Unit 3

Introduction to Leveling

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping

Slide # 1
 Levelling
• Leveling is a means of
accurately determining
height differences between
points.
• Device used for leveling is a
level.
• If the height of a point(s)
relative to a reference
surface is given, the height is
called a reduced level.

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 2
 Levelling
• And the reference
surface is called datum.
• A level is used with a
staff, which is evenly
graduated.
• Graduate: Make fine
adjustments or divide
into marked intervals for
optimal measuring

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 3
 Basic Elements of a Level
Telescope to give
extended lines of
sight
Bubble for levelling
the level

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 4
 Types of Levels
1. Dumpy Level

2. Tilting Level

3. Automatic Level

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 5
 Dumpy level

• Telescope and
vertical spindle
are cast as one
piece

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 6
 Dumpy Level

Bub
ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010
Slide # 7
 Tilting Level
• Telescope not
rigidly fixed to
the vertical
spindle
• It’s capable of
slight tilt in the
vertical plane

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 8
 Tilting Level

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 9
 Automatic Level
• Needs only to be
approximately
levelled.
• A compensator is
mounted on the
level to make it
exactly levelled.
• Popular because of
their ease to use
ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010
Slide # 10
 Digital Level
• Digital Level is also set
level on a tripod and reads
a bar-coded staff using
electronic laser methods
• The height of staff where
the level beam crosses the
staff is shown on a digital
display
• Removes interpolation of
graduation by a person,
thus removing a source of
error and increasing
accuracy
ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010 Slide # 11
 Levelling Datum
Could be your own Datum - Assumed Datum
- Arbitrary Datum
Or
- Site Datum
A National Datum
In Namibia we have a national agency known as the
Office of the Surveyor General (Directorate of Survey and
Mapping).
The OSG has established a National Datum.

Based on this Datum - points of known height have

been established around the country.
These points around the country are known as Bench Marks

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 12
Levelling Staff Levelling

Height of the Plane of Collimation (HPC)

BS FS

(unknown)
RL A (known) RL B

A
B
DATUM
HPC = RL A + BS

RL B = HPC - FS
ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010
Slide # 13
 Some Terminology
BS
S1

RL C
RL A RL B
C
A
B
Level staff on A Back Sight (BS) reading is first reading

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 14
 FS
S2

RL C
RL A RL B
C
A
B
Level staff on A Back Sight (BS) reading is first reading
Level staff on B Fore Sight (FS) reading is last reading
Move instrument to new position

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 15
 BS
S3

RL C
RL A RL B
C
A
B
CP

Move instrument to new position Level staff stays on B

The instrument has changed its position about point B
Point B is known as a Change Point (CP)
2nd instrument position starts with BS to B
ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010
Slide # 16
 FS
BS
S3 S4

RL C
RL A RL B
C
A
B

and finishes with FS to C

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 17
 Summary of Levelling Procedure
When the level has been set up we always start with a BS to
a point whose RL is known
- such as an BM or a Temporary BM
The last reading at any instrument position is always a FS
i.e.always end with a FS
Either the instrument moves or the staff moves -

never move both

We must always finish levelling at a point of known RL value
- such as an BM or a TBM

always close your levelling

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010
Slide # 18
 HPC
HPC
BS FS
BS FS
RL C
RL A RL B
C
A
B (CP)
RL A is known
HPC = RL A + BS RL B = HPC - FS
Now the RL B is known So we can repeat the process
HPC = RL B + BS RL C = HPC - FS

So, HPC = Known RL + Back Sight

Unknown RL = HPC - Fore Sight
ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010
Slide # 19
 Levelling formulae

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 20
Reading the staff

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 21
Reading the staff

?
1.120
1.110
1.100

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 22
Reading the staff

Read value at
the
horizontal
cross hair
?
1.920
1.910
1.900

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 23
Booking and Reducing Levelling
Observations

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 24
BS FS Height diff RL Adjusted RL Rem.
Mid Up Low Mid Up Low Rise Fall
2.108 2.218 2.070 1669.130 1669.130 BMK2
2.492 2.501 2.400 2.600 2.742 2.544 0.492 1668.638 1668.636 CP1, -0.002
2.408 2.520 2.337 2.790 2.890 2.644 0.298 1668.340 1668.336 CP2, -0.004
2.563 3.000 2.349 0.155 1668.185 1668.179 IS1, -0.006
3.299 3.361 2.500 0.736 1667.449 1667.443 IS2, -0.006
2.213 2.372 1.994 3.850 4.329 2.862 0.551 1666.898 1666.892 CP3, -0.006
3.122 3.678 2.980 0.909 1665.989 1665.981 BMK4, -0.008
∑BS= 9.221 ∑FS= 12.362 ∑Rise= 0 ∑Fall= 3.141 lastRL - firstRL

∑BS- ∑FS =-3.141 ∑Rise- =-3.141 -3.141

∑Fall
No. of inst Miscl=e =Meas- True
setup=no.
BS=no. of
FS(excl. ISs) = 1665.989- 1665.981
= +0.008
Therefore =-e -0.008
correction=
Corr per station= corrdist= corr/n= -0.008/4
= -0.002

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 25
BS FS Intermediate Height diff RL Adjusted RL Rem.
Mid Up Low Mid Up Low Mid Up Low Rise Fall
1.223 1.327 1.141 1669.130 1669.130 BMK2

0.801 0.922 0.739 2.108 2.320 1.992 0.885 1668.245 1668.225 CP1, -0.020

1.020 1.117 0.984 0.219 1668.026 1667.986 IS1, -0.040

2.985 2.996 2.972 1.965 1666.061 1666.021 IS2, -0.040

1.002 1.111 0.920 1.002 1.111 0.920 1.983 1668.044 1668.004 CP2 IS3, -0.040

1.584 1.700 1.395 2.321 2.331 2.312 1.319 1666.725 1666.685 CP2, BMK3, -0.040

0.985 1.540 0.654 2.012 2.225 1.954 0.428 1666.297 1666.236 CP3, -0.061

2.201 2.340 2.114 1.216 1665.081 1665.000 BMK4, -0.081

4.593 8.642 =-4.049

4.593- =--4.049 1.983 6.032 e=Meas- True
8.642

1.983 – =1665.081- 1665.000

6.032

= 4.049 =0.081 =81mm

corr=-e =-0.081
corrdistr= corr/n

=-0.081/4 =-0.02025

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 26
 Distance (d) determination by
tacheometry
• The distances between the staff and the instrument can
be determined by observing the Upper (U) and Lower (L)
stadia hairs of the level. The distance is then,
d=constant*(U-L), constant is usually 100.
• Note small d is used for these individual back sight and
fore sight distances because capital D is reserved for the
total distance of the level run.

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 27
 Allowable misclosure

• Allowable Misclosure = e ≈ 10√D(km) mm or

• e ≈ 5√n mm,
• where D=length of level run and n =no. of stations
(instrument set ups).

• e = ΔHmeas – ΔHknown
• Corr= -e
• Correction per station, = corr/number of stations.
Correction accumulates.
• No of stns = no. of BS= no. of FS = no. of CPs+1

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 28
 Allowable misclosure
• As stated earlier, the distances between the staff and
the instrument can be determined by observing the
Upper (U) and Lower (L) stadia hairs of the level. The
distance is then, d=constant*(U-L), constant is usually
100. D= sum of backsight distances+sum of foresight
distances.
• In this illustration, small d is used for individual back
sight and fore sight distances, whereas capital D is
used for the total distance of the level run.

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 29
 To check for reducing blunders
• The following three checks must give the same answer.

• 1. Sum of Backsights - Sum of Foresights

• 2. Sum of Rise – Sum of Fall
• 3. Last Reduced level – Start reduced level

ISM110S – Introduction to Survey and Mapping, 2010

Slide # 30