The Level

A level is an optical instrument used to establish or verify

points in the same horizontal plane in a process known
as leveling, and is used in conjunction with a leveling
staff to establish the relative heights levels of objects or
marks.
The leveling uses :
 To determine the difference in levels of point.
 To obtain contour map of an area .
 To obtain cross section of roads.
 To establish points or construct a building component
at a predetermined level.

Types of level :
1- Dumpy Level :
Dumpy level is the most commonly used instrument in
leveling. In this level the telescope is restricted against
movement in its horizontal plane and telescope is fixed to
its support. A bubble tube is provided on the top of the
telescope.

Dumpy level
2- Tilting Level :
Tilting level consist a telescope which enabled for the
horizontal rotation as well as rotation about 4 degree in its
vertical plane. Centering of bubble can be easily done in
this type of level. The main advantage of tilting level is it is
useful when the few observations are to be taken with one
setup of level.

Tilting level

3- Automatic Level :
Automatic level is like the dumpy level. In this case the
telescope is fixed to its supports. Circular spirit can be
attached to the side of the telescope for approximate
leveling. For more accurate leveling, compensator is
attached inside the telescope.

Automatic Level
Components of Level :
1- Telescope : is an optical instrument used for
magnifying and viewing the images of distant objects. It
consists of two lenses. The lens fitted near the eye is
called the eye piece and the other fitted at the end near to
the object is called the objective lens. The objective
provides a real inverted image in front of the eye piece at
a distance lesser than its focal distance.

2- Bubble Tubes : the bubble tubes are fixed on top of

the telescope. Two bubble tubes, one called the
longitudinal bubble tube and other the cross-bubble tube,
are placed at right angles to each others. These tubes
contain spirit bubble.

3- The leveling head : consists of two parallel plates

(trivet and tribrach) having three grooves to support the
foot screws.

4- Foot Screws : Three foot screws are provided

between the trivet and tribrach. These are used for
leveling. By turning the foot screws the tribrach can be
raised or lowered to bring the bubble to the center of its
run.

Figure 4
5- Horizontal motion screw :
It is for slow horizontal movement of the device with
knowing that the fast movement is done by moving the
device by hand.

6- Tripod Stand :
The tripod stand consists of three legs which may be solid
or telescopic. The legs are made of wood or aluminum.
The lower ends of the legs are fitted with iron shoes.

7- Leveling staff :
The leveling staff is used for measuring the vertical
distances between the points on the ground and the line
of collimation.
Types of staff :
 Solid Staff :
the metric solid staff is generally 3 m long, 75 mm wide
and 25 mm thick, with a metal shoe at the bottom, and
graduated on one face.

 Telescopic Staff :
A telescopic staff consists of two hollow pieces and one
solid top piece, each telescoping into the bottom one.
When the staff is folded up, it is only a little longer than the
lowest piece. It is thus longer than a solid staff up to 4 m
to 6 m.

 Folding Staff :
A folding staff is generally 4 m long and is divided into two
equal parts of 2 m each. It is hinged in the middle so that
top half can be folded over to lie against the lower half.
Using the Level :
1- Loosen screws of tripod legs, pull out to required length
and tighten screws. press the tripod legs into the ground
sufficiently. When pressing the legs into the ground note
that the force must be applied along the legs. Check all
screws and bolts for correct fit.

2- When setting up the tripod pay attention to a horizontal

position of the tripod plate. Minor inclinations of the tripod
can be corrected with the foot screws of the tribrach.
3- Place level onto tripod head. Tighten central fixing
screw of tripod.
4- Turn foot screws A and B simultaneously in opposite
directions until bubble is in the center .Turn the instrument
90° and then turn the foot screw C until bubble is
centered.

Figure 5

5- Aim telescope against a bright background Turn

eyepiece until reticule is sharp-focused and deep black.
Now the eyepiece is adapted to your eye.
Turn focusing knob until image of staff is sharply focused.
Staff Reading :
The figure below (figure 6) shows three different staff
readings:
-It is easy to read (b) and (c) because the cross-hair is
exactly on a mark division.
-The reading for (a) is between 1.630 and 1.640. To
assess the mm reading you have to estimate where the
position of the cross-hair is. For (a) the reading is 1.636.
The millimeter reading is to be estimated and can very
between ± 1 mm.
a) 1.636 m b) 1.500 m c) 1.580 m

Figure 6