DIFFERENTIAL

LEVELING
DEF. OF TERMS
PROCEDURE OF DIFFERENTIAL
LEVELING
LEVELING NOTES
CHECKING LEVEL NOTES
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
 Is the process of determining the difference in elevation between two or more
points some distance apart.
 The basic equipment used include a graduated leveling rod and a leveling
instrument such as a dumpy level, automatic level, or an engineer’s transit.
 These are used to establish a horizontal line of sight and to measure the vertical
distance between the line of sight and the point on which the rod is held.
Definition of Terms
 Bench Mark
 Backsight
 Foresight
 Backsight Distance
 Foresight Distance
 Turning Point
 Height of Instrument
 TERMINA
STATION L
Bench Marks (BM)
 A fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known or assumed.
 They may be permanent or temporary.
 Should be easily recognized and located where is unlikely disturbed. Accurate
records should be kept for other surveyors to refer to and they also should be
thoroughly described in the field notes.
 They may need to be re-established if the positions and elevations were disturbed
by earth movements such as those caused by landslides, earthquakes, floods,
engineering constructions, and mining operations.
Permanent Bench Marks (PBM)
 Permanent benchmarks are
established at intervals throughout the
country by Philippine Coast and
Geodetic Surveys (PCGS) or the Bureau
of Lands. They serve as points of
reference for levels in a given locality
and their elevations are determined by
precise leveling methods.
 Consist of bronze or brass disks set in
concrete foundations and marked with
elevation above sea level, the year it was
established, and its reference number.
 TEMPORARY BENCH MARK (TBM)

 Set up by the surveyor for his own

use in a particular surveying project
and may have assumed elevations.
 Should be stable and semi-permanent
marks such as a wooden peg set in
concrete, a nail or spike driven into a
tree, an x-mark on a bridge abutment,
a notch cut out in the root of a tree,
or the top of a fire hydrant.
BACKSIGHT (BS)
 A reading taken on a rod held on a point of
known or assumed elevation.
 It is a measure of the vertical distance from
the established line of sight to the point
sighted, and is always the first rod reading
taken after the instrument has been set up and
leveled.
 Frequently referred to as plus sights (+S)
since they are added to the elevation of points
being sighted to determine the height of the
instrument.
FORESIGHT (FS)
 A reading taken on a rod held on a point whose
elevation is to be determined.
 It is represented as a vertical distance from the line of
sight of the instrument to the point observed.
 Referred as minus (-S) since foresight reading is
subtracted from the height of the instrument to
determine the elevation of point on which the rod is
held.
 Often taken forward or in the general direction in
which the leveling work proceeds.
 Usually the last reading taken before the leveling
instrument is moved to another location.
 BACKSIGHT DISTANCE (BSD)

 Is measured from the center of the

instrument to the rod on which a
backsight is taken.
 FORESIGHT DISTANCE (FSD)
 The horizontal distance from the
center of the instrument to the rod
on which a foresight is taken.
 Its length is usually made nearly
equal to its corresponding backsight
distance.
TURNING POINT (TP)
 Sometimes referred to as a change point (CP).
A turning point is an intervening point
between two bench marks upon which point
foresight and backsight rod readings are taken
to enable a leveling operation to continue from
a new instrument position.
 TP should be located on some stable object to
make it easy to reposition it back in the same
place as many times as necessary. A rock on
the ground, or a paint mark on a concrete
pavement is preferable.
 Usually numbered consecutively and not
necessary to be described in detail as they are
only used to carry forward a line of levels.
HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT (HI)
 Also called height of collimation, is
the elevation of the line of sight of
an instrument above or below a
selected reference datum.
 It is determined by adding the rod
reading on the backsight to the
elevation of the point on which the
sight is taken.
PROCEDURE OF
DIFFERENTIAL
LEVELING
 The leveling instrument is set up at any convenient location along the level route
and a backsight is taken on a leveling rod held vertically on BM a. The backsight
reading is added to the known or assumed elevation of the initial bench mark given
the height of instrument above datum or
HI = Elev BMa + BS
 Rodman moves forward along the direction of BM b and holds the rod at a
convenient (TP1). Instrument man takes foresight reading and subtract it from the
HI gives the elevation above datum of the TP or
Elev TP1 = HI – FS
 The level is transferred and set up at another convenient location beyond TP 1, but
still in general direction of BMb. The important thing to consider is that the level is
set up at a location where backsight and foresight rod readings can be made.
 A backsight is then taken on TP1 to establish a new (HI2). Rodman finally moves to
BMb and a foresight is taken on the rod held on it. Since the new HI has been
determined, the elevation of BMb is computed by subtracting the foresight reading
from the HI.
 If the terminal point (BMb) is still some distance away before it could be
foresighted, the procedure of reading a backsight, establishing TPs and foresight
reading is to be repeated. This is done as many times as necessary until the
elevation of BMb is finally obtained.
LEVELING NOTES
TYPICAL DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING NOTES
 The left-hand page is usually divided into columns for observed and computed data
 The right-hand page is reserved for sketches and descriptive notes or remarks
concerning bench marks and turning points which may be useful in subsequent
field operations.
 Standard column headings on the left-hand page: Station, backsight, height of
instrument, foresight and the elevation. Accepted abbreviations are normally used.
 Additional information may also be indicated on the upper portion of the right hand
page: date and time of survey, average temperature observed, weather condition
prevailing during the survey. For student field notes, the lab exercise number and
the group number is usually included.
 It is customary to portray the arithmetic check at the foot of each page of level
notes, and the signature of the chief of party must also be indicated to authenticate
the field notes.
CHECKING LEVEL NOTES
 It is customary among surveyors to always make an arithmetic check on all data
which are calculated and recorded in the field notebook.
 It is considered incomplete unless the check is properly indicated. Arithmetic check
should be done before the survey party leaves the site.
 It is only by using correct field procedures and giving careful attention to the work
being undertaken that mistakes and errors can be prevented.
ILLUSTRATIVE
PROBLEMS
1

1
2
2
Following is a differential leveling operation performed between two
bench marks. Tabulate the observations.

 A dumpy level is set up at a convenient location along the general route between
BM1, which has an elevation of 345.79m, and BM 2 whose elevation is to be
determined.
 A backsight of 1.25m is taken on BM1. The rodman then goes forward and chooses
TP1 at some convenient location within the range of the telescope, still in the same
general route. At TP1 a foresight of 2.48m is read.
 The level is moved forward and set up at another location. A backsight reading of
1.24m is taken on the rod held at TP1. The rodman goes forward to establish TP 2
and a foresight reading of 3.18m is taken on it.
 From a new instrument location established farther forward, a backsight on TP 2
reads 1.14m, while a foresight reading of 2.77m is taken on TP 3.
 The instrument man again sets up the level at another forward location and takes a
backsight reading of 1.96m on TP3 and a foresight reading of 2.59m on TP4.
 At the last set up of the instrument, a backsight reading of 0.55m is taken on the rod
held at TP46y. Finally a foresight reading of 1.62m is taken on the terminal point,
BM2.
 BS = 1.24 FS = 3.18
FS = 2.48 BS = 1.14
BS = 1.25M

HI2 = ?
ELEV TP1 ELEV TP2 HI3 = ?
=? =?
BM1 ELEV =
345.79 HI1 = ?

REFERENCE DATUM
 BS = 0.55
FS = 1.62
FS – 2.77

BS = 1.96 FS = 2.59

HI5 = ?

HI3 = ? ELEV TP3 ELEV BM2 =

=? ELEV TP4 ?
=?
HI4 = ?
3
Prepare and complete the differential level notes for the information
shown in the accompanying illustration. Include the customary
arithmetic check.

FS =
0.35

BS = FS =
0.68 3.75
BS = FS =
3.73 1.64
BS = FS =
0.98 3.52
The accompanying schematic arrangement of lines portray a differential level route. The values
indicated represent backsight and foresight readings taken at different points as labeled. Prepare
and complete differential level notes for the information shown and show the customary
arithmetic check.

ELEVTP1 HI3 = ?

4 =?

HI = ? ELEV TP4
=? ELEV TP3
=?

ELEV TP
2=?
HI2 = ?

HI4 = ?

HI5 = ?
ELEV
BM2 = ?