Engineering Surveying I

(CEng-2091)

Instructor: Mastewal Shumet (Ph.D. Candidate)

Lecturer, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering.
Addis Ababa Institute of Technology
Addis Ababa University
masteshumet@gmail.com
mastewal.shumet@aait.edu.et
mastewal.shumet@aau.edu.et

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 Chapter 3
Levelling

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 Outline

• Heights, datum, and benchmarks

• Levelling equipment
• Field procedure for levelling
• Calculating reduced levels
• Precision of levelling
• Sources of error in levelling
• Other levelling methods
• Engineering Application of Leveling

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Heights, datum, and benchmarks
A reference surface is a datum that provide a reference point
to the Earth's surface.
There are horizontal datum, that describe the position on the
Earth's surface and vertical datum that describe elevation.
Two main reference surfaces have been established to
approximate the shape of the Earth: one is called the Geoid,
the other the Ellipsoid.

4
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 Leveling
• Leveling is an operation in surveying
performed to determine the difference in levels
of two points.

• By this operation the height of a point from a

datum, known as elevation, is determined.

• The most commonly used datum is mean sea

level (MSL)
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 Application of Leveling
• Longitudinal sections
• Cross-sections of highways
• Railways
• Canals
• Sewer lines
• Pipelines
• Catchment area
• Volume of reservoir
• area of impoundment in dams
• Earth work quantities for various projects
• Contouring
• Setting out etc.
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4/4/2024 8
 Definitions of Terms
⚫Datum:- A datum is any reference surface to which the
elevation (vertical distance) of a points are referred. The most
commonly used datum is that of mean sea level (MSL).
⚫Elevation: - Elevation is the vertical distance of a points above
or below on assumed datum (level surface).
⚫Leveling:- The process or methods of determining the vertical
distance of a points relative to on assumed level surface.
⚫Level Line:- Is the surface of which it has a constant height
relative to mean sea level.
⚫Horizontal Line:- this is a line which is tangential to the level
line or a line which is normal to direction of gravitas

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 Definitions of Terms Cont’d
⚫Bench Mark (BM):- are permanent reference points or marks at
which their elevation (reduced level) has been accurately
determined by leveling from other permanent BM.
⚫ Reduced level (RL):- is the height above or below a reference
datum- similar to elevation.
⚫Temporary Bench Mark (TBM):- are marks let up on stable
points near construction sites which all leveling operation on that
particular site will be referred.
⚫Back Sight (BS):- is the staff reading taken on points of known
elevation as a BM or a turning points.
⚫Fore Sights (FS):- is the staff reading on points whose elevation
is to be determined as a turning points. It is the last staff reading
denoting the shifting of the instruments.
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 Definitions of Terms Cont’d
⚫Intermediate Sights (IS):- any other staff reading taken on
points at an unknown elevation from the same setup of the
level. All sights b/n BS & FS are IS.
⚫Turning Points (TP):- is a point denoting the shifting at the
level. It is the point on which the back and foresight are taken.
⚫Station:- is a point of which whose elevation is to be
determined.
⚫Height of Instruments (HI):- is the elevation of the plane of
collimation (plane of sight) where the instruments are correctly
leveled.

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 Equipment's used in Leveling
• Basically three equipment’s are needed.
– Level – to give the true horizontal line
– Staff – to read vertical height
– Tape – to measure height of instruments

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 Principle of Leveling

RLA + BS = HPC = Height of plane of collimation

⚫𝑅𝐿 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝐵 = (103.000 – 1.000) = 102.000 𝑚

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 Booking Methods
• There are two methods of booking in the field for
leveling.
– Rise & fall method.
– Height of Collimation/Height of Instrument Method.

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 Rise and Fall Methods (RF)
• The rise or fall of the ground between
successive rod stations is considered. For the
same instrument set up,

✓ If 2nd rod reading > first rod reading  fall

✓ If 2nd rod reading < first rod reading  rise
✓ Then RL of 2nd station = RL of first station - fall or
RL of first station + rise

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 Rise and Fall Methods (RF)
Staff Position BS IS FS Rise Fall RL Remark

C 1.5 100 T. B. M.

D 2.5 1 99

E 2 0.5 2 101 C. P.

F 2.5 0.5 100.5

G 3.0 0.5 100

Sum 3.5 3.5 2 2

Arithmetic check !!!

BS − FS = Rise− Fall = Last RL−First RL

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 Height of Instrument Method (HI)
Staff Position BS IS FS HPC RL Remark

C 1.5 101.5 100 T. B. M.

D 2.5 99

E 2 0.5 103 101 C. P.

F 2.5 100.5
G 3.0 100
Sum 3.5 3.5

RL of a point = HI - FS = ( RLBM +BS) - FS

(BS) - (FS) = Last RL – First RL

The complete check for HI method

4/4/2024
RL less the first + IS + FS = (HI * no of applications) 17
 Error in Leveling
The errors in leveling might occur due to
• Instrumental Error : Collimation (when the line
of sight is not truly horizontal), Defect of staff,
Tripod defects

• Field Error: staff not vertical, Handling the

instruments and tripod

• Effect of Earth Curvature and Refraction of

Light : natural phenomenon

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 Instrumental Error
Collimation error: The error occurs if the line of
the sight is not truly horizontal when the tubular
bubble is centered
i.e. the line of sight is inclined up or down from the
horizontal. e
a1
Horizontal line

Collimation error
a1 b1
d1.e d2.e
e e

d1 d2
A B
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 Error in Curvature and Refraction

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 Error in Curvature and Refraction
• In which the instrument heights are ignored and the earth
is assumed to be spherical with a radius of R:

R=6370 km
𝐶 = 0.0785𝐷2

where C in meter
D in km

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 Error in Curvature and Refraction
• e com= - 0.0673D2 m where d is distance in km

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 Example on Earth Curvature, Atmospheric
refraction and Collimation error.
Reciprocal leveling between two points Y and Z
730 m apart on opposite sides of a river gave the
following results:
Instrument Height of Staff at Staff Reading,
station Instrument (m) m
Y 1.463 Z 1.688
Z 1.436 Y 0.991

Determine the elevation difference between Y and

Z and the amount of any collimation error.

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 Solution
h− 𝑟 = 0.0673𝐷2 𝑚

With instrument at Y, Z is lower by (1.688 - 1.463) = 0.225 m

With instrument at Z, Z is lower by (1.436 - 0.991) = 0.445 m
0.225+0.445
True height of Z below 𝑌 = = 0.335𝑚
2

• Instrument height at Y = 1.463 m; knowing now that Z is lower

by 0.335 m, then a truly horizontal reading on Z should be
(1.463 + 0.335) = 1.798 m; it was, however, 1.688 m, i.e. - 0.11
m too low ( - ve indicates low). This error is due to curvature
and refraction (h-r) and collimation error of the instrument (e).

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 Soln. Cont’d
Thus: 𝒉 − 𝒓 + 𝒆 = −𝟎. 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝒎

Now 𝒉 − 𝒓 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟕𝟑(𝟎. 𝟕𝟑𝒌𝒎)𝟐 𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟔𝒎

𝑇h𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑒 = −0.110 − 0.036 = −0.146𝑚 𝑖𝑛 730 𝑚

Collimation error e = 0.020 m down in 110 m.

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 Exercise
• A and B are 2400 m apart. Observations with a level gave:
A, height of instrument 1.372 m, reading at B 3.359 m B,
height of instrument 1.402 m, reading at A 0.219 m
• Calculate the difference of level and the error of the
instrument, if refraction correction is one seventh that of
curvature

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 Reciprocal Leveling
• By averaging the two readings we can eliminate
combined error of collimation, curvature and
refraction.

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 Trigonometric Leveling
• Trigonometric leveling is a process of determining
the differences of elevations of stations from
observed vertical angles and known distances.
𝑅. 𝐿. 𝑜𝑓 𝑄 = 𝑅. 𝐿. 𝑜𝑓 𝐵. 𝑀. + 𝑆 + 𝐷 ∗ 𝑡𝑎𝑛

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 Engineering Application of Leveling

• Before engineers can properly design linear

facilities such as highways, railroads, transmission
lines, aqueducts, canals, sewers, and water mains,
they need accurate information about the
topography along the proposed routes.
• Profile leveling
• Cross-sectional leveling

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 Application of Profile Leveling

• To decide the most suitable and economic levels

and gradients to which the ground should be
worked.
• To supply details along the section of the amount of
cut/fill.
• To record places where the formation level
intersects the ground level.

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Profile leveling

Chainage (m) BS IS FS HI RL Remark

TBM 1.980 1801.980 1800

0+000 2.754 1799.226 1799.226
0+020 1.50 1800.48
0+040 2.875 0.175 1804.680 1801.805
0+060 3.29 1801.390
0+080 2.10 1802.580
0+100 0.98 1803.700
0+120 2.098 0.188 1806.590 1804.492 TP-2
0+140 2.87 1803.720
0+160 0.094 1.53 1805.154 1805.060 TP-3
0+180 1.50 1803.654
0+200 1.20 1803.954
0+220 1.25 1803.904
0+240 1.00 1804.154
2019
4/4/2024
11/14/ 7.047 17.444By M astewal S. 46
31
Cross-sectional Leveling

Station Distance (m) BS IS FS HI RL Remark

L C R
BM 1.325 1800 BM

Cross-section at 0+000
C 0 2.099 1799.226
L1 3 1.865 1799.46
L2 6 1.905 1799.42
L3 9 2.120 1799.205
R1 3 2.825 1798.50
R2 6 1.705 1799.62
R3 9 1799.645
C 0 2.08 0.845 1802.56 1800.48
L1 3 1.265 1801.295
L2 6 1.365 1801.195

Cross-section at
L3 9 0.725 1801.835

0+020
R1 3 2.125 1800.435
R2 6By M astewal S. 1.925 1800.635 47
4/4/2024
11/14/2019
R3 9 2.250 1800.31 32
Example
• The following profile level note was taken during the laying out of
a sewer line. Reduce the levels by the HI method. If the sewer is
to have a downward gradient of 1:200 from A to B, and is to be
1.277m below A, compute the depth of excavation at each point.
Distance, BS IS FS Remark
m
3.417 BM 98.002m AD

0 1.390 1.774 Point A

20 1.152
40 3.551 1.116
60 0.732 1.088
80 2.384 3.295
100 1.801
120 1.991
140 1.936 2.637
160 1.161 Point B
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 Solution (HI-Method)
Distance, m BS IS FS HI RL Remark

3.417 101.419 98.002 BM 98.002m AD

0 1.390 1.774 101.035 99.645 C.P (A)

20 1.152 99.883
40 3.551 1.116 103.470 99.919 C.P
60 0.732 1.088 103.114 102.382 C.P
80 2.384 3.295 102.203 99.819 C.P
100 1.801 100.402
120 1.991 100.212
140 1.936 2.637 101.502 99.566 C.P (B)
160 1.161 100.341

(BS) - (FS) = Last RL – First RL=2.339 --- > ok

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 Computation for the depth of excavation at
each point
Distance,
BS IS FS HI RL Design depth of
m
level Cut/Fill
0 (A) 1.390 1.774 101.035 99.645 98.368 1.277
20 1.152 99.883 98.268 1.615
40 3.551 1.116 103.470 99.919 98.168 1.751
60 0.732 1.088 103.114 102.382 98.068 4.314
80 2.384 3.295 102.203 99.819 97.968 1.851
100 1.801 100.402 97.868 2.534
120 1.991 100.212 97.768 2.444
140 1.936 2.637 101.502 99.566 97.668 1.898
160 (B) 1.161 100.341 97.568 2.773
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 Example : Determine the amount of earthwork volume between
points A and B assuming that the sections between successive
points are trapezoidal. Take the trench width to be 1m.
Distance
BS IS FS HI RL Depth of Volume m3
(meter) Cut/Fill
0 1.390 1.774 101.035 99.645 1.277
20 1.152 99.883 1.615 28.92
40 3.551 1.116 103.470 99.919 1.751 33.66
60 0.732 1.088 103.114 102.382 4.314 60.65
80 2.384 3.295 102.203 99.819 1.851 61.65
100 1.801 100.402 2.534 43.85
120 1.991 100.212 2.444 49.78
140 1.936 2.637 101.502 99.566 1.898 43.42
1.161 100.341 2.773 46.71
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 368.64𝑚3
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• Exercise: - If the trench is to be excavated from peg A commencing
at formation level of 26.5m and falling to peg I at a grade of 1 in
200, calculate the height of the sight rails at A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
and I if a 3-m boning rod is to be used.
Station BS IS FS HI RL Remarks Distance
A 2.10 TBM 28.75m AD 0+00
B 2.85 1+00
C 1.80 3.51 2+00
D 1.58 3+00
E 2.24 4+00
F 1.68 2.94 5+00
G 2.27 6+00
H 3.06 7+00
I 3.81 8+00

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 Thank You !!!

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