8/1/2013

Definition

A surveying method that yields elevations at definite

points along a reference line.
Profile Leveling Profile leveling establishes a side view or cross sectional view
of the earth’s surface

Primary use is for utilities: All of these need accurate

A. Highways information about the
B. Canals topography along the
C. Sewers route.
D. Water mains
E. Sidewalks
F. Retaining walls
G. Fences
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Characteristics Procedure
It is a common practice to use a procedure called stationing.
May be a single segment. 1. Stations are established at uniform distances along the route.
2. Standard station distance is 100 feet.
3. Half or quarter stations are used when the topography is very
variable.
May be multiple segments which change 4. The distance from the starting point to the station is used as the
directions with angle points. station identification.

May be straight
segments connected with
curves.

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Procedure-cont. Defining an Object

• Because profile leveling is used to measure the cross
Intermediate foresights are recorded at each standard station and at section of and the location of objects along a route, one
additional stations as needed to define the topography of the route. important issue is determining how many stations are
required to define the object.
Intermediate foresights: foresights taken at stations that are not • The answer is, it depends on the object and the use of the
used as benchmarks or turning points. data.
• For example: how many stations would be required to
define the cross section of a standard trapezoidal ditch?
Purpose is to define the topography along the route.
High points
Low points Roads 6
Changes in slope Highway
Critical points Gutters
Sidewalks

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Defining an Object-Ditch --cont Defining An Object-Street

• A ditch may have been a trapezoid when
constructed, but over time it will change its
shape.
• What is the effect on the number of stations if a
channel has developed in the bottom of the
ditch?
• Another common object is a street.
• The number of stations required to define the
cross section of a street depends on the required
information.
– Do you need to know the height of the curb?
– Do you need to know the width of the curb?

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Turning Points-cont.
Profile Data Table
When distances to foresights become too long or
when the terrain obstructs the view of the instrument,
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
turning points are established.
Foresights on turning points and benchmarks
are true foresights.

Profile leveling is differential leveling with

the addition of intermediate foresights.

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Example One
Example One-cont.
Determine the profile for a proposed sidewalk that connects two
existing sidewalks and bisects a road.
Step 2: Determine the sites for the critical features.

Step one: establish the standard stations. In this example, the critical features are the rapid change is slope at
337.5 and the road at 489.6.

Note a stations were established at 489.6 and 546.4

to define the width of the road and any changes in
elevation across the road.
Note: the last station (745.1) is established even though it
is not a standard station.
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Example 1-cont. Example One Data Table

Step 3: Set up the instrument and start recording data. STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
0.0 10.5 110.5 100.00

The first rod reading is a backsight on the first sidewalk (benchmark)

to establish the height of the instrument.

Note: in this case the true elevation of the benchmark is unknown,

therefore 100.00 feet is used.

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Example One-cont. Example One Data Table

Step 4: Start recording the rod readings for each station.
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
0.0 10.5 110.5 100.0
100 6.3 104.2

Note: station 100 is not used as a benchmark or as a turning point,

therefore it is an intermediate foresight.

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Example One-cont. Example One-cont. Step 6: the instrument is moved so the remaining
stations can be reached.
Every time the instrument is
The rod reading for each station is recorded on the appropriate line of the table.
moved, a backsight is used
to reestablish the instrument
height.

STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV

0.0 10.5 110.5 100.0

STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV 100 6.3 104.2

200 3.9 106.6

0.0 10.5 110.5 100.0 300 4.1 106.4

100 6.3 104.2 337.5 7.4 103.1

400 9.2 101.3

200 3.9 106.6
489.6 6.6 109.1 8.0 102.5
300 4.1 106.4
500 6.7 102.5
337.5 7.4 103.1
546.4 6.8 102.2
400 9.2 101.3 600 4.9 104.2
489.6 8.0 102.5 700 2.2 106.9
Note: the rod reading for station 489.6 is placed in the FS 745.1 1.5 107.6
column because this station will be used as a turning point.
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Example One-cont. Note Check & Allowable Error

STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
The last step is closing the loop. 0.0 10.5 110.5 100.0
100 6.3 104.2
200 3.9 106.6
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
300 4.1 106.4
0.0 10.5 110.5 100.0
337.5 7.4 103.1
100 6.3 104.2
400 9.2 101.3
200 3.9 106.6
489.6 6.6 109.1 8.0 102.5
300 4.1 106.4 500 6.7 102.5

337.5 7.4 103.1 546.4 6.8 102.2

400 9.2 101.3 600 4.9 104.2

489.6 6.6 109.1 8.0 102.5 700 2.2 106.9

500 6.7 102.5 745.1 2.3 109.9 1.5 107.6
546.4 6.8 102.2 TP2 8.3 111.4 6.8 103.1
600 4.9 104.2
0.0 11.5 99.9
700 2.2 106.9
SUM 27.70 27.80
745.1 2.3 109.9 1.5 107.6
0.10 = 0.10
TP2 8.3 111.4 6.8 103.1
0.0 11.5 99.9
745.1 x 2
AE = k M = 1.0 x = 0.5
5280

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Plot of Profile Data This is excessive slope according to

ADA standards.
Sidewalk Profile
Excel Calculation of Slope
108.0

107.5 107.6

107.0
106.6
106.9 It is easy to calculate all of the slopes using a spreadsheet.
106.5 106.4
106.0

105.5
Station Elevation % slope
105.0 Potting the data helps 0.0 100.0
104.5
answer questions such
Elevation

104.2 104.2
104.0
100.0 104.2 4.20
103.5

103.0 103.1
as, “Will the slope of 200.0 106.6 2.40
102.4
102.5 102.5
102.3
the sidewalk be 300.0 106.4 0.20
102.0

101.5
acceptable?”. 337.5 103.1 8.80
101.3
101.0 400.0 101.3 2.88
100.5

100.0 100.0
489.6 102.5 1.34
99.5 500.0 102.4 0.96
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Distance 546.4 102.3 0.22
600.0 104.2 3.54
In this example the steepest slope appears to be between stations 300
700.0 106.9 2.70
and 327.5. The slope at this point is: 745.1 107.6 1.55
Rise 106.4 - 103.1 3.3
% slope = x 100 = x 100 = x 100 = 8.8 %
Run 337.5 - 300.0 37.5

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Additional uses of Profile Plot Drain Plot

110.0
Profile plots are also very useful for other utility routes such as drain pipes.
Drains are design with a uniform slope. 108.0

Surface Profile

Plotting the drain on the profile gives a visual reference of the 106.0

relationship between the earth’s surface and the drain.

104.0
Elevation

Assume the survey was completed for a drain pipe instead of a

sidewalk. 102.0

Also assume the starting elevation of the drain pipe is at three Drain
100.0
feet below the surface at station 0.0 and that the desired slope is It should be oblivious that this design
1%. has problems because at station 550
98.0
the drain pipe is above ground.

96.0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Distance

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One of the advantages of spread sheets is doing “What if” scenarios. What if--cont.
What if the drain slope was changed to 0.5%?
Drain Plot
• If the purpose of the survey was for a drain, then additional questions
110.0
such as, What is the maximum depth of cut? Can be determined.

108.0
The way this spread Drain Plot

Surface Profile sheet was set up 110.0

In this example the
106.0 changing the % slope maximum distance
required changing 108.0

Surface Profile
between the surface
104.0
and the drain occurs
Elevation

one value. 106.0

102.0
at station 200.
104.0

Elevation
Drain
100.0

102.0
Depth = 106.6 ft- 98.0 ft = 8.6 ft
98.0
Drain
100.0

96.0 
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
98.0
Distance

96.0
If the drain pipe will function correctly at 0.5% slope, this would be a 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Distance
workable alternative.

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Plots of profile data can be used for many other
types of design questions.
What if the profile survey was for
an open ditch?
In this situation questions like,
“What is the maximum depth of
the ditch can be determined?”.
What if--cont.
How much space will be required for the ditch at the widest point?
The widest point will be at the deepest point.
The answer to this question is determined by the ditch design.
Most drainage ditches have a trapezoidal cross section shape.
The bottom width is determined by the anticipated flow rate through the ditch.
The side slopes are usually either 2:1 or 3:1 ratio.
Assuming a ditch bottom width of 15 ft and a 2:1 side slope, the ditch at the
widest point will be:

The space required is 17.2 ft + 15 ft + 17.2 ft = 49.4 ft

The top width of a ditch is determined by the depth, side slope
and bottom width.
Cross section profiles can be determined using this data and the
profile.
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Example 2 Profile With Side Benchmark

• In the first example the existing sidewalks were used as
benchmarks because they were part of the finished design.
• When there are no existing structures that can be used for a
benchmark, or when all of the existing structures will be
removed during construction, a benchmark must be established
out side of the construction zone.
• In this situation, the notes are started different.

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Step 1 Step 2
• The principles are the same. • Record the first foresight.
• The difference is that in this case the BS is taken on the benchmark not • In this example the first foresight (0+00) is an intermediate foresight.
the first station.

The notes use the same column--they just start with the BM instead of 0.0. STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV BM1 8.2 108.2 100.0
BM1 8.2 108.2 100.0 0.0 9.2 99.0

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Step 3 Step 4
• Add additional intermediate foresights as needed until the first turning • Move the instrument and continue recording foresights.
point is reached.

STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV

BM1 8.2 108.2 100.0 BM1 8.2 108.2 100.0
0.0 9.2 99.0 0.0 9.2 99.0
156.5 6.5 101.7 156.5 6.5 101.7
358.6 1.3 106.9 358.6 2.1 109.0 1.3 106.9
458.6 5.2 103.8
522.6 7.7 101.3
598.2 5.4 103.6

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Step 5
Close the loop Note: close to the benchmark not station 0.0.

STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV

BM1 8.2 108.2 100.0
Questions?
0.0 9.2 99.0
156.5 6.5 101.7
358.6 2.1 109.0 1.3 106.9
458.6 5.2 103.8
522.6 7.7 101.3
598.2 10.4 114.0 5.4 103.6
BM1 14.0 100.0
Sum 20.7 20.7
0 = 100.0-100.0 0

598.2 x 2
AE = K M = 0.1 x = 0.047
5280 35 36

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