9/12/2011

Class Objectives
CE 211 – SURVEYING ENGINEERING
CLASS 09: LEVELING (3)
Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, Ph.D, P.E.
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
• Identify benchmark leveling procedures
• Develop field notes for benchmark leveling and
computation and adjust benchmark elevations
• Identify profile leveling procedures
• Develop field notes for profile leveling and
computation and adjust benchmark elevations.

VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK) VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK)

SURVEYS SURVEYS
• Benchmark Leveling and Field Notes
– Field Procedure
– Checking for Mistakes
• Error of Closure and Precise Leveling FIGURE 5-21. (a) Plan of benchmark leveling.
– Precise Leveling
– Benchmark Monuments
• Adjusting Benchmark Elevations

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VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK) VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK)

SURVEYS SURVEYS

FIGURE 5-21. (Continued) (b) Side view of the benchmark leveling

run in (a).
FIGURE 5-21. (Continued) (c) Form of field notes
used with benchmark leveling.

VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK)

SURVEYS
Example-1
• A differential leveling loop began and closed
on BM Bridge (elevation 814.687 m).
• Readings (in meters) listed in the order taken
are 0.548 (BS) on BM Bridge, 1.208 (FS) and
0.843 (BS) on TP1, 1.287 (FS) and 1.482 (BS)
on BM X, 0.743 (FS) and 0.944 (BS) on TP2,
and 0.571 (FS) on BM Bridge.
FIGURE 5-22. (a) Level set up too low. (b) Level set up too high.
• Prepare, check, and adjust the notes.

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Example-1 Example -2
• A leve1ing circuit began on BM Hydrant
(elevation 85.35 ft) and closed on BM Rock
(elevation 96.17 ft).
• Readings (in feet) given in the order taken are
2.65 (BS) on BM Hydrant, 3.51 (FS) and 7.23 (BS)
on TPl, 5.04 (FS) and 11.41 (BS) on BM 1, 8.58
(FS) and 7.65 (BS) on BM 2, 4.23 (FS) and 7.53
(BS) on TP2, and 4.34 (FS) on BM Rock.
• Prepare, check, and adjust the notes.

Example 2 Example 3
• A differential leveling circuit began on BM Rock
(elevation 543.202 m) and closed on BM
Manhole (elevation 545.551 m).
• Readings (in meters) listed in the order taken are
1.559 (BS) on BM Rock, 0.987 (FS) and 1.105 (BS)
on TPl, 0.842 (FS) and 0.679 (BS) on BM 1, 1.846
(FS) and 0.849 (BS) on BM 2, 1.895 (FS) and
1.436 (BS) on TP2, and 0.704 (FS) on BM
Manhole.
• Prepare, check, and adjust the notes.

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VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK)

Example 3 SURVEYS

Table 5-1. Accuracy Standards for Vertical Control Surveys

Example -4 Example -4
• A leveling loop with a total length of 900 m • A leveling loop with a total length of 900 m
had a misclosure of 0.010 m, what order of had a misclosure of 0.010 m, what order of
leveling is represented leveling is represented

• Order of leveling: C= 12mm 0.90 =

11.4 𝑚𝑚
• Meets third order

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VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK) VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK)

SURVEYS SURVEYS

FIGURE 5-24. Illustration for Example

FIGURE 5-23. A precise level with parallel plate micrometer 5-1.
enables vertical displacement to be measured to 0.1 mm. An
accuracy of + or - 0.2 mm in 1 km of leveling (;0.001 ft/ml) can
be obtained. (Courtesy of The Lietz Company.)

VERTICAL CONTROL (BENCHMARK)

SURVEYS
PROFILE LEVELING
• Profile leveling is one of the most common
applications of running levels and vertical distance
measurement for the surveyor.
– The results are plotted in the form of a profile, which is a
drawing that shows a vertical section or “side view” of
the earth’s surface.
– Profiles are required for the design and construction of
roads, curbs, sidewalks, storm drainage systems, water
supply or sewer pipelines, and many other types of public
Table 5-2. Adjusting (Closing) a Line of Benchmark Elevations
infrastructure.

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PROFILE LEVELING PROFILE LEVELING

• Field Procedure
• Plotting the Profile
• Cross-Section Leveling

FIGURE 5-25. Profile leveling; several rod shots are taken from each instrument position.

PROFILE LEVELING PROFILE LEVELING

FIGURE 5-27. (a) Top view showing the

route centerline and the line for cross-
section leveling at station 1 + 50. (b)
The cross section, showing ground
elevations at points left and right of
the centerline.

FIGURE 5-26. Example of profile-leveling field notes.

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PROFILE LEVELING Example

• Below are rod readings in the order in which they were taken. The elevation of
the starting benchmark is listed at the top of the column. The last reading is
taken on the starting benchmark. Put into proper field note form, include
arithmetic check. If the B.S. & F.S. distances are 150 feet, what is the order of
accuracy? Balance the bench run error

FIGURE 5-28. Cross-section field

notes.

Example
• Reduce and plot at a scale of 1”=200’ horizontal and 1”=20’
vertical, the following set of profile notes.