Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

Introduction
Levelling is an observational technique that allows the computation of the
relative heights of points above or below some plane of reference called the
levelling datum. It can be also defined as a means by which surveyors can
determine the elevation of points, using other known points as references.
Levelling is perhaps the most basic of surveying operations and forms an
important fundamental part of almost every surveying project.

Basics of levelling
In levelling, the surveyor looks back (BS) to a point of known elevation to
determine the elevation of his or her instrument (EI). The surveyor then looks
forward (FS) to a point of unknown elevation and determines the elevation of
that point using the elevation of his or her instrument (EI) and the value on
the level rod read through the levels telescope.

Once the elevation of a point is determined, that point can be used for
determining the elevations of other points.

Aim
To determine the relative height, that is the height at the Food Technology
Laboratory (TBM), with respect to a known point (BM2, near the CITS
building).

Apparatus and equipment used

1. Automatic level

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

This instrument is used to obtain a perfectly horizontal line of sight so that a

vertical staff can be sighted and the vertical distance from the line of sight to
the base of the staff measured. An optical arrangement within this type of
level automatically produces a horizontal line of sight (provided the initial
deviations of the line of sight is less that 5 of arc from the horizontal). The
three levelling screws and bubble enable the tribrach to be set up within this
tolerance. The optical arrangements for the automatic correction usually
comprise a prism suspended within the telescope so that its reflecting
surface is maintained at an angle of 45 to the horizontal. It is sometimes
referred as to the COMPENSATOR (or PENDULUM) and has a damping device
to ensure that undue oscillation is removed.

2. E-staff (To read the height)

2

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

3. Tripod stand (To hold the automatic level)

4. Change plate

5. Measuring tape

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

6. 2 Pegs and hammer (for 2 peg test)

Setting up the apparatus

The tripod is placed on the ground and the three legs are spread
to a suitable height, according to the reader.
The legs are adjusted and well pressed on the ground, if it is on
the soft ground. The base should be nearly horizontal with the
naked eye.
Then, the automatic level is placed on the base and is correctly
gripped to it in such a way that it will not fall or move.
Next, the bubble in the automatic level is adjusted such that the
latter is brought in the middle of the circle. This will ensure that
the level is perfectly horizontal. This is done using the 3 foot
screws on the base of the instrument.
The instrument is rotated through 180 and is checked again.
The staff is held at a distance from the apparatus. The
instrument is pointed at the target. The reading is taken at the
middle cross hair.

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

Methodology
To begin with, an overall view of the area is noted, that is the
weather conditions, the path to go through the area.
The staff is hold by 1 member on the change plate at BM2 while
another one sets the apparatus at a distance from BM and reads
the level. A 3rd member checks the reading and the value is
recorded as the first back sight value. Furthermore the
corresponding remarks are also noted.
The staff holder changes position and the reading in the level is
noted by the booker. This new value is the fore sight value.
Note: no inter sight have been taken.
The steps are repeated at different place until the TBM is reached
and the survey ends back to the BM2.
All the readings are recorded in a clear and tabular form as
shown below and checks are carried out each time in order to
minimize errors.
Back sight

Inter sight

Fore sight

Rise

Fall

Redd level

Remarks

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

Booking and calculation

The rise and fall method is used for this survey. The rise/fall is obtained by
calculation. In this case, the fore sight is subtracted from the current back
sight. If the value is negative, it is recorded in the fall column. Otherwise it
gets noted in the rise column. As such, the calculations for the rise/fall
columns are done and recorded. The corresponding values of the reduced
level at the different stations are subsequently calculated and tabulated.

Survey: Local
survey
Observer:
Group1
Booker: Group1
Back
sight

Inter
sight

Date: 21st March

2012
Conditions: Dry,
Sunny

Fore sight

Rise

Fall

1.315
0.545

1.840

0.525

1.390

1.440

0.895

1.190

1.570

0.180

1.120

3.510

2.320

1.092

1.092

0.028

2.710

0.240

0.852

1.939
2.642

1.185
1.565

1.525
0.374

1.675

1.800

0.842

B=15.6
18

1.380
0.295
F=15.62 R=3.91
2 6
-15.618
0.004

F=3.9
20
-3.916
0.004

Red'd level

Remarks

BM2 ( near
312.200 CITS)
CP (parking
311.675 lot)
CP (grey
310.780 building)
CP (building in
310.600 rocks)
CP (asphalt
308.280 road)
TBM (food
308.308 tech lab)
CP (asphalt
309.160 road)
CP (parking
310.685 lot)
311.059 CP ( turn)
CP ( asphalt
311.901 road)
BM2 ( near
312.196 CITS)
312.200
-312.196
0.004

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

Errors and adjustments in levelling

Gross errors of operators
Mistakes in setting up instrument, using the incorrect stadia hair, misreading
staff, booking the reading incorrectly can all occur due to carelessness,
inexperience or fatigue. Errors of this nature can be detected by ensuring
that all levelling operations form a closed loop.
Errors associated with equipment

Staff not vertical

This can give rise to significant errors. The error can be eliminated by:
Fitting a staff with a circular spirit level and the staff holder
maintaining the bubble central during the reading operation.
Slowly causing the top of the staff to sway slowly backwards and
forwards through the vertical position. The observer then notes
the lowest reading.
e.g

Collimation error

In a properly adjusted level the line of the sight will be perfectly horizontal
when the bubble of the spirit level is central. As the length of the sight
increases, the error e increases. The effect of the error can be eliminated by
making the back sight and fore sight equal in length.

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

The test for this error, the Two- peg test, should be carried out prior to
important levelling work.

The two peg test

Collimation error is much more significant than the other errors. It should be
kept as small as possible so that one need not be too precise in ensuring that
fore- and back sights are of equal length (these are usually paced out). It is
possible to determine the collimation error and reduce its size using the socalled Two-peg test. There are three steps involved in this procedure:

1.

Set out and mark on the ground (with wooden pegs driven into the
earth, or roofing nails in tar) two point some 30m apart. Set up the level
exactly mid-way (within 0.5m) between them:

Levelling

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

Take measurements of back sight and foresight for this first setup. The
height difference h1 will be free of the effects of collimation error:

h1 = b1 - f1 = (b + sb.) - (f + sf.)
= b - f + .(sb - sf)
= b - f

2.

(because sb = sf )

Next, move the level to a position just beyond the fore staff position
(about 5m):

Then repeat the readings. In this case, sb = 35m and sf = 5m. Then:

h2 = b2 - f2 = (b + sb.) - (f + sf.)
= b - f + .(sb - sf)
b - f

(because sb sf)

Obviously, this height difference is burdened with the effect of a

collimation error over 30m.

Levelling

3.

UJOODHA Yashveer

ID: 1110917

The difference h2 - h1 can be used to calculate what the true back

sight reading would be for the second setup, if collimation error were not
present:

b b2 -

s b - sf
30
. h 2 - h1 b 2 . h 2 - h1
sb
35

In the case of older levels with tubular bubbles the adjustment consists of
tilting the level using the levelling screws until the desired staff reading
appears on the cross-hair. Then the adjusting screws on the tubular level
are adjusted until the bubble is level. For modern levels with automatic
compensators the adjustment involves moving the cross-hairs vertically
using their adjusting screws until the desired reading is obtained.

The entire process should be repeated as a check. It is practically impossible

to adjust the instrument so that no collimation error exists - the purpose of
the adjustment is to reduce the size of this error. If the discrepancy h2 - h1
can be reduced to around 2mm this is perfectly adequate, provided sight
lengths are thereafter kept reasonably similar.

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