Surveying I – Chapter 3

Leveling
 Introduction
 Leveling is the name given to the
process of measuring the difference
in elevation(vertical distance)
between two or more points below,
on, or above the ground.
 Leveling has many applications and
it is a vital operation in producing
necessary data for mapping,
engineering design, and
construction.
Leveling
 Leveling is an operation in surveying performed to determine the
difference in levels of two points.

 By this operation the height of a point from a datum, known as

elevation, is determined.

 The most commonly used datum is mean sea level (MSL)

 Leveling Applications
 Leveling results are used to:
1. design highways, railroads, canals, sewers,
Water supply systems.
2. lay out construction projects according to
planned elevations.
3. calculate volumes of earthwork and other
materials:
4. investigate drainage characteristics of an area.
5. develop maps showing general ground
configurations.
 Definitions of terms
 A datum is any reference surface to
which the elevations of points are
referred. The most commonly used
datum is that of mean sea level
(MSL).
 Elevation: - Elevation is the vertical
distance of a points above or below
on assumed datum ( Height of point
from Datum)
 Leveling:- The process or methods
of determining the vertical distance
of a points relative to on assumed
level surface.
 Definitions of terms
 A Reduced Level (RL) of a point is
its height above or below a
reference datum.
 A bench mark (BM) is a permanent
point of known elevation.
 Temporary or transferred bench
marks(TBMs) are marks set up on
stable points near construction sites
to which all levelling operations on
that particular site will be referred.
Definitions of terms
 Bench Mark (BM):- are permanent reference points or marks at
which their elevation (reduced level) has been accurately determined by
leveling from other permanent BM, or is a( permanent point of
known elevation.)
 Reduced level (RL):- is the height above or below a reference
datum- similar to elevation.
 Temporary bench mark (TBM):- are marks let up on stable points
near construction sites which all leveling operation on that particular
site will be referred.
 Back sight (BS):- is the staff reading taken on points of known
elevation as a BM or a turning points.
 Fore Sights (FS):- is the staff reading on points whose elevation is to
be determined as a turning points. It is the last staff reading denoting
the shifting of the instruments.
Definitions of terms
 A datum is any reference surface to which the elevations of points are
referred. The most commonly used datum is that of mean sea level
(MSL).
 Intermediate sights (IS):- any other staff reading taken on a
points at unknown elevation from the same set up of the level. All
sights b/n BS & FS are IS.
 Turning points (TP):- is a point denoting the shifting at the level.
It is the point on which the back a fore sight are taken.
 Station:- is a points of which whose elevation is to be determined.
 Height of instruments:- is the elevation of plane of collimation
(plane of sight) where the instruments is correctly leveled.
Equipments used in leveling
 Basically three equipments are needed.
 Level – to give the true horizontal line
 Staff – to read vertical height
 Tape – to measure height of instruments
Equipments
Automatic Level
Automatic Level
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Differential Leveling
Differential Leveling
Differential Leveling
Differential Leveling
Methods of Reducing Levels
Reduced Level Calculation.
Arithmetic Check
Height of instrument table 1
Example…
Example…
Turning Point(TP)
Example…
Example…
Solution…
Example…
Arithmetic Check…
Reduced Level Calculation
Reduced Level Calculation
Reduced Level Calculation
Reduced Level Calculation
Rise and Fall Method table 2
Leveling mistakes and errors
Leveling mistakes and errors..
Leveling mistakes and errors..
Leveling mistakes and errors..
Leveling mistakes and errors..
Leveling Adjustment
Leveling Adjustment…
Profile and cross-section leveling
Profile and cross-section leveling…
Profile Leveling
Profile Leveling
Next
Chapter 4