CENG 131 Surveying-Leveling

University of Bahrain
Department of Civil Engineering
CENG 131 Surveying

Chapter 4
Levelling
9/27/16
Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori
Leveling
Chapter Outlines
1. Leveling Instruments
2. Observation Procedure
1. Reduction of Levels ( Height of plane of Columniation
(HPC) method)
2. Inverted Staff Reading
3. Errors in Leveling
4. Permanent adjustment
5. Curvature and refraction
6. Reciprocal Leveling
7. Leveling loop
8. Trigonometric Leveling
9. Three wire leveling
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What is Leveling
A measurement process whereby the

difference in height between two
or more points can be determined.
BS
FS
Difference in height
H=BS-FS
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When do we level
Typical examples include :

Design highways, railroads, canals, sewers, water supply
systems.
Establish new vertical control (BM ).
Develop maps showing general ground configuration
and provide spot heights or contours on a plan.
Calculate volumes of earth work and Provide data for
road cross-sections.
Provide a level or inclined plane in the setting out of
construction works.
Investigate drainage.
Study earth subsidence and crustal motion.
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Definition
Level surface
A surface over which water will not
flow
The direction of gravity is always
normal to a level surface
Horizontal surface
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A horizontal surface will be tangent to

a level surface
Over short distances (<100 m) the
horizontal surface and the level
surface will coincide
Definition
direction of gravity
horizontal
surface
level surface
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limit of practical
coincidence (~100 m)
What is Leveling
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Horizontal Plane through point B is serving as

datum.
The height of point A and C are required relative to
this datum.
The height in large scale survey maps are
measured relative to datum which is the Mean Sea
Level (MSL).
Categories of Leveling
Instruments
Dumpy levels
Automatic
Hand levels
Tilting levels
Levels
Automatic levels
Digital
Precise levels
Digital levels
Levels
Electronic laser levels
All leveling instruments create horizontal plane through the
telescope ( Plane of Collimation).
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Early age
levels are
Dumpy
levels.
Tilting
levels.
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11
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13
a. The Surveying Telescope
b. Categories of leveling
instruments
Automatic Levels
Digital Levels
c. Staff Reading
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Surveying Telescope
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Surveying Telescope
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16
a. The Surveying Telescope
b. Categories of leveling
instruments
Automatic Levels
Digital Levels
c. Staff Reading
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17
Automatic Level
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18
Automatic Level
Now most commonly used
leveling instruments are Auto level.
Auto level, as name sounds it
has a auto level compensator
and corrects automatically if
instrument goes out of level.
Survey work can be done fast
Less chances of error,
Magnification available is
more,
Range is more,
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19
Reading an E-Face Staff
0.339
0.33
0.3
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20
Reading an E-Face Staff
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21
Digital Level
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22
Digital Level
They are not popular instead auto
levels are more extensively used.
The Trimble DiNi Digital Level :
Determine
accurate
height
information 60% faster than with
automatic leveling
The surveyor dont need to read the
staff thus Eliminate human errors.
And
There is no need to focus the
instrument on the stuff , this is done
automatically.(
Average
of
36
reading)
Transfer data to the office easily
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23
Digital Level
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24
Digital Stuff
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25
Leveling
Chapter Outlines
4. Reduction of Levels ( Height of plane of
Columniation (HPC) method
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26
(HPC) Method
Height of plane of Columniation (HPC)
Line of Collimation is the line that joining the center of

the glass object to the center of the reticule
It is the line of sight along which the surveyor is looking,

when using the instrument
When the telescope is rotated , it will sweep out a
horizontal plane known as the plane of collimation
BS
FS
27
(HPC) Method
Line of Collimation
28
(HPC) Method
Height of Collimation
29
(HPC) Method
a)
Levelling between two points.
30
(HPC) Method
b)
Series Levelling.
Points Observed from single Instrument

31
(HPC) Method
One setup,
One line of
collimation,
All points refers to
the same HPC
32
(HPC) Method
Misclosure Check
33
(HPC) Method
Arithmetic Check
Last Reduced
level
- First Reduced
level
Sum (BS ) Sum

( FS)
If B is calculated wrongly to be 104.9, the above check would not
detect the Error.
34
(HPC) Method
Arithmetic Check
Sum of reduced Levels Except first =

104.31+107.11+107.11+105.47+105.81
= 529.81
Sum of Each HPC x number of IS and FS = 108.03 x 5
= 540.15
Sum ( IS Column + FS column) = ( 8.12 + 2.22)
= 10.34
Therefore :
35
529.81 = 540.15 - 10.34
(HPC) Method
b)
Series Levelling.
Multiple Instrument Settings

36
(HPC) Method
37
(HPC) Method
Misclosure Check
= 10 mm
Arithmetic Check
Last Reduced
level
- First Reduced
level
Sum (BS ) Sum

( FS)
38
Inverted Staff Reading

Example 1
Rise and Fall
39
Inverted Staff Reading

Example 2
HPC
40
Levelling
Chapter Outlines
3. Reduction of Levels ( Rise and Fall Method)
a) Gross Errors.
b) Constant Errors.
c) Random Errors.
41
Errors In Levelling
a)
Caused by confusion or
carelessness and inexperience of the
observer ( Blunders and Mistakes). Could
be large or small.
Gross
Errors:
1.
Wrong Staff Reading
2.
Not setting the rod on the same point for a foresight and
the subsequent foresight
3.
Using Wrong cross-hair
4.
Omission or wrong Entry (Wrong Recording)
5.
Spirit level not centered
42
Errors In Levelling
.
can be avoided by double reading

and double levelling and follow Good field
procedures in leveling:
Gross Errors
1. Maintaining good adjustment of the

level
2. Keep the bubble centered when
reading the staff
3. Hold the staff vertical
4. Balance BS and FS distances!!!
43
Errors In Levelling
b) Constant Errors : due to the instrument defects and will always
be of the same sign
1. Non Vertically of the Staff: this is serious source of error.
4 x cos 3o =
3o
Corrected by holding the staff vertically or by taking lowest reading

while swing the staff slowly backword and forward across the
vertical position.
44
Errors In Levelling
b) Constant Errors
2. Collimation error
in the instrument.
3. Staff Graduation Error:

this is due to
manufacturing issues and
they are very uncommon .
45
Errors In Levelling
c) Random Errors :
46
Errors In Levelling
c) Random Errors :
47
Errors In Levelling
c) Random Errors :
48
Levelling
Chapter Outlines
3. Reduction of Levels ( Rise and Fall Method)
49
Permanent adjustment
1.
In the proceeding errors sections , it was pointed out that the

line of collimation might not be horizontal. The levelling will still
be correct providing the line of sights are of equal length.
2.
This is not always possible , especially when many intermediate

sites are to be taken
3.
The only way to ensure that instrument is in good adjustment

a) Automatic and Digital levels
b) Two-Peg Test
50
a) Automatic and Digital levels
51
b) Two-Peg Test
52
Two-Peg Test
53
54
Curvature and Refraction
C:
Curvature
Correction
Curvature
55
56
Reciprocal Leveling
B-A
57
Reciprocal Leveling
Fall
Y = X 0.365 = 352.71 0.365 = 352.345 m
58
59
Leveling loop
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60
BS
IS
FS
2.59
6
HPC
RL
Comments
10.00 A
0
1.384
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62
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63
Three wire Leveling

Reading on upper, middle and lower
wire
More precise leveling
Provide a check on rod reading
mistake
It can be used for determine
horizontal distance needed for
balancing BS and FS.
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64
Three wire Leveling

Sta.
BS
Stadia
FS
Stadia
BM A
103.8432
0.718
1.131
0.633
8.5
1.051
8.0
+0.6337
0.550
8.3
0.972
7.9
104.4769
1.901/3
16.8
3.154/3
15.9
-1.0513
0.6337
-1.0513
TP1
103.4256
1.151
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RL
1.041
1.082
6.9
0.969
7.2
1.0820
1.013
6.9
0.897
7.2
104.5076
3.246
13.8
2.907
14.4
-0.9690
1.0820
-0.9690
65
Three wire Leveling

Sta.
BS
Stadia
FS
TP2
Stadia
RL
103.5386
1.908
1.246
1.841
1.194
1.774
1.123
BM B
Page
check
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66
Short line
For long line more than 120

m
Combine earth curvature
and refraction must be
considered
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67
For long line longer than 120 meter
ZCD = V = S sin = S cos z or

ZCD = V = H cot z
OR V = H tan
Correction for combine earth curvature
and refractions
ZAB = hi + V r + 0.0673 H2
OR ZB = ZA + hi + S sin r + 0.0673
S2
ZB= ZA + hi + H cot z r + 0.0673 H2
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68
Example
The slope distance and zenith angle between points A and B
were observed with a total station instrument as 9585.26 m
and 8142 20 respectively. The hi and rod reading r were
equal. If the elevation of A is 1238.42 m, compute the
elevation of B.
V=Scosz = 9585.26 cos(8142 20 )= 1382.772
H=scos = 9585.26 cos (90- 8142 20 )= 9504.0
Combine earth and refraction correction=
0.0673(9504/1000)2
C-R= 6.078 m
V=1382.772+6.078=1388.85
ZB = ZA + hi + S sin r + 0.0673 S2
ZB = 1238.42+1388.85=2727.27 m
9/27/16
69

CENG 131 Surveying-Leveling

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University of Bahrain

Department of Civil Engineering

CENG 131 Surveying

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

A measurement process whereby the

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Typical examples include :

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

A horizontal surface will be tangent to

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Horizontal Plane through point B is serving as

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Reading an E-Face Staff

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Reading an E-Face Staff

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Line of Collimation is the line that joining the center of

It is the line of sight along which the surveyor is looking,

Levelling between two points.

Points Observed from single Instrument

Sum (BS ) Sum

Sum of reduced Levels Except first =

Multiple Instrument Settings

Sum (BS ) Sum

Inverted Staff Reading

Inverted Staff Reading

Wrong Staff Reading

Using Wrong cross-hair

Omission or wrong Entry (Wrong Recording)

Spirit level not centered

can be avoided by double reading

1. Maintaining good adjustment of the

Corrected by holding the staff vertically or by taking lowest reading

3. Staff Graduation Error:

In the proceeding errors sections , it was pointed out that the

This is not always possible , especially when many intermediate

The only way to ensure that instrument is in good adjustment

Curvature and Refraction

Curvature and Refraction

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Three wire Leveling

Dr. Khalil Al-Juboori

Three wire Leveling