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Report Levelling (1020) Nurul Amierah

Diploma in civil engineering (Politeknik Ungku Omar)

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CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

POLITEKNIK UNGKU OMAR
SESSION : 2 2021/2022
DCC20063 ENGINEERING SURVEY

TITLE: FIELD WORK 1 – LEVELLING

STUDENT’S NAME: NURUL AMIERAH BINTI MOHD FUAIAD
MATRIC NUMBER: 01DKA21F1020
CLASS: DKA2A

LECTURER’S NAME: PUAN NORIAH BINTI JOHAN

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CONTENT

BIL. ITEM PAGE

1. Introduction 3
2. Objective 3
3. Equipment 4-8
4. Field Work Procedure 9
5. Data collection 10 - 11
6. Analysis & Data Calculation 10 - 11
7. Comment & Conclusion 12 - 14
8. References 15

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INTRODUCTION

Levelling is a method of determining the height or low of a point on the surface of the earth.
The real purpose of a level survey is to determine the difference in height between two points.
The difference in height between A and B is the difference between rod readings or ‘staff’. It
is used in engineering to design highways, railways, canals, culverts, to lay out construction
projects according to planned elevations and to calculate volume of earthworks and other
materials. In addition to producing a contour map to give a true picture of the ground surface
in the area.
Levelling operations is a level reading can be taken either from one location (one-set-up
levelling) or from various stations, if some points of interest are not visible. A level survey
can be used for setting-out purposes, the presentation of soil profiles. The term in surveying
is 'datum' which means a point or line or reference surface to determine the height of a point
on the surface. most countries use the Mean Sea Level (MSL) as the datum surface
Basic definition of backsight (BS) is the first ‘staff” reading taken immediately after setting
up the instrument
Foresight (FS) is the last staff reading taken before moving the instrument to another
location.
Intermediate sight (IS) is the staff measurement taken after the backsight and before the
foresight. For the example details such as trees, lamppost, and others.
So if the instrument is set up at one location only, there will be just one BS (first reading to a
TBM). One FS (last reading) and several IS.

OBJECTIVE

1. To determine the elevation of given point with respect to some assumed reference line
2. To compile and analyse land-related and geographically connected data
3. To use such data, in the planning and management of land, sea and any constructions
that exist there.
4. Know to adjust and check the levelling data

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LEVELLING EQUIPMENT

Levels
1. Automatic Level
 It is widely used in surveying and construction to measure height differences and to
transfer, measure, and set heights of known objects or marks. It is usually used by
contractors, builders, land surveying professionals, or the engineer who demands
accurate levelling every time. Auto Levels are simple to use, and save time and money
on every job.

Eyepiece
 It is located at the viewing end of the telescope, it can be turned to bring the crosshairs
into focus.
Focusing Knob
 It can be turned to make objects appear crisp and clear.
Alidade / Telescope
 Holds lenses that magnify objects in the sight.
Objective Lens
 It catches the object being sighted and magnifies the object.
Base Plate
 Is the area that the automatic level attaches to on the tripod.

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Leveling Screws
 Allow adjustments to be made to ensure the instrument is level.
Circular Level
 Mounted on the automatic level, this ensures that the instrument is at a true level
point.

2. Total Station
 Is a piece of surveying equipment that is used to measure horizontal and vertical
angles, as well as the slope distance between an item and the instrument. It's a hybrid
of an electronic theodolite and an EDM (electromagnetic distance measurement)
device.

3. Dumpy Level
 It used to establish or check points in the same horizontal plane. These are the most
basic level that are frequently used in construction work. The telescope is rigidly
attached to a single bubble and the assembly is adjusted either by means of a screwed
ball-joint or by footscrews which are adjusted first in one direction, then at 90°.

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4. Tilting Level
 This type of level is fitted with a circular bubble for preliminary approximate
levelling and a main bubble which is attached to the telescope. For each observation
(not setup) the main bubble is viewed through an eyepiece and the telescope tilted by
a fine screw to bring the two ends of the bubble into coincidence.

5. Levelling Staff
 Is a graduated wooden or aluminium rod, used with a levelling instrument to
determine the difference in height between points or heights of points above a vertical
datum.

6. Staff Bubbles

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 These are often a small round bubble on an angle plate that is pressed on one corner
of the staff to keep it in an upright position. The reading will be overly big and may be
severely off if the staff is not maintained vertical.

7. Tripod
 Tripod is a three-legged stand. Adjustable leg-tripods are the more common of the two
in the construction work especially outdoors because of generally uneven terrain. It is
easier to set up on uneven ground because each leg can be adjusted to exactly the
height needed to find level. It is usually made up of aluminium. The tripod is also
easy to transport due to having retractable legs.

8. Optical Plummet
 Used in a total station is used for accurate centering over a station. It has either a
bullseye or cross hair sight for positioning the instrument over a survey marker or
ground control point.

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9. Ground Plate
 Used to stabilize staff.

10. Plumb Bob

 Plumb bob or plummet is a weight usually with a pointed tip on the bottom, that is
suspended from a string and used as a vertical reference line.

11. External Workbook

 Record readings and make level calculations barrel. Bookkeeping and counting can be
done by two methods, namely the method fluctuation or height of the collimation line
(HOC).

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Field Work Procedure

1. The level tool is erected and completed in a comfortable position at Level position 1 and
BS is 2.554 taken on BM. The staff site is on BM and the staff is held upright.

2. The staff is moved to points A and B. The readings at both positions are taken which is
1.786 and 0.927. Points A and B are IS.

3. The staff is moved to points C and D. Point C is IS with a reading of 1.983. While point D
is calculated as FS with a reading of 3.589.

4. While the staff is at D, the tool is moved to the Level position 2. The reading is made from
the new position to staff D. The BS reading is 1.305.

5. Staff are moved to points E and F. Staff E is IS with a reading of 1.422, while F is FS with
a reading of 0.571.

6. When the staff is at F, the tool is moved to another position which is Level position 3. The
reading is made from the new position to staff F. The BS reading is 3.250.

7. Staff is moved to points G and H, point G is IS with a reading of 1.925. FS is the point H
with a reading of 0.462. H becomes another moving point.

8. Finally the adjustable instrument is moved to Level position 4, BS = 3.015 is observed at H

and FS = 0.780 is observed at J.

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DATA COLLECTION ( RISE AND FALL METHOD )

BACK INTERMEDIATE FORE RISE FALL REDUCED REMARKS

SIGHT SIGHT (IS) SIGHT LEVEL (RL)
(BS) (FS)
2.554 50 RL
1.786 2.554 – 1.786 50 + 0.768 A
0.768 50.768
0.927 1.786 – 0.927 50.768 + 0.859 B
0.859 51.627
1.983 0.927 – 1.983 51.627 – 1.056 C
1.056 50.571
1.305 3.589 1.983 – 3.589 50.571 – 1.606 D
1.606 48.965
1.422 1.305 – 1.422 48.965 – 0.117 E
0.117 48.848
3.250 0.571 1.422 – 0.571 48.848 + 0.851 F
0.851 49.699
1.925 3.250 – 1.925 49.699 + 1.325 G
1.325 51.024
3.015 0.462 1.925 – 0.462 51.024 + 1.463 H
1.463 52.487
0.780 3.015 – 0.780 52.487 + 2.235 J
2.235 54.722

10.124 5.402 7.501 2.779

4.722 4.722 4.722

ARITHMETIC CHECK

Σ (BS) - Σ (FS) = Σ (Rise) - Σ (Fall) = Last RL – First RL

10.124 – 5.402 = 7.501 – 2.779 = 54.722 – 50
4.722 = 4.722 = 4.722

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DATA COLLECTION ( HEIGHT OF COLLIMATION METHOD )

BACK SIGHT INTERMEDIATE FORE H.O.C REDUCED REMARKS
(BS) SIGHT (IS) SIGHT LEVEL (RL)
(FS)
2.554 50 + 2.554 50 RL
52.554
1.786 - 52.554 – 1.786 A
50.768
0.927 - 52.554 – 0.927 B
51.627
1.983 - 52.554 – 1.983 C
50.571
1.305 3.589 48.965 + 1.305 52.554 – 3.589 D
50.27 48.965
1.422 - 50.27 – 1.422 E
48.848
3.250 0.571 49.699 + 3.250 50.27 – 0.571 F
52.949 49.699
1.925 - 52.949 – 1.925 G
51.024
3.015 0.462 52.487 + 3.015 52.949 – 0.462 H
55.502 52.487
0.780 - 55.502 – 0.780 J
54.722

10.124 5.402
4.722 4.722

ARITHMETIC CHECK
Σ (BS) - Σ (FS) = Last RL – First RL
10.124 – 5.402 = 54.722 – 50
4.722 = 4.722

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DISCUSSION

5 main sources of Error in levelling is firstly, Instrumental Errors it is the error that arises
on account of the defects or certain problems associated with the instruments that are used for
levelling. There are many type of instrumental error one of them is imperfect adjustment of
level. The temporary adjustment of the instrument is done such that the line of collimation is
horizontal. When the collimation is properly adjusted, the line of collimation is absolutely
parallel to the instrument's bubble axis and becomes completely hoizontal when the bubble is
centred. On the other hand, when the instrument is not adjusted properly, the line of
collimation is inclined even though the bubble is centred. Thus, errors may be encountered.
Other type is, error due to sluggish bubble. It tends remains central though the bubble axis is
not horizontal. The over-sensitive tube may also pose significant difficulty in levelling the
instrument. And if it is too sensitive, it will take a long time to level the instrument. As a
result, the level tube that comes with the level should only have the needed sensitivity.
Other than that, rod not of standard length also instrumental error. The errors may be
encountered when the levelling staff is incorrectly graduated. The graduations of the new
staff must be checked utilizing an invar tape to ensure that the graduations are correct. The
new staff's graduations must be double-checked using an invar tape to confirm that they are
correct.
Moreover, error due to defective tripod. When a shaky tripod is used, the instrument
becomes unstable, and the measurements collected may contain a variety of mistake,
including an increase in inaccurate readings.
Secondly, errors due to Natural causes which is curvature and refraction. The effect of
the earth's curvature is to make objects look lower than they are, whereas the impact of
refraction is to make them appear higher than they are. The error due to curvature and
refraction does not need to be considered in regular levelling because it is extremely minor
and hence inconsequential. Curvature and refraction corrections must be made to long sights.
Therefore, variations in temperatures. Expansion of the bubble due to temperature, shifting
of bubble to heated end. For the example on hot sunny days, during the mid-day hours, the
staff appears trembling near the ground and taking the correct reading becomes impossible.
The work should therefore be suspended during hot hours. If this is not possible, the line of
sight should be kept as much above the ground as possible and the length of sight kept short.
Also ray-shade should be used if the Sun shines on the object-glass.
Other than that, type of natural errors is wind vibrations. Because of the shaking of the
instrument, performing correct work in a windstorm is challenging. If levelling must be done
in the wind, appropriate shade should be provided for the instrument, and greater readings
should be avoided owing to the difficulty in keeping the staff vertical.

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Thirdly, main sources of errors levelling is error of collimation. Collimation error, or simply
collimation error, is a frequent sort of reciprocal levelling mistake. When the instrument is
level, the collimation axis is not actually horizontal, resulting in this sort of inaccuracy. The
collimation axis is slanted in relation to the horizontal by a specific amount. By balancing the
back sight and foresight, the collimation error may be minimised.
Forthly, errors due to settlement of level and staff. When levelling has to be done on soft
ground, the levelling is more likely to settle. When the instrument is set up on soft ground, it
is possible that the level will settle while the back sight and foresight readings are collected.
As a result of this settlement, the fore sight-reading area is much smaller than it has to be. To
avoid this type of mistake, the level must always be set up on somewhat firm and hard
ground, with the tripod legs firmly pushed into the ground. Next is settlement of staff.
Settlement of the staff, like that of the level, can occur in the soft grounds, particularly at the
changing point. However, the backsight will be bigger than it must be in this case. Avoiding
soft ground as a change point or driving steel four-plate pegs that can act as temporary
change points will help to avoid this sort of mistake.
Lastly, errors of manipulation. The type of errors in manipulation is improper levelling of
the instrument. Certain faults might occur as a result of the instrument being levelled
incorrectly or carelessly. To avoid such mistakes, proper precautions must be followed. Aside
from that, there was no centralization of the bubble during the reading. While taking the
reading, if the bubble is not in the centre, mistakes may occur. It is one of the most common
types of levelling errors. To avoid this, the position of the bubble must be double-checked
each time the reading is taken. The levelling screw must always be used to bring the bubble
to the centre of its run.

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CONCLUSION

Throughout this report, I appreciate this opportunity to learn about the levelling procedure.
Also from this work, I understood about the tools used in leveling. For the example,
automatic level, dumpy level, tripod, leveling staff and others. In addition, I learned how to
calulate the reduce level by using rise and fall method and height of collimation. In this
leveling work, we should more careful in the leveling process to avoid errors like making
sure the instrument is always inhorizontal level by checking the bubble, also we should
double check the reading taken to avoid errors. It is very nice for me to understand the scope
of work of a site surveyor.

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REFERENCES

https://ilmugeografi.com/ilmu-bumi/tanah/alat-ukur-tanah
https://surveyforbeginners.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/automatic-level/
https://www.whycos.org/fck_editor/upload/File/Pacific-
HYCOS/Surface_Waters/Levelling_and_surveying.pdf
https://dreamcivil.com/errors-in-levelling/

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