Geodetic Engineering– 21CV32

EXPERIMENT 4
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELLING

Aim: Determination of reduced level of a point using differential leveling

Instruments required: Auto level, tripod stand and leveling staff

Theory: Differential leveling is a process of determining the reduced level of a point

with respect to a Bench Mark. This method is adopted if the elevation cannot be

determined from only one instrument station. Change points will have to be

considered for differential leveling to connect first point and last point

Procedure:

1. Suppose it is required to find the reduced level of point A, which is far away from a

reference Bench Mark.

2. Select a suitable instrument station to take a back sight reading on a bench mark,

using which height of the instrument is calculated.

Department of Civil Engineering, PESITM - Shivamogga Page 1

 Geodetic Engineering– 21CV32

3. Select any suitable point to consider fore sight, which acts as a change point. After

taking fore sight, the instrument has to be shifted to a new position.

4. The procedure is repeated till the point A is reached. Fore sight on Point A is taken

to complete the leveling operation.

5. The readings are tabulated in the standard format and the reduced level of point A
is calculated.

Observation:

Staff
BS IS FS HI RL Remarks
Station

Height of the Instrument = Reduced Level + Back Sight-Reading

Reduced Level of the Point = Height of the Instrument – Fore Sight Reading

Result:

Difference in elevation between two points = ........................................ m

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