SPECIAL METHODS OF

LEVELING
Mohd Effendi Daud (Dr. Sc)
B.Surv (UTM, Malaysia) Msc (UTM, Malaysia), Dr.Sc, (Nagoya Univ.,
Japan)

(Geomatic Division)
Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering,
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Batu Pahat,
Johor, MALAYSIA.
Phone : +6074537363; +60197853740; Fax :
+6074537060
E-mail : effendi@uthm.edu.my
Web: http://www.fkass.uthm.edu.my/

Inverted Staff
How to read
inverted staff

BS

IS

FS

0.770

HoC
56.325

Reduce Level

Remarks

55.555

TBM 1= 55.555m

1.632

54.693

road side

-2.417

58.742

under the bridge

59.492

under the bridge

59.016

under the bridge

59.430

under the bridge

55.108

road side

54.972

road side

1.387

55.560

TBM 1= 55.555m

-3.327

55.555

-2.963

-3.167

56.529

-0.2487
-3.104

-2.901

56.326

1.218
1.975

1.354

-3.322

56.947

-3.327

55.56

0.005

0.005

= BS - FS (Normal case)
= BS - (-FS) - Inverted case
RL = BM +BS + FS

Reciprocal Leveling
o BS and FS distances roughly equal
so that instrumental and natural
errors cancel out.
o In some situations, such as river or
valley crossing, it is not always
possible to balance BS and FS
distances.

Procedure:
Instrument at A:
Read staff at X & Y, distance A to X
Instrument at B
Read staff at X & Y, distance B to Y

h1 = X1
h2 = X2
h =
h =
Y2))

- Y1
- Y2
( h1 + h2)/2 OR
1/2 ((X1-Y1) + (X2-

Trigonometric Leveling
Concept:
Based on solution of right triangle
V = Ssin

or V =Htan
elevC = elevA + V
S

Know elevation of A: want to find elevation

of B
As before: V = S sin

Here hi = AD and r = BC

elevB = elevA + hi + V - r
S

V
B

E
A

GPS Leveling
o Modern GPS provide 3D location
o X, Y, and h (elipsoidal height), or
o Latitude, longitude, and h (elipsoidal
height)
???

Geoid-Ellipsoid
Relationship
Ellipsoid

Mean Sea Level

(Geoid)

Terrain

Converting Heights
o Conversions between ellipsoid heights
and elevations
o H = orthometric height (refer to Geoid)
o h = elipsoidal height (refer to elipsoid)
o Determining geoid height (N)
o N = H-h

Suggestions for
Rod Work

o The rod should be properly extended and

clamped.
o Take care to ensure that the bottom of the sole
plate does not become encrusted with mud, dirt,
and so on, which can result in mistaken readings.
o Ensure that all points used as turning points (TP)
are suitable.
o Make sure that the rod is held in precisely the
same position for the BS at it was for the FS for
all TP.
o If rod is held temporarily near to, but not on, a
required location, the face of the rod should be
turned away from the instrument so that the
operator cannot take a mistaken reading.

Suggestions for
Instrument
Work

o When setting up the instrument, gently force

the legs into the ground by applying weight on
the tripod shoe spurs ---> to increase stability.
o The location of the level setup should be
chosen so that you can see the maximum
number of rod locations, particularly BS and
FS locations.
o Prior to taking rod reading, the cross hair
should be focused sharply.
o Read the rod consistently, at either the top or
the bottom of the cross hair.
o Never move the level before a FS is taken.
o Check the level bubble remains centered