Surveying & Computation

SBEH1073 Sect. 01 & 02

Vertical Control Survey II

Yong Chien Zheng

Geomatics – Geoinformation, FABU UTM

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Outlines
• Field Booking
• Reduced level calculations
• Applications of levelling

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Process of height determination –
levelling

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

The booking for a
levelling run

Backsight (BS) Intermediate Sight (IS) Foresight (FS) Point

2.191 BM: 49.870 m
2.505 A
2.325 B
1.496 C

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

The booking for a
levelling run

Backsight (BS) Intermediate Sight (IS) Foresight (FS) Point

2.191 BM: 49.870 m
2.505 A
2.325 B
3.019 1.496 C
2.513 D
2.811 E

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

The booking for a
levelling run

Backsight (BS) Intermediate Sight (IS) Foresight (FS) Point

2.191 BM: 49.870 m
2.505 A
2.325 B
3.019 1.496 C
2.513 D
1.752 2.811 E
3.824 TBM: 48.710m

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Reduced level calculation – Misclosure
• How to decide whether a levelling line is accepted or rejected?
• An allowable error (misclosure) for a levelling run when closing back
to the starting point or another known height point is as follows:
One way = 0.012m ± Total Distance (km)
Return = 0.02m ± Total Distance (km)
= 5mm ± Number of instrument position, n
• Misclosure is the difference between the observed/calculated height
(ΔHcalculated ) with a known height of a point either a starting or an
end point (ΔHknown ):

Misclosure = ΔHcalculated − ΔHknown

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation
 Calculation methods
1. Rise and fall method:
Calculate the height difference between two points.
2. Height of collimation:
Calculate the height of collimation above a datum.

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Rise and fall method
• A preferred method for land surveyors in booking levels.
• To check the rise and fall of the topography along the levelling lines.

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Rise and Fall method
To book the levelling measurements

Rise Fall
BS IS FS Reduced Level Correction Final RL Note
(+) (-)
2.191 BM: 49.870

2.505 A

2.325 B

3.019 1.496 C (TA)

2.513 D

1.752 2.811 E (TA)

3.824 TBM: 48.710

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Rise and Fall method
To calculate the rise and the fall

Rise Fall
BS IS FS Reduced Level Correction Final RL Note
(+) (-)
Observed at 𝐋𝟏 ,
𝐁𝐒𝐁𝐌 to A = 2.191 – 2.505 = -0.314m 2.191 BM: 49.870
A to B = 2.505 – 2.325 = 0.180m 2.505 0.314 A
B to C = 2.325 – 1.496 = 0.829m
2.325 0.180 B

Observed at 𝐋𝟐 , 3.019 1.496 0.829 C (TA)

C to D = 3.019 – 2.513 = 0.506m 2.513 0.506 D
D to E = 2.513 – 2.811 = -0.298m
1.752 2.811 0.298 E (TA)

Observed at 𝐋𝟑 , 3.824 2.072 TBM: 48.710

E to TBM = 1.752 – 3.824 = -2.072m Σ

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Rise and Fall method
To calculate the reduced level

Rise Fall
BS IS FS Reduced Level Correction Final RL Note
(+) (-)

R.L = 𝐇𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐭. ± Rise / Fall 2.191 49.870 BM: 49.870

2.505 0.314 49.556 A

2.325 0.180 49.736 B

3.019 1.496 0.829 50.565 C (TA)

2.513 0.506 51.071 D

1.752 2.811 0.298 50.773 E (TA)

3.824 2.072 48.701 TBM: 48.710

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Rise and Fall method
To calculate the corrections

𝚺 BS – 𝚺 FS ≡ 𝚺 Rise + 𝚺 Fall ≡ 𝐑𝐋𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐭. − 𝑹𝑳𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒕.

Levelling error = 𝐑𝐋𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐭. − 𝐓𝐁𝐌 BS IS FS
Rise Fall
Reduced Level Correction Final RL Note
(+) (-)
= 𝟒𝟖. 𝟕𝟎𝟏 − 𝟒𝟖. 𝟕𝟏𝟎
=−𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟗𝐦 2.191 49.870 BM: 49.870
Allowable error = 5mm± 𝟑 = 8.7mm or 0.087m 2.505 0.314 49.556 0.003 A
* note that if the levelling error is –ve, the
2.325 0.180 49.736 0.003 B
correction must be +ve, vice-versa.
Correction height = 0.009m / 3 (# of inst. pos.) 3.019 1.496 0.829 50.565 0.003 C (TA)
= + 0.003m 2.513 0.506 51.071 0.006 D
Inst. pos. 1 = +0.003m;
1.752 2.811 0.298 50.773 0.006 E (TA)
Inst. pos. 2 = 0.003+0.003 = +0.006m;
Inst. pos. 3 = 0.003+0.003+0.003 = +0.009m; 3.824 2.072 48.701 0.009 TBM: 48.710

Σ 6.962 8.131 1.515 2.684

Total BS – Total FS = Total Rise – Total Fall = RL last point – RL first point
SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation
 Rise and Fall method
To calculate the final Reduced Level

Rise Fall
BS IS FS Reduced Level Correction Final RL Note
(+) (-)

R.L ± Correction = Final Reduced Level 2.191 49.870 49.870 BM: 49.870

2.505 0.314 49.556 0.003 49.559 A

Example, 2.325 0.180 49.736 0.003 49.739 B

3.019 1.496 0.829 50.565 0.003 50.568 C (TA)

𝐑𝐋𝐀 = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟓𝟓𝟔 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑 = 𝟒𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟗𝐦
2.513 0.506 51.071 0.006 51.077 D

1.752 2.811 0.298 50.773 0.006 50.779 E (TA)

3.824 2.072 48.701 0.009 48.710 TBM: 48.710

Σ 6.962 8.131 1.515 2.684

Total BS – Total FS = Total Rise – Total Fall = RL last point – RL first point
SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation
 Height of collimation method
• A preferred method at construction site (for construction site
surveyors or civil engineers)
• The height of collimation method of booking levelling runs can also
be known as the height of instrument method.

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Height of collimation method

BS IS FS HoC Reduced Level Correction Final RL Note

2.191 52.061 49.870 49.870 BM: 49.870

Similar to the height of the eyesight,
𝐇𝐨𝐂𝐋𝟏 ; 𝐇𝐨𝐂𝐋𝟐 ; 𝐇𝐨𝐂𝐋𝟑 2.505 49.556 0.003 49.559 A

2.325 49.736 0.003 49.739 B

Example,
3.019 1.496 53.584 50.565 0.003 50.568 C (TA)

𝐇𝐨𝐂𝐋𝟏 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟗𝟏 + 𝟒𝟗. 𝟖𝟕𝟎 = 𝟓𝟐. 𝟎𝟔𝟏𝐦 2.513 51.071 0.006 51.077 D
𝐇𝐨𝐂𝐋𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟎𝟏𝟗 − 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗𝟔 + 𝟓𝟐. 𝟎𝟔𝟏 = 𝟓𝟑. 𝟓𝟖𝟒𝐦
1.752 2.811 52.525 50.773 0.006 50.779 E (TA)
𝐇𝐨𝐂𝐋𝟑 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟓𝟐 − 𝟐. 𝟖𝟏𝟏 + 𝟓𝟑. 𝟓𝟖𝟒 = 𝟓𝟐. 𝟓𝟐𝟓𝐦
3.824 48.701 0.009 48.710 TBM: 48.710
Error correction? Refer to Slides 7 & 13.
Σ 6.962 8.131

Total BS – Total FS = Total Rise – Total Fall = RL last point – RL first point

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Comparison between both methods

Rise and Fall Height of Collimation

More calculations It only requires determining the height
(to determine the rise and fall of the of the instrument (eyesight level)
levels)
Can check every reduced level at each Reduced levels for intermediate sight
point points cannot be checked
More time consuming Faster, suitable for setting out

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Applications of Levelling (1)
Project planning
To determine relative altitudes of points on the surface or beneath the
surface of the earth.
For examples: roads, bridges, railways, airports, utility (water pipelines,
fiber optic cables, high voltage cables, etc.), and sewerage (wastewater
disposal, etc.).

https://concretecivil.com/wp- https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/pipeline-survey-service-
content/uploads/2018/01/csm_Vermessung_cbe051f4df-765x510.jpg 10532262112.html

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Applications of Levelling (2)
Profile levelling
Profile leveling is a method of surveying that has been carried out along
the central line of a track of land on which a linear engineering work is
to be constructed / laid.
The operations involved in determining the elevation of ground surface
at small spatial interval along a line is called profile leveling.

Formation level Profile

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 Applications of Levelling (3)
Cut and Fill
Particularly useful in earthmoving (railway, road or canal construction).
To calculate how much soil to CUT or FILL in a project. E.g., used to
decide which side of the slope of a road for water drainage purposes.

https://estimationqs.com/cut-and-fill-excavation-for-road-construction-on-hillside-slope-cross-section-details-and-quantity-takeoff/
SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation
 Applications of Levelling (4)
Contouring
Contouring in surveying is the determination of elevation of various
points on the ground and fixing these points of same horizontal
positions in the contour map.
E.g., to determine the best possible route
and amount of earthwork required.

Possible route

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0384/0233/files/contour-lines-graphic.png
SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation
 Applications of Levelling (5)
Engineering details
Engineering map preparation showing engineering-related details (e.g.,
spot heights, soil profile) for highways, railways, airport runways,
canals, dams, reservoirs, etc.

Topographical map
Topographical map preparation showing hills, slopes, rivers, valleys, etc.

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 What’s the take home message?

What have you learned today?

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation

 https://blog.minifigures.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_2087-700.jpg

It’s important to know that,

unlike lawyers, land surveyors
put the public interest first. That
means we’re not biased by our
client – this means that the
property line will be drawn in the
most equitable position,
regardless of which neighbor is
paying the bill.
- Mark Mason -

SBEH1073 Surveying and Computation