Lecture: Trigonometric Leveling

Trigonometric Leveling (Kanetkar Vol IIPg 42-60)

TRIGONOMETRICAL LEVELLING

It is the branch of leveling in which the relative

elevations of different stations are determined from
the observed vertical angles and known distances.
 TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELING
D

Theodolite /Total Station measures

r
vertical Angle
S V
B
z
C a

hi

H
A
V = S Sin a = H Tan a
ZB = ZA + hi + S Sin a - r
= ZA + hi + H Tan - r a
V = S Sin a = H Tan a
ZB = ZA + hi + S Sin a – r

ZB = ZA + hi + H Tan a – r
 TRIGONOMETRICAL LEVELLING

• When trying to go the tops of mountains, standard leveling

does not work well. (Imagine trying to do this to the
summit of Mt. Everest).

• For high peaks we use the method of trigonometric

leveling.

• This is not as accurate as spirit leveling because of the

curvature and refraction effects

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 TRIGONOMETRICAL LEVELLING

• In ideal cases, elevation angles at both ends are measured at

the same time. This helps cancel atmospheric refraction
errors.

• The distance can be many tens of kilometers.

In the case of Mt. Everest, the distance was over 100 km
(the survey team was not even in the same country; they
were in India and mountain is in Nepal).

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 TRIGONOMETRICAL LEVELLING

• Distance is determined either by triangulation or by

electronic distance measurement (EDM) .

• The heights of the instruments, called total station/

theodolites, above the ground point must be measured.
Note: this instrument height measurement was not needed
for leveling.

• When long distances are involved it is essential to consider

the effect of Curvature of Earth and Refraction due to
atmospheric conditions.

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 TRIGONOMETRICAL LEVELLING
• The effect of curvature is to make the objects appear
lower than they really are.

• The effect of refraction is to make them appear higher

than they really are. It is taken as one seventh of that of
curvature.

• The combined effect is to cause the object appear lower

than they really are.
 CURVATURE AND REFRACTION
E
•A and C = The two stations whose
difference of level is desired
•AB = The level line passing through A. D β C
•CD = The level line passing through C. C’
•AF = The horizontal line at A (tangent to
AB). θ F
A’
•CE = The horizontal line at C (tangent to
γ H
CD).
•H = The true difference of elevation of A
and C.
α
•< A’AF = α = The angle of elevation
observed at A.
•<C’CE = β = The angle of depression A d B

observed at C.
•d = The horizontal distance between A and
θ
C.
 CURVATURE AND REFRACTION
E

•θ = The angle subtended by the horizontal D β C

distance AB at the centre of the earth. C’
•< A’AC = < AC’C = γ = The angle of
θ F
refraction. A’
•m = The coefficient of refraction. γ H
•R = The radius of the earth.
•Corrected angle at A = <CAF = <A’AF -
<A’AC α
= α–γ
•Corrected angle at C = < ACE = <C’CE +
A d B
< C’CA
= β +γ
θ
 TRIGNOMETRIC LEVELING

H HT
β
HI
V2
B V1

HT α
H
HI

A
H

HORIZONTAL DISTANCE AB
 TRIGONOMETRICAL LEVELLING

Advantages and disadvantages of trigonometric

heighting compared to leveling:

• large elevation difference can be measured

over short distances
• elev. difference of remote points can be
measured in one step
• elev. difference of obstructed points can be
measured
• usually less accurate than spirit levelling
• the distance (either slope or horizontal)
between the two points must be known
 Example
Identify the difference in elevation between two stations A
and B and the elevation of B from the following data:-
• Observed angle of elevation at A = 8° 45' 15"
• Height of instrument at A = 1.50 m
• Height of signal at B = 3.65 m
• Horizontal distance between A and B = 2565.52 m
• Reduced level of A = 202 m
• Effect of curvature = 0.13 m
THANKS