DifferentialLeveling

Mr.Conrado
Agm 230

Leveling Operations

The basic function of the tripod level is to provide the operator with a level
line of sight in a 360 plane.
From this line of sight specific elevation of land surfaces can be determined.

Differential Leveling

The process of determining the difference in elevation between points.

The starting point may be an official bench mark or a point to which an arbitrary elevation
has been assigned

Illustration

A typical differential level

Bench mark with a 100.00 foot elevation

Object is to determine elevation of a new point.

Differential Leveling

Procedure
1.

Instrument operator notes that the elevation of the bench mark is 100.00 feet

2.

The instrument operator sets up and levels the instrument a suitable distance
away from the BM in direction towards the new point (point A). Sighting
distance should not be so great as to make it impossible to accurately read the
rod.

Differential Leveling
3. The instrument operator makes a backsight reading of 3.60
feet on the rod which is held plumb on the bench mark by the
rodman. After taking the reading the I-O checks instrument level.
4. The reading is entered into his notes in the BS column. To
obtain the height of instrument (HI) the BS is added to the bench
mark elevation (100.00ft) 103.60 feet is then entered into the HI
column.

Differential Leveling
5.

The rodman moves toward point A. He must remember.

6.

Distance readable by instrument

Length of rod
Place rod on solid surface
Be sure front of rod faces instrument

The instrument operator aligns telescope toward rod, focuses, and checks bubble level. He
takes a foresight reading of 2.10ft and rechecks level. Entering the reading in his notebook he
subtracts 2.10ft from his HI and obtains an elevation of 101.50ft. This is the first rod position
which is identified HS turning point. Each student subsequent rod location is also a turning point.

Differential Leveling
7.
The rodman stays at TP1 while the IO makes a new set-up in the
direction of point A. He then takes a backsight of TP1 to get a new height of
instrument.

Differential Leveling

8.
Steps 2 through 7 are repeated until point A is reached and its
elevation relative to bench mark is obtained.
An experienced field party can make the necessary readings and notes and
do the calculations later. It is advised though that beginners do calculations
as you go, to be sure no mistakes are made.

Field Notes for Differential Leveling

Field notes for leveling should be

kept in five columns.
Station
Backsight
Height of instrument
Front sight
Elevation
Notes (optional)

Field Notes for Differential Leveling

The example shown was

modified to assist beginners
Typewritten readings taken
in the field
Handwritten computations
made from the readings
A (+) sign was added to the
BS column because BS is
added to elevation to find HI.
A (-) sign was added to the
FS column because FS is
always subtracted from HI to
find elevation.

Field Notes for Differential Leveling

Now lets go back to

our example and fill in
the field notes
Since the first BS is
taken at the BM, the
reading (3.60) is
entered on the BM
line BS column.
The next line is
identified with the
instrument symbol
sub-note 1 to
indicate instrument
height (103.60) setup number one.

Field Notes for Differential Leveling

Since the next sight is a

foresight on TP1, it is
entered on a new line
labeled TP1 column FS
(2.10)

When the elevation of TP1

is calculated it is also
entered on this same line
(101.50)

The next sight after the

instrument is moved is a
BS taken on TP1 - in the
BS column (6.40)

Field Notes for Differential Leveling

Repeat the steps until final point is

reached.

It is advisable to use the opposite

notebook page to draw a rough
map of your route and for remarks
for future reference.