CE29002

LEVELLING

Reference Books:
1. Surveying and Levelling by NN Basak
2. Surveying (Vol 1) by SK Duggal
3. Surveying (Vol 2) by SK Duggal

Objective: The objective of levelling is to find the elevation of a given point with
respect to an assumed reference point called datum.
 Terms used in levelling
Level Surface: A level surface is defined as a curved surface which at each point is perpendicular to the direction of gravity
at that point. The surface of a still water is a truly level surface. Any surface parallel to the mean spheroidal surface of the
earth is a level surface.

Datum: It is an arbitrary level surface from which elevation of points may be referred. In India mean sea level is considered
as datum of zero elevation. It is located at Karachi. Mean Sea Level is the average height of sea for all stages of tides. It is
derived by averaging the hourly tide height over a period of 19 years.

Elevation or Reduced level: It is height or depth of any point above or below any datum. It is denoted as EL or RL.

Bench Mark (BM): It is a fixed reference point of known elevation with respect to a datum. There are 4 kinds of bench marks-
GTS (Great trigonometrically survey bench mark), Permanent bench mark, Arbitrary bench mark and Temporary bench mark.
GTS Bench Marks are the bench marks established with very high degree of precision at regular intervals by the survey of
India Department all over the country. Their position and RLs values above mean seal level which was earlier located at
Karachi and now it is taken at Bombay High, Mumbai and is given in a catalogue formed by the department.
Permanent Bench Marks are fixed in between GTS benchmarks by govt. agencies such as railways, PWD, etc.
These benchmarks are written on permanent objects such as milestones, culverts, bridges etc their value are clearly
written and their position are recorded for future reference.

Line of collimation: It is a line joining the intersection of cross hairs of diaphragm to the optical centre of object glass and
its continuation. It is also known as line of sight.
 Terms used in levelling
Height of instrument: It is the elevation of line of collimation with respect to a datum.

Back sight (BS): It is a staff reading taken at a known elevation. It is the first staff reading taken after setup of instrument.

Fore sight ( FS): It is the last staff reading taken denoting the shifting of the instrument.

Intermediate sight(IS): It is staff reading taken on a point whose elevation is to be determined.

All staff reading between BS and FS are Intermediate sight.

Change Point or Turning Point (TP): It is a point on which both fore and back sight are taken.

Station or Chainage (Sta or Ch): It is the location where the measurement is taken. It is not the location of the instrument.

Differential Levelling: This method is used to find the difference in the elevation between points if they are too far apart
or the difference in elevation between them is too much.

Fly Levelling: Fly levelling is just like differential levelling carried out to check the accuracy of levelling work.
In fly levelling only B.S. and F.S. are taken
Two of the permanent Bench Marks within IIT Kharagpur
 Instruments for levelling
The levelling Staff (4m metric telescopic type): The purpose of a levelling staff is to determine the amount by
which a station is above or below the line of sight. Such a staff is arranged in three lengths placed one into the other.
It can be extended to its full length by pulling. The top portion is solid and the central box is hollow the total length
of staff is 4 m. The staff is graduated in such a way that smallest division is of 5 mm. The value in m are marked in
red on the left and those in decimetre are in black on the right.

Metric Tape: Graduated tape to measure the distances between the stations.

The levelling instrument: The instrument used to furnish horizontal line of sight for observing staff
readings and determining RLs.
Types of levelling instrument: Dumpy level, Tilting level, Wye level, Automatic level
Dumpy level: The Dumpy level is a simple, compact and stable instrument.
The telescope is rigidly fixed to its supports. Hence it cannot be rotated about horizontal axis.
Tilting Level: It is also known as I.O.P. level (Indian office Pattern).
In this level the telescope tilts about its horizontal axis hence it is called tilting level.
Wye level: The essential difference between wye level and other levels is that in wye level the
telescope is carried by two vertical wye supports. The telescope can be rotated, moved or even
raised in wyes.
Automatic level: It is also known as self aligning level. The fundamental difference between auto level
and other levels is that the levelling is not manually but it is levelled automatically. It is achieved
by inclination compensating device.
 Instruments for levelling
Tripod: Wooden or metallic stand with 3 legs to support the levelling instrument.

Pegs: Metallic rod or wooden stick to mark a Sta. or an instrument location.

 DUMPY LEVEL

Tribrach plate is parallel to the leveling head or trivet. It is

connected to trivet by leveling screws or foot screws which can
adjust the tribrach plate. The horizontal level of the instrument
can be achieved by adjusting this tribrach plate.
 Diaphragm is provided in front of the eye piece. It contains
cross hairs made of dark metal which are arranged in perfect
perpendicular positions. These cross hairs are used by the eye
piece to bisect the objective through objective lens.

CROSS HAIR

AUTOLEVEL
Tripod is used to support the whole leveling instrument on its
top. It consists three legs which can be adjustable to required
position. The legs are of same height and they may be solid or
hollow. Steel shoes are provided at the bottom of each leg to
hold the ground in a fixed position.
TELESCOPIC STAFF
LEVELLING OF THE LEVELLING INSTRUMENT ON TRIPOD
STEPS IN LEVELLING
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELLING
 BOOKING AND REDUCING LEVELS
Collimation or Height of Instrument Method:

Arithmetic Check:

SBS-SFS = Slast RL-Sfirst RL

 BOOKING AND REDUCING LEVELS
Rise and Fall Method:

Arithmetic Check:

SBS-SFS = SRise-SFall = Last RL – First RL

A profile survey is done along the centerline of a proposed road between Sta.
0+00 and Sta. 1+00. The RL of a nearby benchmark (Sta. A) is 105.615m. The
levelling instrument has been shifted twice during this surveying. Find below the
log book of the surveyor. (a) Complete the calculations and check for any error.
Assume the width of the road, including shoulder, etc., to be 10m. The grade of
the road is laid by joining the elevations (RLs) between Sta. 0+00 and Sta. 1+00
by a single straight line. (b) Plot the profile of the road to a scale showing the final
grade of the road and the excavation and the fill at different Sta. (c) Find the
volume of the excavation and the fill during the road construction, (d) What is the
slope of the proposed road. (30+20+40+10)
 
         
    Staff Reading (m)    
       
Sta. Distance(m) R.L(m) Remarks

B.S I.S F.S

A   3.005     105.615 B.M.

1 0+00   2.285      

2 0+10   1.560      

3 0+20   1.785      

4 0+30   2.105      

B 0+40 2.875   3.105   CP

5 0+50   3.465      

X 0+53.35   3.955      

6 0+60   3.120      

7 0+70   3.015      

8 0+80   2.580      

9 0+90   1.955      

C 1+00     1.465   CP