CHAPTER 3

LEVELING

Definitions

An elevation of a point : The vertical distance between the point and the
reference level surface ( datum )
,the most commonly used datum is the mean sea level (MSL ) .
Leveling : The process by which the elevation of a point above or bellow
the MSL or the elevation difference between points is determined, There are
several ways to do that:
A- Chain surveying: by measuring the slope distance and angle of inclination
B- Barometric leveling: by measuring the atmospheric pressure using
barometer or an altimeter.
C- Trigonometric Leveling: by measuring the horizontal or slope distance
between points and the vertical angle ( an elevation or zenith ).
D- Differential Leveling: by using an instrument called a level .
Bench Mark ( BM) : well marked points whose elevation has been accurately
measured.
Level line: a line perpendicular to the direction of gravity at all points.

Basic Principle of A level

A level consists essentially of :
a- telescope for sighting.
b- a leveling device to maintain the line of sight a horizontal as Bubble Tube,
circular bubble, and some levels use a bubble consists of two separate halves
which can be seen through an eyepiece near the telescope.
To use the level instrument in making leveling there is a need for :
a- Tripod: A three-legged stand used to support a level or other surveying
equipments.
b- level rods ( staff ): used to measure the vertical distance between the points
and is usually 3 5 m long ( telescopic staff, folding staff, one piece staff ).
There three kinds of levels :
- The dumpy level: the line of sight ( collimation ) is fixed at right angles to the
vertical axis of rotation of the instrument, ( the spirit level attached to the
telescope) should also be perpendicular to the vertical axis and parallel to the
line of collimation.
- The tilting level: the vertical axis is made approximately vertical using circular
bubble, and the telescope is leveled horizontal using the telescope spirit level.
- The Automatic level: use a system of self-leveling compensators within the
optical system of the telescope to bring the line of sight to the horizontal plane.

Measuring Elevation Difference using a level

2.56

Line of collimation

The difference in elevation between A & B

the vertical distance AC = RA -RB=
. m 1.63 = 0.93 -2.56=
positive value means Rise

0.93

Second reading smaller than first reading represents a rise

0.64
A

Line of collimation

2.97
C

The difference in elevation between A & B

the vertical distance BC = RA -RB=
. m 2.33 = -2.97 -0.64=
Negative value means Fall

Second reading greater than first reading represents a fall

Calculation of Unknown Points

2.56
C

Line of collimation

0.93
0.64
B

Line of collimation

2.97
C

:A- The height of Instrument (collimation ) method

Height of instrument (HI) = Elevation of A + staff reading at A

Elevation of B ( RL )
= HI staff reading at B
HI = 520.43 + 2.56 = 522.99 m AMSL
RLB = 522.99 0.93 = 522.06 AMSL

HI = 520.43 + 0.64 = 521.07 m AMSL

RLB = 521.07 2.97 = 518.10 m AMSL

:B- The Rise and Fall method

Elevation Difference = first reading at A second reading at B
Elevation of B ( RL ) = elevation of A + Rise or Fall
ELev. Diff. = 2.56 0.93 = 1.63 m. (Rise)
RLB = 520.43 + 1.63 = 522.06 m. AMSL

ELev. Diff. = 0.64 2.97 = -2.33 m. (Fall)

RLB = 520.43 + (-2.33) = 518.10 m. AMSL

HAB = HB HA = RA - RB

Procedure in Differential Level

Definitions:
1- Backsight ( BS ): The first reading taken at every instrument station .
2- Foresight ( FS ): The last reading taken at every instrument station .
3- Intermediate sight ( IS ): Any reading taken at an instrument station between BS & FS
4- Turning point ( TP ): A point at which both BS & FS are taken before moving the staff

General Procedure:
The main purpose is to provide RL for a large number of points, such as the center line
of highway, or an area to produce a contour plan, this will be illustrated through the
following example of production longitudinal section (profile ) of a road.

Booking the work

Calculations
:A- The Height of Instrument ( HI ) method

:Checks
of BS reading = # of FS reading = 2- # 1
BS - FS= RL last point RL first point(3.450 2.231 = 99.979 98.760=1.219)- 2
8 + 1) = of TP) + (# of points ) = (# of readings = 9- ( # 3
Sum of all RL excluding the first reduced level = sum of the HI for each setup- 4
multiplied by the number of IS and FS readings taken from that setup sum of IS
sum of FS 689.741 =)FS =2.231()IS=7.595( )699.567 = 3100.625 + 499.423(= 689.741

:B- The rise and Fall method

:Checks
of BS = # of FS = 2- # 1
)of TP = 1 ) + ( # of points = 8 ) = ( # of readings = 9-( # 2
1.219 ) = 3.450 2.231) = (BS - FS- ( 3
1.219) = 3.079 1.860) = ( R - F = (
1.219 ) = 99.979 98.760) = ( RL last - RL1st = (

General Notes
1- The accuracy of RL depend on both calculations & correct measurements( staff readings)
To ensure accurate elevations of the level points, the field work should start at BM and
close at another known BM, or should go back and close at the starting point .
2- If the purpose of leveling is to find out the elevation difference between two points, no
intermediate sights are necessary, only BS & FS readings are made.
3- The BS & FS distances should be approximately equal to avoid errors.
4- IF possible staff readings should be made to the nearest mm at TP, and to the nearest cm
at other points.
5- TP points should be chosen on firm ground. On soft ground, a special triangular base is
used.
6- IF the point whose elevation is to be calculated lie above the level of the sight line like
a bridge or a ceiling or top of wall or column, then the staff reading is recorded in negative.
7- If the BM point is the last point, then use the equation ( BS - FS= RL lastRL1st ) to
calculate the RL of first point But if the BM lie in the middle of level chain, then calculate
the RL of last point ,and after that use the previous equation to calculate the RL of first
point and complete the calculations in the normal way.

:Example
Using the data in the following figure, calculate the RL of points: A, B, C, D, using
both of R & F and HI methods

of BS = # of FS = 2- # 1
1.52 & (R - F)=(3.38-4.90) = -1.52)=-0.67-0.85)=(-BS - FS- (2
1.52) = -498.48 500.00( )= RL last RL1st
&(
RL excluding first RL = 501.13 + 503.38 + 498.48 = 1502.99- 3
)IS=-3.52) - (FS=0.85) (1500.32 = 2 499.86 + 1 500.6
=(
1502.99 =

Uses of Leveling
1- Longitudinal Sections: (center line of a railway, road, canal, sewer or water main)
Levels are taken at:
1- every 20m, 50m or 100m depending on the topography (for earthworks computations,
A spacing of 20m is common.
2- points at which gradient changes, and at streets intersections.
Notes:
Staff readings to 0.01 m accuracy are generally adequate
Common scale for roads works are 1/1000 for horizontal ( Distances )
& 1/100 for vertical ( levels or elevations ).
Points are connected by straight lines on the profile.

:Cross-Sections- 2

Some Engineering works require that cross sections be taken at right angles to
the center line of a proposed or existing project such as a road.
The width of these of sections are taken 15 m either side of the center for
a normal road.
A scale of 1/50 or 1/100 is used for both horizontal and vertical axes.

:contouring- 3
Definitions:
A contour: is an imaginary line connecting points on the ground that have the
same elevation.
Contour Interval ( CI ): The vertical distance or elevation difference between two
successive contours.

Contour interval = 20m

Characteristics of Contours
1- Closely contours represent a steep slope, but spaced far contours
represent a flat slope.
2- Contours of different values do not cross each other except in a cave, nor
do they merge except in a vertically standing surface such as a wall.
3- A single contour can not split into two contours of the same value, and
must be a closed circuit not necessary in limits of the contour plan.
4- Irregular contours represent a rough and uneven terrain.
5- contours are perpendicular to the direction of the steepest slope.
6- A hill or depression are represented by closed lines.
Factors affecting choice of contour intervals:
1- Contour plan scale: The larger scale is the smaller contour interval.
2- The importance and purpose of a contour plan : for more details, a small
contour interval is used.
3- Accuracy, time and cost : For higher accuracy, a smaller interval is used.
4- The topography of the ground : For steep ground a large contour interval
is used, but for flat ground a small contour interval is used.
5- The area covered by the plan: For larger areas, a large contour interval is
used.

Methods of Contouring
1- Griding : This method is suitable for flat terrain of small sites ,rectangles or squares of
10 to 20m side are set out on the ground
A1

B
C
D
10-20m

E
10-20m

,The reduced levels of corners are plotted as a grid on a plan with suitable scale
. Then the required contour lines are plotted by a process called linear interpolation
X / 12 = ( 1 / 3 )
X= (1 / 3)12 = 4m

:Radiating Lines-2
Rays are set out on the ground from a central point, and levels are taken along
these rays at measured distance from the center, and linear interpolation is
used to give the contour lines.

Cross-Section Method : In this method, a cross-section are made on a line- 3

or a traverse inside the area, levels are taken at points where the topography
. changes, and linear interpolation is used to give the contour lines

:Setting Out Levels- 4

One of the basic applications of leveling is setting out sight rails which enable
The excavation operators to cut out earth to an even gradient, and enable
the pipe-layer to lay the pipes to this gradient using a boning rod looking
The capital letter T with a sight bar across it, the convenient height above
. Invert would be 3.75 m

Sight rail A, RL= 30.02 + 3.75 =33.77m

Distance AB = 60 m
Fall = 60 ( 1 / 100 ) =0.60 m
Invert Level at B = 30.02 0.60=29.42 m
Sight rail at B = 29.42 + 3.75 = 33.17 m
If a level is setup nearby has a height
Of collimation of 34.85 m, then the staff
Reading at A = 34.85 33.77 = 1.08 m
Reading at B= 34.85 33.17 = 1.68 m&

:Classes and Accuracy of leveling

The allowable closure error in differential leveling is normally given in the form:
= x K mm where: K Is the total leveled distance in kilometers.
x = from 10 to 30 for ordinary leveling
x = from 2 to 5 for precise leveling

:Errors in Differential Leveling

:Systematic errors- 1
& A- Inclination of line of sight due to the earths curvature
:atmospheric refraction
BC = line of sight refraction from horizontal
BD = error due to earths curvature
CD = Actual error in the staff reading
BD-BC
=

In triangle ABO: (BD + DO) =AB + AO

BD + 2R.BD + R = L + R
BD L / 2R 0.0786 L ( R = 6365 km.)
.BD in meter & L in km
Refraction = BC BD/7 0.0786L/7
CD = 0.0786L - 0.0786L/7 = 0.0673L
Where CD is in meter & L is in km
When L=1km
CD 0.07m 7cm
L 100m 0.10km
CD .001m 1mm

:B-Maladjustment of the level collimation Errors

Due to maladjustment of the level, the line of sight will be actually inclined from the
horizontal, this error can be completely eliminated by balancing the BS & FS distances

1 = L1.tan & 2 = L2.tan

H = m n =(a- 1) (b- 2)
)1 2 ) ( a b= (
tan (L1 L2) ) a b=(
If L1 = L2 ( BS distance = FS)
H = ( a b )
: Random errors: the sources of random error are-2
. The staff not held plumb.The bubble of the level not perfectly centered.The incorrect reading of the staff.The instability of turning pointsWind:Blunders or Mistakes- 3
.Not setting the staff on the same point for a FS and subsequent BS readings Recording or Booking of data, like reading 2.58m as 2.85 m or booking a FS in.the BS column
Misreading the staff especially when the marks on the staff are obscured by. a tree or fence

Example
TO check a level for the existence of collimation error, the level was set up mid-way
between A and B and the following two staff readings were taken:1.92m at A and
1.40m at B. The level was then moved to another position and the readings as
in the following figure. Is there a collimation error ? If the answer is yes, then
calculate the angle of inclination of the line of sight from the horizontal, as well
as correct readings that should have been taken at A & B in the second setup if
there was no collimation error?
:For setup 1
H1 = (correct)=1.921.40=0.52m
H2 = 1.75 - 1.20 = 0.55 m
H1 H2
there is a collimation error
tan(5823) )1.20 - 1.75 =( 0.52
= 0 2 57
Correct reading at A (m) = 1.75 58 tan = 1.70 m
Correct reading at B (m) = 1.20 23 tan = 1.18 m
:Check
H = 1.70 1.18 = 0.52 m = H1

:Reciprocal leveling

Setup the level at point C (first setup a), about 2 to 3 m. from A and take- 1
the readings a1 at A and b1 at B
( H1 = a1 b1 )
: Move the level to point D where ( AC = BD ) .Take the readings- 2
a2 at A and b2 at B
( H2 = a2 b2 )
H =( H1 + H2 ) / 2 =( ( a1 b1 ) + ( a2 b2 ) ) / 2- 3
ex: IF RLA = 917.34 m & a1 = 1.44m (BS) & b1 = 1.90m (FS) & a2 = 1.80m (BS)
?b2 = 2.34m (FS), what is the elevation of point B &
H AB =((1.44 1.90) + (1.80 2.34)) / 2 = -0.50 m
.The elevation of B (HB) = HA + H AB = 917.34 + (-0.50) = 916.84 m

Closure error

Closure correction for hi = (- ni / ni ) (

Corrected hi = measured hi + closure correction for hi

(closure error) = h ( calculated elevation ) h ( known elevation )

ni refers to the number of level setups
. hi refers to the elevation difference between consecutive stations&