DIFFERENTIAL

LEVELING

REFERENCE: ELEMENTARY SURVEYING 3RD EDITION BY JUNY PILAPIL LA PUTT

 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
Differential Leveling is the process of determining the difference in
elevation between two or more points some distance apart. It requires a
series of setups of the instrument along a general route and, for each set
up a rod reading back to the point of known elevation an forward to a
point of unknown elevation are taken
Definition of Terms

BECH MARK (BM)

- is a fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known or
assumed.

BACKSIGHT (BS)
- is a reading taken on a rod held on a point of known or assumed
elevation
 DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
• FORESIGHT (FS)
- is a reading taken on a rod held
on a point whose elevation is to be
determined is called foresight.
• 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 is
referred to as the foresight distance.
• TURNING POINT (TP)
- 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.
• HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT (HI)
- is the elevation of the line of
sight of an instrument above or
below a selected reference datum.
 PROCEDURE IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
The procedure followed in determining the difference in
elevation between two points is illustrated on the photo.
• 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
BMa. The backsight reading added
to the known or assumed elevation
of the initial bench mark gives the
height of instrument above datum or
HI = Elev BMa + BS
• The rodman moves forward along
the generaldirection of BMb and
holds the rod at a convenient turning
point (TP1). The instrumentman takes
a foresight on a rod. This foresight
reading subtracted from the HI gives
the elevation above datum pf the
turning point or
Elev TP1 = HI - FS
 PROCEDURE IN DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING
• The level is then transferred and set
up at another convenient location
beyond TP1, but still in the general
direction of BMb. It is important that
the location can make a backsight
and foresight rod readings. A
backsight is then taken on TP1 to
establish a new HI2.

• The rodman finally moves forward to

the location of BMb and a foresight is
take on the rod held on it. Since the
new HI has already determined, the
elevation of BMb is computed by
substracting the foresight reading
from the height of instrument.
TYPICAL DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING NOTES
SAMPLE PROBLEM SET NO.2
SAMPLE PROBLEM SET NO.2
 PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE
1. Determine the elevation of BM2 from the following notes. Check
arithmetic by adding FS’s and BS’s. Show your complete solution

STATION BS HI FS ELEVATION
BM1 1.21 50.00
TP1 6.20 4.65
TP2 4.82 3.11
TP3 3.03 5.22
BM2 3.16
 PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE
2. In a running line of differential levels from BM1 to BM2, the following rod
readings were take in order given: 2.40

STATION BS HI FS ELEVATION
BM10 2.085 137.450
TP1 2.015 0.982
TP2 1.864 1.428
TP3 0.579 1.527
BM11 0.423 2.423
TP4 1.446 1.807
TP5 1.778 1.725
TP6 2.051 2.339
TP7 2.920 1.005
BM12 3.186 2.358
TP8 2.805 0.995
TP9 0.774 1.206
BM13 0.603