Levelling & Contouring

CE-121 Elementary Surveying

Presented By:
Lecturer: Nouman Khadim Warraich
MS-Construction Engineering and Management (NUST)
 EXAMPLE:

HI HI
128.7 HI 127.74
BR FR HI
4.60 BR FR 6.13 127.35 5.97 7.43
IR FR 122.99
BR FR
4.78 BR 2.68 6.39
5.62 5.58

BM
P E
124.10 A B
122.57 120.31 M
121.73 121.77
116.60

BR= Back Reading IR= Intermediate Reading

FR= Forward Reading BM= Bench Mark
HI= Height of Instrument
LEVELLING BOOKING FORM
Station Distance Readings Collimation Reduced Remarks
Level
Back Inter Fore
sight sight sight

1 4.60 128.7 124.10 BM

P 4.78 6.13 127.35 122.57 C.P

A 5.62 127.35 121.73

B 5.97 5.58 127.74 121.77 C.P

E 2.68 7.43 122.99 120.31 C.P

M 6.39 122.99 116.61

Arithmetical 18.03 25.53

Check -7.5 -7.5
 Uses of Contours:-
• By Inspection of a contour map, information regarding the general
character of the tract of the country is obtained, whether it is flat,
undulating or mountainous, etc.
• The most economical or suitable site for engineering works such as a
reservoir, canal, sewer, road, or railway may be approximately
selected.
• Quantities of earthwork may be computed from the contour maps.
• Contours may be used to determine the area of the drainage basin
and the capacity of the reservoir.
• The sections may be easily drawn in any direction from the contours.
• Inter visibility of two given points can be ascertained from the map.
• A route of a given grade line can be traced on the map.
• To decide the best positions of guns, the line of march and camping
grounds by the army commanders during wars.
LEC # 5 CONTOURING
 Leveling example

By The Collimation system

Station Chainage B.S I.S F.S H.I R.L Remarks
1 165 3.150 101.235 98.085 BM
2 180 2.245 98.990
3 195 1.125 100.110
4 210 3.125 0.860 103.500 100.375 CP
5 225 2.760 100.740
6 240 1.835 101.665
7 255 1.470 102.030
8 270 1.225 1.965 102.760 101.535 CP
9 285 2.390 100.370
10 300 3.035 99.725
Arithmetic check (sum BR-Sum FR=Last RL-1st RL)
 Leveling example

By Rise and Fall System

Station Distance B.S I.S F.S Rise (+) Fall(-ive) RL Remarks
1 165 3.150 98.085 BM
2 180 2.245 0.905 98.990
3 195 1.125 1.120 100.110
4 210 3.125 0.860 0.265 100.375 CP
5 225 2.760 0.365 100.740
6 240 1.835 0.925 101.665
7 255 1.470 0.365 102.030
8 270 1.225 1.965 0.495 101.535 CP
9 285 2.390 1.165 100.370
10 300 3.035 0.645 99.725
Asthmatic check (sum BR-Sum FR=Last RL-1st RL=Sum of Rise-Sum of Fall)
 Methods of contouring:
Direct Method:
• In this method, contours to be plotted are actually traced out in
the field.
• This method is comparatively slow and is generally not adopted
on large surveys unless a superior accuracy is demanded.
• It is suitable for contouring of small areas where better accuracy
is required.
• The whole field work may be divided into two steps:

a) Vertical Control
b) Horizontal Control
LEC # 5 CONTOURING
 1.52 501.52
0.52 0.52 1.52 2.52

A B
501 501
C
B.M 500
R.L 500 D
499

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 Contour Lines:

500 m

501 m

501 m

599 m
500 m
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 Indirect Methods:
• Indirect method of contouring is commonly employed
in small scale surveys of extensive areas.
• This method is cheaper, quicker and less tedious as
compared with direct method of contouring.
• Indirect method of contouring can be employed in
different ways:
a) By Squares Method
b) By Cross Sections Method
c) By Radial Lines Method
LEC # 5 CONTOURING
By Square Method:
• This method is suitable if the area is not very extensive.
• In this method the area is divided into a series of squares, and the
corners of the squares are marked with pegs. The size of the squares
varies from 5m to 20m side, depending upon the nature of the
ground and the contour interval.
• The size of the squares need not to be the same throughout.
• Each separate square is pegged out. The elevations of the ground at
the corners of the squares are determined with a level.
• The system of the square is plotted and near each corner is written
its elevation. The contour lines are then interpolated in the usual
way.
 By Square Method:

10 11 20 30 43 50 16

15 50
20 12 33 28 55 38 16

30
25 30 63 60 22 30
32

30 52 50 45 30 18 38

57 45 34 33 30 29 13

52 32 40 50 40 35 20
40 35 20

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By Cross Section Method:
• This method is most commonly used in a route surveys of a road,
railway or canal alignment.
• Cross-sections are run transverse to the center line of a road, railway,
or canal, and the points of change in slope are located.
• The cross-section line may be inclined at an angle to the center line if
necessary. The spacing of the cross-sections depends upon the
character of the ground. It is usually 20m in a hilly country, and
100m in a flat country.
• The reduced levels of the various points along the section lines are
plotted on the plan and the contours are then interpolated.

LEC # 5 CONTOURING
 By Section Method:
B
52 53 54 54 54 53 52
6 3 0 8 4 6 8

52 52 53 54 53 52 52
0 8 7 2 7 9 3

51 52 53 53 53 52
6 2 0 7 0 3 51
0

51 51 52 52 52 51 51
0 8 3 8 5 8 2

50 51 51 52 52 51 50
7 2 8 3 0 2 6

50 50 51 51 51 50 50
1 6 0 5 1 7 2

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 By Tachometric Method:
• This method is particularly suitable when a contoured map of a
hill is required.
• A number of lines are set out, radiating at a given angular
interval from each of the traverse stations, and the
representative points on these lines are located in the field by
observing,
• The horizontal distances, and
• the staff readings of the bottom, middle, and top wire.
• The elevations and the distances of these points are then
calculated. The survey is plotted and the contour lines are then
interpolated.
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 By Tachometric / Radiation Method:

0
82
0
83
0
86
0 84 832 B
0
85 816
836
826
816
840 815
846 828
853

A 835
844 833 829
816
838 828
832
817

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COMPARISION:

S.NO DIRECT METHOD INDIRECT METHOD

1 The method is accurate but very Not very accurate but quicker.
slow & trouble some.

2 It is very expensive It is very cheap

3 For small projects where greater For larger project where

accuracy is require. greater accuracy is not
require.
4 It is unsuitable for hilly areas. It is suitable for all type of
areas.

5 Calculation is to be done in the Calculation is not done in the

field. field.
 Interpolation of Contours:-
By interpolation of contours meant the process of spacing the contours
proportionally between the plotted ground points. Contours may be
interpolated by
(i) By Estimation Calculation:- The positions of contour points between
ground points are estimated, and the contour lines are then drawn through
these points. This method is rough and is usually used on small-scale
maps.

(ii) By Arithmetical Calculation:- This method is used where great accuracy

is required.
(iii) By Graphical Method

In all these methods it is assumed that the slope of the ground between any
two#random
LEC points is
5 CONTOURING uniform.