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Trigonometric Leveling
The difference in elevation between two points may be obtained indirectly by measuring a vertical angle
and the horizontal or slope distance between the points. This is called trigonometric leveling because the vertical
distance is computed using right-angle trigonometric formulas.
RR
ELB
VD
HI
ELA
Sample Problems:
1. A vertical angle of - 14°53’ is read to a target 1.31 m above point B. The measured inclined distance is
832. 54 m and the elevation of A is 143.546 m above datum. If the height of instrument is 1.53 m above
point A, determine the difference in elevation between points A and B and the elevation of B.
2. An instrument was set up at a point in between X and Y which are 185 m and 120 m away from the
instrument station. If the vertical angles and rod readings are -13°30’ and 10°14’, and 1.320 m and 1.325
m respectively, determine the difference in elevation between points X and Y.
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3. Two points A and B are 3134.50-m apart. From a third point C, on the line between A and B, and 1992.25-
m from A, the measured vertical angle to A is 35º28’ and that to be is -15º14’. Determine the difference
in elevation between points A and B.
Curvature and Refraction
Curvature and refraction affects should be accounted for in precise leveling work and also if the sights
are too long. The effect of curvature is to cause the objects sighted, to appear lower than they really are. The
effect of refraction is to make the objects appear higher than they really are.
Curvature
In case of a long sight, the horizontal line is not level due to the curvature of the earth. The vertical
distance between the horizontal line and the level line represents the effect of the curvature of the earth. In the
figure below, let ABD be a level line through A, and O be the center of the earth. A is the instrument position, AC
the line of collimation, will be a horizontal line and R is the radius of the earth.
HORIZONTAL LINE
LINE OF SIGHT
INSTRUMENT POSITION
The curvature correction CC R C
= BC O E
A
R
B LEVEL LINE
OC2 = OA2 + AC2
(R + CC)2 = R2 + K2 R2
+2RCC + CC2 = R2 + K2
CC(2R + CC) = K2
CC =
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Since Cc is very small as compared to the radius of the earth R,
CC =
Taking the radius of the earth as 6370 km, Cc = 0.0785K2, where K is distance in kilometers.
Since the curvature increases the rod reading, the correction is therefore subtractive.
Refraction
The rays of light pass through layers of air of different densities and refract or bend down. Consequently,
ray from a rod follows a curved path, AE from the figure. CE is the amount of refraction correction and varies
considerably with climatic conditions. The average refraction correction, can however, be taken as 1/7 th of the
curvature correction and is additive.
Refraction correction = = 0.0112 K2.
Combined Curvature and Refraction Correction
Since the effect of curvature and refraction, when combined, is to make the objects sighted appear low,
the overall correction is subtractive.
h= 0.0785K2 – 0.0112K2 = 0.0673K2
h = 0.577M2
h = 0.021(f/1000)2
Sample Problems:
1. Determine the combined effects of earth’s curvature and atmospheric refraction on sight distances of 120,
150, 500-m and 10.00-km. 500 ft, and 3.00 miles.
2. A man on the shore can just see the top of a tower 15 km away. If the eye height of the observer is 2.00
m above sea level, determine the height of the tower.
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3. Determine how far a tower, 60 m high, from an observer whose eye level is 1.583 m above sea level.
4. A vertical angle of –12º25’ is measured to the top of a water tank from an instrument set up on a hill 585
meters away from it. The telescope of the instrument is 1.45 m above the ground whose elevation is 462.
73 m. Making due allowance for the earth’s curvature and atmospheric refraction, determine the
elevation of the base of the water tank if the tank is 32 m high.
5. An instrument is set up between two points, which are 987 m and 657 m away from the instrument
station. If the vertical angle are +3º 15’ and –4º 18’ respectively. Determine the difference in elevation
between the points.
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6. A vertical angle of - 14°53’ is read to a target 2.31 m above point B. The measured inclined distance is
832. 54 m and the elevation of A 143.546 m above datum. If the height of instrument is 1.53 m above
point A, determine the difference of elevation between points A and B and the elevation of B, considering
the effect of curvature and refraction.
7. An instrument was set up at a point in between X and Y which are 1000 m and 1510 m away from the
instrument station. If the vertical angles and rod readings are - 33°30’ and 30°14’, and 1.320 m and
1.325 m respectively, determine the difference in elevation between points X and Y, making due
allowance for the earth’s curvature and atmospheric refraction..
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