LEVELING

Leveling is the process by means of which the difference in elevation ( relative height) of various
points on the earths surface is calculated.

Prepared By:-

Er. TARUN SHARMA

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Department of Civil Engineering
Chandigarh Univertsity

Definitions
1. Datum line ( M.S.L. ) :-is an imaginary level line from which the
vertical distances of different points are measured. In india, datum is
the mean sea level at Mumbai.
2. Reduced level ( R.L) :- Is the vertical distance of a point from
datum line.
3. Benchmark (B .M ) :-These are fixed points or marks of known RL
determined with reference to the datum line. They serve as reference
to the points for finding the RL of new points.
4. Back sight ( B.S.) :- Is the first staff reading taken in any setup of
the instrument after the levelling has been perfectly done.
5. Fore sight (F.S) :- Is the last staff reading taken in any setup of the
instrument.
6. Intermediate sight ( I.S.) :- Is reading taken between the back
sight and fore sight reading .
7. Elevation of line of sight ( H.I) :- is the RL of the line of
collimation. This is obtained by adding the BS reading to the RL of the
BM or CP on which the staff reading was taken.

A Level is an instrument with a telescope that can be leveled with a

spirit bubble.
The optical line of sight forms a horizontal plane, which is at the
same elevation as the telescope crosshair.
By reading a graduated rod held vertically on a point of known
elevation (Bench Mark) a difference in elevation can be measured
and a height of instrument (H.I.) calculated by adding the rod
reading to the elevation of the bench mark.
Once the height of instrument is established, rod readings can be
taken on subsequent points and their elevations calculated by simply
subtracting the readings from the height of instrument.

Benchmarks

Types of Level
1. Dumpy Level
2. Wye ( or Y ) Level
3. Reversible Level
4. Tilting Level
5. Automatic Level

1. Dumpy Level
Telescope is rigidly fixed.
Can neither be removed
from its supports nor
rotated about its
longitudinal axis.
It is commonly used.

2. Wye Level
Telescope is held in two
Y supports.
Can be removed from
its supports.
It can be rotated about
its longitudinal axis.

3. Reversible
Level
Combination of dumpy
level and the Y level.
Supported by two rigid
sockets.
Can be rotated about its
longitudinal axis.
Can be withdrawn from
the socket.

4. Tilting Level
Can be tilted slightly
about its horizontal axis
with the help of a tilting
screw.

5. Automatic
Level

Also known as self

aligning level.

Levelling Staff

Graduated wooden rod used

for measuring the vertical
distances between the points
on the ground and the line of
collimation.

Usually of length 4m.

Least count = 0.005 m

Base of Staff at
Slope

Bottom plane of staff

Error

Bottom plane of staff

Correct

Point of interest

(a)

Incorrec
t

(b)

Point of interest

TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT OF
LEVEL
Leveling of the instrument is done to make the vertical
axis of the instrument truly vertical. It is achieved by
carrying out the following steps:
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: 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.

Types of Leveling Operation

1. Differential Leveling
2. Fly Leveling
3. Longitudinal or Profile Leveling
4. Cross sectional Leveling
5. Check Leveling

Differential Leveling

Fly Leveling

Longitudinal or Profile Leveling

Cross Sectional Leveling

Check Leveling

Methods of Calculating R.L.

Rise and Fall Method

Height of Instrument / Line of Collimation

Method

Rise & fall method

Compute all rises & falls
Start at a BM with known RL
To get RL of next station:
add rise to previous RL, or
subtract fall from previous RL

Repeat for all subsequent stations

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

Sum

Inter

Fore

Difference
Rise

R.L.

Fall

Check : Sum of Back Reading - Sum of Fore

Reading
= Total Rise - Total Fall
= Last R.L. - First R.L.

Remarks

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

7545'

00

Inter

7.24

100

6.46

150

5.38

200

6.55
8.78

6.92

300

8.52

350

6.24

400

5.96

450

6.35

500

Fore

5.42

50

250

Difference

7.54

Rise

R.L.

Remark
s

100

B.M.

Fall

Change
Pt

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

5.42

Inter

Fore

Difference
Rise

R.L.

Remarks

100

B.M.

Fall

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

Inter

5.42

50

7.24

100

6.46

150

5.38

200

6.55

Difference
Fore

Rise

R.L.

Remark
s

100

B.M.

Fall

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

Inter

Difference
Fore

Rise

R.L.

Remark
s

100

B.M.

Fall

5.42

50

7.24

1.82

100

6.46

0.78

98.96

150

5.38

1.08

100.04

200

6.55

1.17

98.18

98.87

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

7545'

00

Inter

Fore

Difference
Rise

R.L.

Remarks

100

B.M.

Fall

5.42

50

7.24

100

6.46

0.78

98.96

150

5.38

1.08

100.04

200

6.55

250

8.78

1.82

6.92

98.18

1.17

98.87

0.37

98.50

Change Pt

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

4615'

7545'

Distanc
e

Staff Reading
Back

00

5.42

Inter

Difference
Fore

Rise

R.L.

Remark
s

100

B.M.

Fall

50

7.24

100

6.46

0.78

98.96

150

5.38

1.08

100.04

200

6.55

250

8.78

1.82

6.92

98.18

1.17

98.87

0.37

98.50

300

8.52

0.26

98.76

350

6.24

0.28

101.04

400

5.96

0.28

101.32

450

6.35

500

7.54

0.39

100.93

1.19

99.74

Change
Pt

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

7545'

00

Fore

Rise

R.L.

Remarks

100

B.M.

Fall

5.42

50

7.24

100

6.46

0.78

98.96

150

5.38

1.08

100.04

200

6.55

250

8.78

1.82

6.92

98.18

1.17

98.87

0.37

98.50

300

8.52

0.26

98.76

350

6.24

0.28

101.04

400

5.96

0.28

101.32

450

6.35

500
Sum

Inter

Difference

7.54
14.20

14.46

4.68

0.39

100.93

1.19

99.74

4.96

Change Pt

Rise & Fall Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

7545'

00

Inter

Fore

Difference
Rise

R.L.

Remarks

100

B.M.

Fall

5.42

50

7.24

100

6.46

0.78

98.96

150

5.38

1.08

100.04

200

6.55

250

8.78

1.82

6.92

98.18

1.17

98.87

0.37

98.50

300

8.52

0.26

98.76

350

6.24

2.28

101.04

400

5.96

0.28

101.32

450

6.35

500

7.54

0.39

100.93

1.19

99.74

Change Pt

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore Reading= Total Rise ~

Total Fall
Sum
14.20
14.46
4.68
4.96
14.20 ~ 14.46=0.26
4.68
~4.96=0.26
Last R.L. ~ First R.L. =99.74
~100=0.26

????????
Any Question about Rise & Fall
Method ?

 Height of Instrument / Line of Collimation Method

Formula:1.

R.L. + B.S.

= H.I.

2. H.I. ( I.S. / F.S. ) = R.L.

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

Inter

Ht of Instrument

R.L.

Fore

Check : Sum of Back Reading - Sum of Fore

Reading
= Last R.L. - First R.L.

Remarks

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearin
g

Distanc
e

Back

4615'

00

5.42

7545'

Staff Reading
Inter

50

7.24

100

6.46

150

5.38

200

6.55

250

8.78

6.92

300

8.52

350

6.24

400

5.96

450

6.35

500

Fore

7.54

Ht of
Instrument

R.L.

Remarks

100

B.M.

Change
Pt.

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

5.42

Inter

Fore

Height of
Instrument

R.L.

Remarks

100

B.M.

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

5.42

Inter

Fore

Height of
Instrument

R.L.

Remarks

105.42

100

B.M.

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

Inter

5.42

50

7.24

100

6.46

150

5.38

200

6.55

Fore

Height of
Instrument

R.L.

Remarks

105.42

100

B.M.

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

00

Inter

5.42

Fore

Height of
Instrument

R.L.

Remarks

105.42

100

B.M.

50

7.24

98.18

100

6.46

98.96

150

5.38

100.04

200

6.55

98.87

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

7545'

00

Fore

5.42

R.L.

Remarks

105.42

100

B.M.

50

7.24

98.18

100

6.46

98.96

150

5.38

100.04

200

6.55

98.87

250

8.78

6.92

107.28

98.50

300

8.52

98.76

350

6.24

101.04

400

5.96

101.32

450

6.35

100.93

500

Sum

Inter

Height of
Instrument

7.54

99.74

Check : Sum of Back Reading ~Sum of Fore

Reading
= Last R.L. ~ First R.L.

Change Pt

Height of Instrument Method

Station

Bearing

Distance

Staff Reading
Back

4615'

7545'

00

Inter

Fore

5.42

Height of
Instrument

R.L.

Remarks

105.42

100

B.M.

50

7.24

98.18

100

6.46

98.96

150

5.38

100.04

200

6.55

98.87

250

8.78

6.92

107.28

98.50

300

8.52

98.76

350

6.24

101.04

400

5.96

101.32

450

6.35

100.93

Change Pt

7.54 of Fore Reading=99.74

Check : Sum of500
Back Reading ~Sum
Last R.L. ~
First R.L.
Sum
14.20
14.46
14.20 ~ 14.46=0.26
99.74
~100=0.26

????????
Any Question about Height of
Instrument Method ?

Drawing of Profile on a Graph

ApproxPaper
profile of Leveling
100
ft
100
98.50
0
200

98.18

50
250

98.96

100

100.04

150

98.87

EFFECT OF CURVATURE & REFRACTION ON

LEVELING
STAFF
LEVE
L

C
h
B

OAC
:
(OC)2 = (AC)2 (OA)2
Or, (R+h)2 = l2 + R2

Or, R2+ 2Rh+h2 = l2 +R2

So, h = l2/(2R+h)

Since R >>> h
So, h = l2/(2R)
R= 6370 km

The
Earth

Problem on Effect of
Curvature

A student of MIST standing on a deck of a ship just sees a light

house ( 42 meter above MSL). Height of student eye is 6 meter
from sea level. Find the distance of MIST student from the light
house.

Two Peg Test

A

x
2y

Problem on Two Peg Test

Point A and B have known RL of 100 and 101 meter

respectively. During leveling the H.I. was 102 meter and
Staff Reading was 4.0 meter at B. What will be Staff
Reading of point A ?

100
meter

100 meter

A 100

B 10
1

Errors in Leveling
Instrumental
Imperfect Adjustment
Sluggish Bubble
Incorrect Marking on Staff
Defective joint of Staff
Wear at Staff bottom
Misalignment of Telescope
Accumulation of Dirt at base of Staff

Errors in Leveling
Natural
Curvature of the Earth
Refraction
Temperature
Wind vibration on Level & Staff
Soft Ground

Errors in Leveling
Personal
Handling of Instrument
Verticality of Staff
Mistakes in taking Staff Reading
Mistakes in Recording

Any Doubt on Leveling as a

whole