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Self-Pace Module
Introduction
Leveling is the general term applied to any of the various processes by which elevations of
points or differences in elevation are determined. It is a vital operation in producing necessary data for
mapping, engineering design, and construction. Leveling results are used to
(1) design highways, railroads, canals, sewers, water supply systems, and other facilities having
grade lines that best conform to existing topography;
(2) lay out construction projects according to planned elevations;
(3) calculate volumes of earthwork and other materials;
(4) investigate drainage characteristics of an area;
(5) develop maps showing general ground configurations; and
(6) study earth subsidence and crustal motion.
Terminologies and Definitions:
(credits: www.jerrymahun.com)
Level Surface - It is a curved surface which is at any point perpendicular to the direction of
gravity or the plumb line. It is best represented by the surface of a large body of still water
Level Line - A level line is a curved line in a level surface all points of which are normal to the
direction of gravity and equidistant from the center of the earth.
Horizontal Surface - It is a plane that is tangent a level surface at a particular point. The
horizontal surface is also perpendicular to the plumb line at the same point
Horizontal Line - A straight line in a horizontal plane which is tangent to a level line at one point.
Vertical Line - A vertical line at any po sine parallel to the direction of gravity
Mean Sea Level - is an imaginary surface of the sea which is midway between high and low
tides. This surface, which considered to be at zero elevation, conforms to the spheroidal shape of the
earth and is perpendicular to direction of gravity at every point.
Datum - is any convenient level surface coincident or Parallel with mean sea level to which
elevations of a particular area are referred.
Elevation - For a particular point, its elevation is the vertical distance above or below mean se
level or any other selected datum.
Difference in Elevation - The difference in elevation between two points is the vertical distance
between the two level surfaces in which the points lie.
Lecture Videos
Please watch the YouTube Videos, (links provided)
Study and understand list of terminologies, and leveling methods. You can submit in ppt, docx, pdf or
image file format. You can also submit handwritten format, be sure to take the image of your handwritten
assignment in image format (jpg, png or others). Submission will be thru MS Teams Assignment
Differential Leveling
Differential levelling is the process of determining the difference in elevation between two or
more points some distance apart. It requires a series of set ups of the instrument along a general route
and, for each set up, a rod reading back to the point of known elevation are taken. The basic equipment
used in differential levelling include a graduated levelling rod and a levelling instrument such as a dumpy
level, automatic level, or an engineer’s transit. These levelling instruments are used to establish a
horizontal line of sight and to measure the vertical distance between the line of sight and the point on
which the rod is held.
- Permanent bench marks (PBM) are those which are established at intervals
throughout the country by the Philippine Coast and Geodetic Surveys (PCGS) or the
Bureau of Lands.
Backsights (BS)
- The backsight does not necessary mean that it is always a sight taken backward.
Foresights (FS)
- Turning point is an intervening point between two bench marks upon which
point foresight and backsight rod readings are taken to enable a levelling
operation to continue from a new instrument position. It is also sometimes
referred to as a change point (CP)
Elev. Of TP1 = HI - FS
Height of Instruments (HI)
- The height of instrument (or height of collimation) is the elevation of the line of
sight of an instrument above or below a selected reference datum. It is
determined by adding the rod reading on the backsight to the elevation of the
point on which the sight is taken.
HI = Elev. of BMa + BS
- The backsight distance is measured from the center of the instrument to the rod
on which a backsight is taken.
- The horizontal distance from the center of the instrument to the rod on which a
foresight is taken is referred to as the foresight distance.
- Its length is usually made nearly equal to its corresponding backsight distance.
Arithmetic Check
- The arithmetic check should be done before the survey team leaves the site
- The difference between the sum of foresights(FS) and sum of backsights
(BS) is equal to the difference in elevation between the first station (BM a)
and last station (BMb)
Height of
Backsight Foresight
STA Instrument Elevation,m
(BS), m (HI), m (FS), m
BMd 2.765
Solution:
Backsight Height of
Foresight Elevation,m
STA Instrument
(BS), m (HI), m (FS), m
BMa 127.133
1.256 128.369
5.407 m = 5.407
The image shows the view of a levelling staff through a level's telescope. Give the
three readings, upper stadia line, staff height and lower stadia line in meters to 3 decimal
places
A.
Class (Synchronous) Discussion: January 17 – 22, 2022, Time TBA via MS Teams
Learning Tasks No. 3: Problems Sets in Measurement of Vertical Distance
Submission February 1, 2022
Solve the following problems. Write your solutions on the space provided and encircle your
final answer. After finalizing your answer and solution, took an image using your
smartphones, cameras or scanners and upload it thru MS Teams under the designated
Learning Tasks.