the
proposed project to provide an accurate representation of the ground surface.
• Full Stations – points which are established along the profile level route at
uniformly measured distances. These points are usually made in multiples of
100, 50, 30, 20, or 10 meters.
• Plus Stations – intermediate points established along a profile level which are
not designated as a full station
1.) A turning point along a profile level route measures 126.44m beyond station
8+24.50. Determine the stationing of this turning point.
2.) Determine the stationing of the turning point if it is instead located 83.45m
before the given reference station.
3.) Determine the distance between station 33+45.02 and station 26+62.75
Complete the following set of profile level notes and show the customary arithmetic check
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
BMa 0.95 127.153m
0 + 00.0 3.0
0 + 10.0 2.3
TP1 3.13 0.64
0 + 22.0 2.7
+ 30.5 2.8
+ 34.2 3.1
+ 39.3 0.5
+ 42.5 0.8
TP2 2.16 1.28
+ 45.0 0.9
+ 48.6 1.2
+50.0 1.7
+53.7 2.8
TP3 0.82 2.37
TP4 1.35 3.50
+ 75.0 3.0
BMb 1.99
The figure below shows a schematic arrangement of a profile level route from BM33 to BM34.
The values indicated represent backsight, foresight, and intermediate foresight readings taken
on stations along the route. Prepare and complete profile level notes for the portrayed
information shown. Perform the customary arithmetic check, and plot the profile
 RECIPROCAL LEVELING
- Method for determining the elevations of points
by two sets of correlation observations.
- This method is employed when it is difficult or
impossible to keep backsights and foresights
short and equal.
- By employing this method, errors due to
refraction by the atmosphere, curvature of the
earth, and faulty adjustment of the instrument
are significantly reduced
 RECIPROCAL LEVELING

- To further reduce errors due to refraction by the

atmosphere, keep the time interval between
observations should be made as short as
possible.
- To increase precision of measurement, more
readings for the foresight and backsight
readings can be obtained
In leveling across a deep and wide river, reciprocal level readings
were taken between two points, X and Y, as follows:

a. With instrument set up near X, the rod readings on X are

1.283 and 1.285 meters; on the distant point Y, the rod
readings are 2.618, 2.619, 2.621, 2.622 meters.
b. With instrument set up near Y, the rod readings on Y are
3.478 and 3.476 meters; on the distant point X, the rod
readings are 2.143, 2.140, 2.146, and 2.144 meters.

Determine the true difference in elevation between the two

points and the elevation of Y if the known elevation of X is
290.082 meters.
 In leveling across a Instrument Set-Up Near A Instrument Set-Up Near B
wide river, reciprocal STA BS FS STA BS FS
level readings were 1.283 1.478
taken between two 1.284 1.480
points A and B as a
1.286
b’
1.476
shown in the 1.283 1.478
accompanying table. 0.675 2.143
Determine the
0.674 2.140
following:
0.677 2.145
a. Difference in b a’
0.674 2.142
elevation between
0.677 2.143
the two points.
b. Elevation of B if 0.678 2.146
the elevation of A SUM SUM
is 951.750m. MEAN MEAN
 TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELING
- Method for determining the differences in
elevation from observed vertical angles and
either horizontal or inclined distances.
- The measurements are only approximate unless
the observed vertical angles and the required
distances are precisely measured.
- Used extensively in topographic surveys over
rugged or rolling terrain
A vertical angle of +13°45’ is read to a target 1.23m above point
B. The measured inclined distance, s, is 823.29m and the
elevation of point A is 123.65m above datum. If the height of
instrument at A is 1.35m, determine the difference in elevation
between A and B and the elevation of B, considering the effects
of curvature and atmospheric refraction.
A vertical angle of -12°25’ is measured to the top of a water tank
from an instrument set up on a hill 585.00 meters away from it.
The telescope of the instrument is 1.45m above the ground
whose elevation is 462.73m. Making due allowance for the
earth’s curvature and atmospheric refraction, determine the
elevation of the base of the water tank if the tank is 32.0m high.
 Let A be a point of elevation 130.48m above datum, and let B
and C be points of unknown elevation. By means of an
instrument set 1.22m above B, vertical angles are observed, that
to A being -14°45’ and that to C being +8°32’. If the horizontal
distance AB is 547.20m and the horizontal distance BC is
923.95m, determine the elevations of B and C, making due
allowance for earth’s curvature and atmospheric refraction.