Levelling

Prepared by
Jay Bhavsar
 Definition
• Levelling: The art of determining the relative heights of
different points on or below the surface of earth is known
as leveling
• Level surface : Any surface parallel to mean spherical
surface of the earth is said to be level surface. The water
surface of still lake is considered as level surface.
 Definition
• Level line: Any line laying on level surface is called a level line.
This line normal to plumb line at all points.
• Horizontal plane: Any plane tangential to level surface at any
point is known as H.Z plane. It is perpendicular to plumb line.
 Definition
• Horizontal line : It is a straight line tangential to level line.
• Vertical line : This line is perpendicular to horizontal line.
 Definition
• Datum: It is reference level surface from which vertical
distances of points are measured.
• Reduced level : Vertical distances of a point above or below
the datum is known as R.L
 Definition
• Line of collimation : It is an imaginary line passing through the
intersection of the cross hairs at the diaphragm and the
optical centre of object glass and its continuation. It is also
known as line of sight.

• Axis of telescope : This axis is an imaginary line passing

through the optical centre of object glass and the optical
centre of the eye piece.

• Axis of bubble tube : It is an imaginary line tangential to the

longitudinal curve of the bubble tube it its middle point.
 Bench mark
• These are fixed points or marks of known R.L. determined
with reference to the datum line.
Types
– GTS : Established by SOI
– Permanent : Established with reference to GTS by PWD,
Railway, Irrigation etc.
– Arbitrary : R.L of some fixed point is assumed.
– Temporary : Established temporary at the end of day’s
work
 Temporary adjustment of level
• The temporary adjustment of a dumpy level consists of
Setting , Levelling and Focusing
• During Setting, the tripod stand is set up at a convenient
height having its head horizontal (through eye estimation).
• The instrument is then fixed on the head by rotating the lower
part of the instrument with right hand and holding firmly the
upper part with left hand.
• Before fixing, the leveling screws are required to be brought in
between the tribrach and trivet.
• The bull's eye bubble (circular bubble), if present, is then
brought to the centre by adjusting the tripod legs.
 Levelling
• Step 1: The level tube is brought parallel to any two of the
foot screws, by rotating the upper part of the instrument.
• Step 2: The bubble is brought to the centre of the level tube
by rotating both the foot screws either inward or outward.
(The bubble moves in the same direction as the left thumb.)
• Step 3: The level tube is then brought over the third foot
screw again by rotating the upper part of the instrument.
• Step 4: The bubble is then again brought to the centre of the
level tube by rotating the third foot screw either inward or
outward.
• Step 5: Repeat Step 1 by rotating the upper part of the
instrument in the same quadrant of the circle and then Step
2.
• Step 6: Repeat Step 3 by rotating the upper part of the
instrument in the same quadrant of the circle and then Step
4.
• Step 7: Repeat Steps 5 and 6, till the bubble remains central in
both the positions.
• Step 8: By rotating the upper part of the instrument through
180 ° , the level tube is brought parallel to first two foot
screws in reverse order. The bubble will remain in the centre if
the instrument is in permanent adjustment.
 Focusing
• It is required to be done in order to form image through
objective lens at the plane of the diaphragm and to view the
clear image of the object through eye-piece.
• This is being carried out by removing parallax by proper
focusing of objective and eye-piece.
• For focusing the eye-piece, the telescope is first pointed
towards the sky. Then the ring of eye-piece is turned either in
or out until the cross-hairs are seen sharp and distinct.
Focusing of eye-piece depends on the vision of observer and
thus required whenever there is a change in observer.
• For focusing the objective, the telescope is first pointed
towards the object. Then, the focusing screw is turned until
the image of the object appears clear and sharp and there is
no relative movement between the image and the cross-hairs.
This is required to be done before taking any observation
 Types of Leveling
• Simple leveling
• Differential leveling
• Fly leveling
• Profile leveling
• Cross sectional leveling
• Check leveling
 Differential Leveling

Definitions
2. Backsight (BS) - a sight taken to the level rod held at a
point of known elevation
(either a BM or TP)

BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft

Point B

Point A
Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)
 Differential Leveling

Definitions
3. Height of instrument (HI) - the elevation of the line of
sight of the telescope

BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft

Point B

Point A
Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)
 Differential Leveling

Definitions
4. Foresight (FS) - a sight taken on any point to determine its
elevation

BS = 6.32 ft HI = 106.32 ft FS = 3.10 ft

Point B

Point A
Elevation = 103.22 ft

Starting point
(elevation 100.00 ft)
 Differential Leveling

D. Computation of Elevations
BS
12.64

BM1
1. BS + Elevation = HI
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations
BS FS
12.64 3.11

BM1
TP1 2. HI - FS = Elevation
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 3.11 109.53
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations
BS
BS FS 10.88
12.64 3.11

BM1
TP1
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations
BS FS
BS FS 10.88 2.56
12.64 3.11

BM1 TP2

TP1
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 2.56 117.85
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations BS
9.72
BS FS
BS FS 10.88 2.56
12.64 3.11

BM1 TP2

TP1
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations BS FS
9.72 3.10
BS FS
BS FS 10.88 2.56
12.64 3.11 BM2

BM1 TP2

TP1
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85
BM2 3.10 124.47
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations BS FS
9.72 3.10
BS FS
BS FS 10.88 2.56
12.64 3.11 BM2

BM1 TP2

TP1
Elevation 100.00

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85
BM2 3.10 124.47
 Differential Leveling

Computation of Elevations
3. Change in elevation- summation of the backsight and the foresight then
subtract

Point BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 12.64 112.64 100.00
TP1 10.88 120.41 3.11 109.53
TP2 9.72 127.57 2.56 117.85
BM2 3.10 124.47
+33.24 -8.77

Change in elevation = 33.24 -8.77 =24.47

 Differential Leveling

4. The initial backsight (BS) is taken to a point of known elevation

5. The backsight reading is added to the elevation of the known point to

compute the height of the instrument (HI)

6. The level may be moved to a temporary point called a turning point

(TP)

7. The elevation of a point is the height of the instrument (HI) minus

the foresight (FS)
 Fly levelling

• When differential levelling is done in order to connect a bench

mark to the start point of the alignment of any project it is
called fly leveling.
• In such leveling , only B.S and F.S reading are taken at every
setup of the level and no distances are measured along the
direction of leveling.
 Profile levelling
• The operation of taking levels along the centre line of any
alignment ( Road, Railway etc) at regular interval is known as
profile leveling.
• In this operation B.S, I.S, F.S readings are taken at regular
intervals, at every set up of the instrument.
• Chainage and bearing of line are also measured.
 H.I.Method
Station B.S I.S F.S H.I R.L. REMARKS

A 0.665 100.665 100 B.M

B 0.825 99.84
D 2.54 98.125
E 3.20 0.385 103.48 100.28 C.P.
G 1.565 1.4 103.645 102.08 C.P.
I 2.0 101.645
J 101.195
Check 5.43 4.235 101.195-100 =1.195
5.43-4.235 1.195
 Rise & fall Method
Station B.S I.S F.S Rise Fall R.L. Remarks
(+) (-)
A 0.665 100
B 0.825 0.16 99.84
D 2.54 1.715 98.125
E 3.20 0.385 2.155 100.28 C.P
G 1.565 1.4 1.80 102.08 C.P
I 2.0 0.435 101.645
J 0.450 101.195
Check 5.43 4.235 3.955 2.76 101.195-100=1.195
5.43-4.235 1.195 3.955-2.76=1.195
 Cross sectional levelling
• It is operation of levelling to determine the elevation of the
points at right angles on either side of the centre line of the
proposed route and radially on the curves .
• The cross sections are taken at regular intervals along the
alignment.
• It is used to know the nature of the ground across the centre
line of any alignment
 Check levelling
• The fly levelling done at the end of the day’s work to connect
the finishing point with the starting point on that particular
day is known as check levelling. It is under taken to check the
accuracy of day work
 Correction in reading
Curvature correction
• The effect of curvature is to cause the objects sighted, to
appear lower than they really are.
– True staff reading = observed staff reading – 0.0785D2 (D= distance in km)
Refraction correction
• The effect of refraction is to cause the objects sighted, to
appear higher than they really are.
– True staff reading = observed staff reading + 0.0112D2 (D= distance in km)
Combine correction
• The effect of curvature and refraction is combined, is to make
the objects sighted appear low, The over all correction is
subtractive.
– True staff reading = observed staff reading - 0.0673D2 (D= distance in km)

Note: The Cc anc Cr are apply if the observation are taken for length greater than
200m
 Reciprocal levelling
• It is the operation of levelling in which the difference in
elevation between two points is accurately determined by
two sets of reciprocal observation.
• Error such as reading of staff, curvature of earth and
imperfect adjustment of instrument are minimize with
reciprocal levelling.

e
a b

A B

D
 Reciprocal levelling
h = (b-e)-a from figure 1
h = c-(d-e) form figure 2
2h=(b-a)+(c-d)
h = ½ [(b-a)+(c-d)]
In above derivation it is assumed that the effect of
refraction is the same while making observations from both
the stations.

e
d c

A B

D
 Difficulties faced in levelling
When staff is too near the instrument
– In such case, a piece of white paper is moved up and down along the
staff until the edge of paper is bisected by line of collimation.

Levelling across a large pond or lake

B.S F.S B.S F.S

A
B
 Difficulties faced in levelling
Levelling across river : use reciprocal levelling

Leveling across solid wall

R.L of A = HI – AC
R.L of E = R.L. of A + AE
R.L. of F= R.L. of E

R.L of B = R.L. of F –BF

E F
HI at O2 = R.L. of B +BD

C HI
D

O1 A B O2
 Difficulties faced in levelling
When B.M. is above line of collimation

B.M

H.I = R.L of B.M-B.S

F.S
B.S
O
A
R.L. of A = H.I –F.S
 Difficulties faced in levelling
Levelling along a steep slope

S3
I2
S2
I1
S1

I1
S1 S2
A S3 B
I2
 Difficulties faced in levelling
Levelling across rising ground or depression
 Sources of error in levelling
Instrumental error
• The permanent adjustment of the instrument may not be
perfect. That is line of collimation may not be parallel to the
axis of the bubble tube.

• The internal arrangement of focusing tube is not perfect

• The graduation of levelling staff may not be perfect

 Sources of error in levelling
Personal error
• The instrument may not be levelled perfectly.
• The focussing of the eye piece and object glass may not be perfect and
parallax may not be removed.
• The position of staff may be displayed at the c.p. at the time of F.S and B.S
reading
• The staff may be appear inverted when viewed through the telescope. By
mistake, the staff readings may be taken upward instead of downward.
• The reading of the stadia hair rather than the central collimation hair may
be taken by mistake.
• A wrong entry may be made in the level book.
• The staff may not be properly and fully extended.
 Sources of error in levelling
Error due to natural causes
• When the distance of sight is long, the curvature of the may
after the staff reading
• The effect of refraction may cause a wrong staff reading.
• The effect of high winds and a shining sun may result in a
wrong staff reading.
 Permissible Error
E=C D
E = closing error in meters
C = the constant, and
D = distance in kilometers

• Following are the permissible errors for the different types of

levelling.
Rough levelling - E + 0.100 D
Ordinary levelling - E + 0.025 D
Accurate levelling - E + 0.012 D
Precise levelling - E + 0.006 D
QUESTION
QUESTION
 QUESTION
• The following observation were made during the testing of
dumpy level. Find R.L of B.
Instrument Staff reading at Remarks
A B R.L of B.M
A = 450 m.
A 1.725 2.245
B 2.145 3.045

h = ( 2.245-1.725) + (3.045-2.145) / 2
= 0.710 (fall from A to B)
R.L of B = 450 -0.710
= 449.290 m
THANK YOU