CIVL 1101

Surveying - Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

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Differential Leveling

Importance of Vertical Positions

Importance of Vertical Positions

A vertical position is the height of a point relative to

some reference surface, such as mean sea level, a geoid,
or an ellipsoid.
ellipsoid

Surveyors created the National Geodetic Vertical

Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29, the predecessor to NAVD
88) by calculating the average height of the sea at all
88),
stages of the tide at 26 tidal stations over 19 years

The roughly 600,000 vertical control points in the U.S.

National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) are
referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of
1988 (NAVD 88).

Differential Leveling
Importance of Leveling
The determination of elevations is called leveling
Measuring
g relative elevations changes
g is a comparatively
p
y
simply process

Surveyors extended the control

network inland using a surveying
technique called leveling.

Differential Leveling
The Level
A level consist of a high-powered telescope
The level is attached to a spirit or bubble level that
keeps the line of sight of the telescope horizontal

Precise and accurate control of

relative elevations are critical to
most construction projects

Differential Leveling
Level Instrument

Differential Leveling
Level Instrument
4.70

4 60
4.60

4.50

Red numbers indicate

foot intervals

CIVL 1101

Surveying - Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

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Differential Leveling

Level Instrument

Definitions
4.60
4 58
4.58
4.56

4.55
4.53
4.51

4.50

4.59
4.57

BS = 6.32 ft

4.54

HI = 106.32 ft

FS = 3.10 ft

Point B

4.52

Point A

Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)

Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

Definitions

Definitions

Bench mark (BM) - relatively permanent

point of known elevation

Backsight (BS) - a sight taken to the level

rod held at a point of known elevation
(either a BM or TP)

BS = 6.32 ft

HI = 106.32 ft

Point A

FS = 3.10 ft

BS = 6.32 ft

Point B

Elevation = 103.22 ft

HI = 106.32 ft

Point A

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)

FS = 3.10 ft

Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)

Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

Definitions

Definitions

Height of instrument (HI) - the elevation of

the line of sight of the telescope

Foresight (FS) - a sight taken on any point to

determine its elevation

BS = 6.32 ft

HI = 106.32 ft

Point A

FS = 3.10 ft

BS = 6.32 ft

Point B

Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)

Point B

HI = 106.32 ft

Point A

FS = 3.10 ft

Point B

Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)

CIVL 1101

Surveying - Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling
Computation of Elevations

Differential Leveling
Computation of Elevations

BS
12.64

BS
12.64

BM1

HI = BS + Elevation

Elevation 100.00

Point
BM1

FS
3.11

BM1

BS
12.64

HI
112.64

FS

Elevation
100.00

Point
BM1
TP1

Computation of Elevations
FS
3.11

HI - FS = Elevation

TP1

Elevation 100.00

Differential Leveling

BS
12.64

3/5

BS
12.64

HI
112.64

FS
3.11

Differential Leveling
Computation of Elevations

BS
10.88

BS
12.64

BM1

FS
3.11

BS
10.88

FS
2.56

TP2

BM1
TP1

Elevation 100.00

Point
BM1
TP1

BS
12.64
10.88

HI
112.64
120.41

Elevation
100.00
109.53

3.11

Computation of Elevations
FS
3.11

BS
10.88

Point
BM1
TP1
TP2

FS
2.56

BM1

Point
BM1
TP1
TP2

HI
112.64
120.41
127.57

FS
3.11

3.11
2.56

FS
3.11
2.56

BS
10.88

Point
BM1
TP1
TP2
BM2

BS
9.72

FS
2.56

BM1

Elevation
100.00
109.53
117.85

Elevation
100.00
109.53
117.85

FS
3.10
BM2

TP2
TP1

Elevation 100.00

FS

HI
112.64
120.41

Differential Leveling

BS
12.64

TP1

BS
12.64
10.88
9.72

BS
12.64
10.88

Computation of Elevations

BS
9.72

TP2

Elevation 100.00

TP1

Elevation 100.00

FS

Differential Leveling

BS
12.64

Elevation
100.00
109.53

BS
12.64
10.88
9.72

HI
112.64
120.41
127.57

FS
3.11
2.56
3.10

Elevation
100.00
109.53
117.85
124.47

CIVL 1101

Surveying - Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling
Computation of Elevations
BS
12.64

BS
10.88

FS
3.11

BS
9.72

FS
2.56

Differential Leveling
Computation of Elevations

FS
3.10
BM2

TP1

Elevation 100.00

Point
BM1
TP1
TP2
BM2

BS
12.64
10.88
9.72

HI
112.64
120.41
127.57

FS

Check the summation of the backsight and the

foresight with the change in elevation
Point
BM1
TP1
TP2
BM2

TP2

BM1

4/5

BS
12.64
10.88
9.72

HI
112.64
120.41
127.57

FS
3.11
2.56
3.10

Elevation
100.00
109.53
117.85
124.47

Elevation
100.00
109.53
117.85
124.47

Change in elevation = 33.24 -8.77 =24.47

Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

3.11
2.56
3.10

The initial backsight (BS) is taken to a point of known

elevation
The backsight reading is added to the elevation of
the known point to compute the height of the

turning point (TP)

Prepare a set of level notes for the survey illustrated

below. What are the elevations of points TP1 and TP2?
BS
1.27

TP2

Differential Leveling
Common Mistakes
Misreading the rod - reading 3.54

FS
4.91

BS
2 33
2.33

BM

instead of 3.45

FS
6 17
6.17

Moving the turning point - use a well

Elevation 356.68

defined TP

TP1

+3.60

FS
6.17

TP1

Computation of Elevations - Group Problem

BS
1.27
2.33

BS
2.33

Elevation 356.68

Differential Leveling

Point
BM1
TP1
TP2

FS
4.91

BM

The elevation of a point is the height of the

instrument (HI) minus the foresight (FS)

BS
1.27

-8.77

Computation of Elevations - Group Problem

instrument (HI)

The level may be moved to a temporary point called a

+33.24

HI
357.95
355.37

FS
4.91
6.17
-11.08

Elevation
356.68
353.04
349.20
-7.48

TP2

Field note mistakes - work within your

group to check you records

Mistakes with extended rod - make

sure the leveling rod is fully extended

CIVL 1101

Surveying - Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

Differential Leveling

Common Mistakes

Suggestions for Good Leveling

Level rod not vertical

Anchor tripod legs firmly

Settling of leveling rod

Check the bubble level before and after each reading

Leveling rod not fully extended or

incorrect length

Take as little time as possible between BS and FS

Level instrument not level

Instrument out of adjustment
Environment - wind and heat

Differential Leveling

Any Questions?

Try to keep the distance to the BS and the FS equal

Provide the rodperson with a level for the rod

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