3.

VERTICAL DISTANCE
MEASUREMENTS
 Levelling : Process of determining the difference in elevation between two or more
points.

  Levelling Equipment:
 Types of Levelling Instruments

 Hand Level
 Dumpy Level
Automatic Level
 Terminologies and Levelling Concepts

 Bench mark – a point of known elevation from the datum line (usually, from the
sea level)

 Elevation or Reduced Level – the vertical distance above or below the datum line

 Vertical line (plumb line or line of gravity) – line from the surface of the earth to
the center of the earth

 Horizontal line – a straight line perpendicular to the vertical line

 Level line – line parallel to the level surface and perpendicular to the vertical line
(curved line)

 Level surface – surface parallel to the mean surface of the earth (curved surface)
 Backsight – a sight taken to a point of known elevation.

 Foresight – a sight taken to a point of which the elevation is to be determined.

 Intermediate Sight - The staff reading taken in between the fore sight and back sight is called intermediate sight.

 Change point – This point indicates the shifting of instrument. At this point point on which both the back sight

and foresight rod readings were taken.

 Datum line – the reference line of which elevations are measured (usually, the mean sea level).

 Stationing – a numerical designation given in terms of horizontal distance from the reference point to a specific

point.

 Height of Instrument: When the levelling instrument is properly levelled, the R.L of line of collimation is

known as height of instrument. This is obtained by adding back sight reading to the R.L of bench mark or Turning

point on which the staff reading was taken.

 Differential Levelling (Spirit Levelling)
Progresses from known to unknown
 Profile levelling (Series Levelling)
 Used when the elevation of intermediate points is required
CHECK:
Rise and Fall Method
Final Elevation – Initial Elevation = Sum of Back sight – Sum of Fore sight = Sum of Rise – Sum of Fall

Height of Collimation Method:

Final Elevation – Initial Elevation = Sum of Back sight – Sum of Fore sight