Dr.

APJ AbDul KAlAm, IIIT-OngOle InsTITuTe

rguKT AP

surVeYIng

unIT-III :leVellIng
Lecture – 3.1 Introduction, Definitions
Kenchugundu Srikanth
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
International Institute of Information Technology, Ongole
Email: kgs@rguktong.ac.in
Introduction:
Ø Levelling is a method of surveying used for determination of the difference of elevations
(altitudes) or levels of various points on the surface of the earth
Ø The elevation of a point is its vertical distance above or below a reference level, called
datum.
Ø The most commonly used datum is the mean sea level (M.S.L.)
Ø The levelling deals with distances in a vertical plane
Applications:
Ø To prepare a contour map for fixing sites for reservoirs, dams, barrages, etc., and to fix the
alignment of roads, railways, irrigation canals, etc
Ø To determine the altitudes of different important points on a hill or to know the reduced
levels of different points on or below the surface of the earth
Ø To prepare a longitudinal section and cross-sections of a project (roads, railways,
irrigation canals, etc.) in order to determine the volume of earth work
Ø To prepare a layout map for water supply, sanitary or drainage schemes
Ø Levelling is required in almost all engineering work of importance in one form or the
other
Basic Definitions:
1. Level Surface:
Ø The level surface is a surface that is perpendicular to the direction of gravity at every point.
the level surface is a curved surface
Ex: The surface of still water in a lake is a level surface

2. Level Line:
Ø Any line lying on a level surface is called a level line
Ø This line is normal to the plumb line (direction of gravity) at all points
3. Mean Sea Level (MSL):

Ø The mean sea level at a location is obtained by averaging the height of the water surface of
the sea for all stages of the tides for a long period, usually 19 years
Ø The mean sea level is commonly taken as the reference level surface
4. Horizontal Plane:
Ø Any plane tangential to the level surface at any point is known as the horizontal plane
Ø It is perpendicular to the plumb line which indicates the direction of gravity

5. Horizontal Line:
Ø Any line lying on the horizontal plane is said to be a horizontal line
Ø It is a straight line tangential to the level line
6. Vertical Line:
Ø The direction indicated by a plumb line (the direction of gravity) is known as the
vertical line
Ø This line is perpendicular to the horizontal line

7. Vertical Plane:
Ø Any plane passing through the vertical line is known as the vertical plane

8. Vertical angle:
Ø The angle measured with respect to horizontal line in a vertical plane at that point

9. Datum Surface or Line:

Ø This is an imaginary level surface or level line from which the vertical distances of
different points (above or below this line) are measured.
10. Reduced Level (RL):
Ø The vertical distance of a point above or below the datum line is known as the reduced
level (RL) of that point
Ø The RL of a point may be positive or negative according as the point is above or below
the datum
Bench Mark (BM):
Ø The bench mark is a fixed point of known elevation above the datum
Ø Any point whose elevation is definitely known can be used as Bench mark
Ø These are established by important agencies in the form of metal discs, concrete blocks,
rocks etc.
Types of Bench Marks:
Ø Following types of bench marks are used and established depending upon the permanency
and precision
1. G.T.S. Bench marks ( Great Trigonometrical Survey)
2. Permanent Bench marks
3. Temporary Bench marks
4. Arbitrary Bench marks
1. G.T.S. Bench marks ( Great Trigonometrical Survey):
Ø These bench-marks are established by the Survey of India Department at large intervals all
over the country
Ø The elevations of the bench marks are correct to two decimal places of a metre.
Ø The levels of the G.T.S. bench marks are determined very accurately with respect to the
mean sea level at Bombay port
Ø Formerly, these referred to main sea level at Karachi(now in Pakistan).
2. Permanent Bench marks:
Ø These are fixed points or marks established by different Government departments like PWD,
Railways, Irrigation, etc.
Ø The RLs of these points are determined with reference to the GTS benchmark, and are kept
on permanent points like the plinth of a building, parapet of a bridge or culvert, and so on.
Sometimes they are kept on underground pillars
3. Temporary Bench marks:

Ø When the bench-marks are established temporarily at the end of a day’s work, they are said
to be temporary benchmarks
Ø They are generally made on the root of a tree, the parapet of a nearby culvert, a furlong post,
or on a similar place
4. Arbitrary Bench marks:
Ø When the RLs of some fixed points are assumed, they are termed arbitrary bench-marks
Ø These are adopted in small survey operations when only the undulation of the ground
surface is required to be determined
Instruments used for Levelling:
1. Level
a) Dumpy Level
The telescope of the dumpy level is rigidly fixed to its supports. It cannot be removed from
its supports, nor can it be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The instrument is stable and
retains its permanent adjustment for a long time. This instrument is commonly used
1. Level
b) Wye Level
The telescope is held in two ‘Y’ supports. It can be removed from the supports and
reversed from one end of the telescope to the other end. The ‘Y’ supports consist of two
curved clips which may be raised. Thus, the telescope can be rotated about its
longitudinal axis
1. Level
c) Tilting Level
The telescope can be tilted slightly about its horizontal axis with the help of a tilting
screw. In this instrument, the line of collimation is made horizontal for each observation by
means of the tilting screw
1. Level
d) Auto Level
This is also known as the self-aligning level. This instrument is levelled automatically
within a certain tilt range by means of a compensating device
2. Levelling Staff:

Ø A levelling staff is a graduated rod of rectangular cross-section. It is a giant size ruler used
for the measurement of vertical distances (elevations)
Ø The levelling staff is kept vertical at the point whose elevation is either known or is to be
determined, and the reading of the staff is taken from the levelling instrument. The levelling
staff is also known as the level rod
Ø The levelling staff is usually made of teak wood. The levelling staves of 3 m and 4 m
lengths are commonly used in practice. The levelling staves made of aluminum alloys are
also becoming popular.

Types of Levelling Staves

Based on the method of taking reading , the levelling staves are divided into two types:
1. Self- reading staff
2. Target Staff
1. Self- reading staff
The self-reading staves are commonly used in practice. The staffman holds the self-reading
staff at the point and the instrument man takes the reading of the staff. Thus the instrument man
himself reads the staff.
These are a) Solid Staff b) Foldable staff c) Telescopic staff
2. Target Staff
Ø In case of the target staff, the staffman holds the staff at the point. There is a target attached
to the staff which can be slided up or down.
Ø The instrumentman instructs the staffman to slide the target on the staff till the line of sight
bisects the target.
Ø When the position of the target is fixed and the target clamped, the staffman takes the
reading of the staff
Ø Ex: Philadelphia Rod