DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING

the process of determining the difference in

LEVELING elevation between two or more points some

distance apart.

METHODS

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HI = Elev Bma + BS Arithmetic Check: BENCH MARK (BM) - a fixed point of TURNING POINT (TP) – an intervening point
reference whose elevation is either known between two bench marks upon which point
Elev TP1 = HI - FS Elev BMa + ∑BS - ∑FS = Elev BMb or assumed. They may be permanent or foresight and backsight rod readings are taken
temporary. to enable a leveling operation to continue from a
new instrument position.
BACKSIGHT (BS) - a reading taken on a rod
Leveling BSD FSD held on a point of known or assumed BACKSIGHT DISTANCE (BSD) –measured
Rod
BS elevation. It is always the first rod reading from the center of the instrument to the
FS taken after the instrument has been set up rod on which a backsight is taken
FS
TP1 and leveled.
L2
BS

L1 BMb FORESIGHT (FS) - a reading taken on a rod FORESIGHT DISTANCE (FSD) –the
HI2
BMa Elev held on a point whose elevation is to be horizontal distance from the center of the
TP1
HI1 Elev BMb determined. instrument to the rod on which a foresight is
Elev BMa (to be
(know n) determ ined)
taken
HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT (HI) – is the
REFERENCE DATUM elevation of the line of sight of an
(m ean sea level)
instrument above or below a selected
reference datum.

3 4

1
 LEVELING NOTES Ex. Prepare and complete differential level notes for the information shown and show the
customary arithmetic check. Determine the difference in elevation of the benchmarks.
DATE: WEATHER: TP 1

3 .2 8 3.08 3.61
TITLE / NAME OF PROJECT TIME: LOCATION: HI1 1 .3
7
TP 2 (BS) HI3
(FS)
(FS) (BS) 2.04
TEMP: GRP & SEC: (FS)
TP 3
35
A. Tabulation of Level Notes 2. (BS) HI2 TP 4

4
3 .6

1 .5
REMARKS 9 (BS)
STA BS HI FS ELEV BM 1 (FS)

85
Elev 356.65m HI = Elev + BS Elev = HI - FS (BS) HI4

0.
STA BS HI FS ELEV (m) HI5
BM 1 2.35 359.00 356.65 3 .0 DE = BM 2 – BM 1
(FS) 7
TP1 1.37 357.09 3.28 DE = 350.15 – 356.65
355.72
BM 2 DE = -6.5 m
TP2 3.08 358.13 2.04 355.05 DE = 6.5 m
TP3 1.54 356.06 3.61 354.52 ARITHMETIC CHECK:
B. Arithmetic Check
TP4 0.85 353.22 3.69 352.37 Elev BM 1 + ∑BS - ∑FS = Elev BM 2
BM 2 3.07 350.15 356.65m + 9.19 – 15.69 ≟ 350.15m
350.15 m= 350.15m ✓
∑BS= 9.19 ∑FS= 15.69

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DOUBLE-RODDED
LEVELING ARITHMETIC CHECK:
A method of determining differences in elevation Elev Bma + AVE = Mean Elev Bmb
between points by employing two level routes
simultaneously. ∑𝐵𝑆 − ∑𝐹𝑆
AVE =
2
Two turning points are established such that at
each set up of the leveling instrument, two sets of
independent backsights and foresights are taken.

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2
 Ex. Prepare and complete the level notes for the information shown and show the customary
arithmetic check. 6 3
TP 3 H 4/3.4
3.43 (FS)
TP 2 H BM b
0.267
0.329
THREE-WIRE LEVELING
HI2
3 .0 2 28 (BS)
3.079
(FS) 4 2.6 (FS)
0 .6 (BS) 34 HI4
TP 1 H 74 3.000 0 .8
3.366
(BS)
TP 3 L (BS)
2

(FS) TP 2 L HI3
73

(BS) (FS)
(BS)
3.
8

(FS)
48

TP 1 L
STA BS HI FS ELEV (m) Arithmetic Check: A method of determining differences in elevation
0.

HI1 1.137
(FS) 2.768 149.658
2.
76
BM a
2.768 149.658
146.890
Elev Bm a + AVE = Mean Elev Bm b
146.890 + 2.356 ≟ 149.246 wherein three horizontal hairs are read and
8/
(BS)
2.
76 TP1H 3.079 152.249 0.488 149.170
149.246m = 149.246m recorded rather than from a single horizontal hair.
8
TP1L 3.732 152.253 1.137 149.521
∑𝐵𝑆 − ∑𝐹𝑆
BM a TP2 H 154.944 0.329 151.920 AVE =
Elev 146.890m
3.024 2
TP2 L 3.366 154.945 0.674 151.579 AVE =
19.838 − 15.126
2
A more precise method of differential leveling
TP3 H 0.267 152.583 2.628 152.316 AVE = 2.356m
∑BS= 19.838 TP3 L 0.834 152.779 3.000 151.945
Mean Elev BMb
∑FS= 15.126 3.434 149.149 = (149.149+149.343)/2
BM b
3.436 149.343 = 149.246m

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Ex. Complete the differential level notes shown below and perform the customary arithmetic check.
BACKSIGHT FORESIGHT
STA HI ELEV (m )
HAIR RDGS MEAN RDG S HAIR RDGS MEAN RDG S
horizontal line of sight
1.152

BM 1 0.935 0.935 0.434 445.177 444.242

a 0.718
c
HI b 2.784 1.117
ARITHMETIC CHECK:
P
TP 1 2.420 2.420 0.727 446.698 0.899 0.899 0.435 444.278
L Elev BM 1 + ∑BS - ∑FS = Elev BM 2
2.057 0.682
Elev P
(unknown) where: 1.713 1.900 444.242m + 7.620 – 6.736 ≟ 445.126m
HD
TP 2 1.440 1.440 0.547 446.602 1.537 1.536 0.728 445.162
DATUM (mean sea level) a = upper stadia hair reading 445.126m = 445.126m ✓
b = lower stadia hair reading 1.166 1.172
c = horizontal cross-hair reading or rod reading on P 2.591 1.450
s = stadia intercept or the difference between the
upper and lower stadia hair reading TP 3 2.094 2.095 0.992 447.520 1.177 1.177 0.546 445.425
s=a–b m = mean of three hair readings 1.599 0.904
HD = horizontal distance from the level to the rod
m = (a+b+c) / 3 held at P
0.913 2.210

TP 4 0.730 0.730 0.366 446.536 1.714

HD = Ks + C K= stadia interval factor 1.714 0.992 445.806
s=a–b
C = instrument constant 0.547 1.218
Elev P = HI - m HI = height of the line of sight above the datum m = (a+b+c) / 3
1.593
Elev of P = unknown elevation of station P
BM 2 1.410 1.410 0.366 445.126 Elev P = HI - m
∑BS= 7.620 1.227 ∑FS= 6.736

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