CE-106 Geomatics - I

Measurement of elevation
by

Jayanta Kumar Ghosh, Ph.D.

Geomatics Engineering Group
Civil Engineering Department
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Roorkee Uttarakhand 247667 INDIA
gjkfumfce@iitr.ernet.in
 Contents
Instrument

CE-106 Total Station

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 Reciprocal Leveling

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 • Let the true difference in elevation between the points
be Δh and the total error be e. Assuming, no error on
observation of staff near the level (as the distance is
very small)
Then, Δh = X1 ~ (Y1 - e) [From first set of observation]
and Δh = (X2 - e) ~ Y2 [From second set of observation]
• Thus, the true difference in elevation between any two
points can be obtained by taking the mean of the two
differences in observation.
• Thus, total error in observations can be obtained by
taking the difference of the two differences in
observation. The total error consist of error due to
curvature of the earth, atmospheric errors (due to
temperature and refraction) and instrumental errors
(due to error in collimation) etc.
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 Errors in Leveling
Instrumental Error
• Error in permanent adjustment of level
• Staff defective and/or of non-standard quality
• Error due to defective level tube
• Error due to defective tripod

Personal Error
• Due to imperfection in temporary adjustment of the instrument
– Careless set-up of the instrument
– Imperfect leveling of the instrument
– Imperfect focusing .
• Errors in sighting :
• Error due to staff held Non-vertical
• Errors in reading the staff:
• Errors in recording:
• Errors in computing:

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 Errors in Leveling
Due to Natural Cause
• Error due to curvature
• Error due to refraction
• Errors due to wind:
• Errors due to sun
• Errors due to temperature:

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 Error due to Curvature & Refraction

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 Calculation of Curvature and Refraction error
OH2 = OP2 + PH2
Or, (Rm + ec )2 = Rm2 + PH2

(Neglecting ec in the denominator as it is very small in comparison

to Rm ).
• Assuming, mean radius of the earth as 6367 Km, and D is the
distance in Km from the instrument position to the staff station,
the error due to the curvature of the earth is ec = 0.0785 D2
• It is subtractive in nature as curvature of the earth always
provides increase in staff reading.
• The combined error due to curvature and refraction (ecomb ) is
thus given by ecomb = 0.0675 D2 m where D is the distance in
km

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 Example
The following notes refer to the reciprocal levels taken with one level:

Instrument Station Staff reading on Remarks

A B

A 2.13 2.830 Distance AB = 700 m

B 1.62 2.740 R.L. of A =352.78 m

Find
(a) the true R.L. of B;
(b) Combined correction for curvature and refraction
© The error in collimation adjustment of the instrument.
 Mistakes in Leveling
• Mistakes in Reading
• Mistakes in Recording
• Mistakes in Computations
• Improper Holding of the Staff

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 Precaution in Leveling

• The staff should be held vertical while taking

the reading;
• The bubble in the level tube is to be brought
to central before taking any reading;
• Readings should be taken in the proper
direction depending on the type of staff;
• Balancing of sight is to be maintained as far as
possible;
• Reading and recording of observation
correctly.

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 Summary
The elevation of a point is determined
through leveling and is designated as
reduced level (R.L). Reciprocal leveling is
implemented to find the reduced level
under specific field conditions. Different
types of errors and mistakes are
associated with leveling. These can be
removed or minimized by using
appropriate physical model or by adopting
necessary precautions.
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Thanking You