AS 1

SURVEYING

Engr. Edmar C. Toledo

 AS1 1
SURVEYING
(LEVELING)

Engr. Edmar C. Toledo

 Definition of Leveling
Leveling
➢ Defined as “an art of determining the relative
height of different points on above or below the
surface.”
 Definition of Leveling
Leveling
➢ Process of directly or indirectly measuring vertical
distances to determine the elevation of points or
their differences in elevation
 Objective of Leveling
The Objective of Leveling
❑ To find the elevation of given point with respect
to some assumed reference line called datum
❑ To establish point at required
elevation with respect to datum
Relationship Between Level Surfaces
 Terms Used in Leveling

Terms Used in Leveling

o Level Surface - surface parallel to the mean spheroidal surface of the earth.
A curved surface which is at any point perpendicular to the direction of
gravity. It is best represented by the surface if a large body of still water
o Level Line – A curved line in a level surface all points of which are normal
to the direction of gravity and equidistant from the center of the earth
o Horizontal Line – it is a straight line in a horizontal plane which is
tangential to level line at one point.
o Horizontal Surface- A plane that is tangent to a level surface at a particular
point.
 Terms Used in Leveling

Terms Used in Leveling

o Vertical Line – a vertical line at any point is a line parallel to the
direction of gravity. It is exemplified by the direction taken by a string
supporting a suspended plumb bob passing through a point

o Datum – is any convenient level surface coincident or parallel with

mean sea level to which elevations of a particular area are referred. it
is an arbitrary level surface from which elevation of points may be
referred. (Elev.0)
 Terms Used in Leveling

Terms Used in Leveling

o Mean Sea Level – is the average height of sea for all stages of tides. An
imaginary surface of the sea which is midway between high and low
tides. It is taken as the reference surface to which most ground
elevations are referred.
o Horizontal or Reduced Level – it is height or depth of any point above
or below any datum
 Terms Used in Leveling

Terms Used in Leveling

o Elevation – vertical distance above or below mean sea level or any
other selected datum. Points on or near the surface of the earth have
either positive or negative elevations, depending if the point is above
or below mean sea level
o Difference in Elevation – The difference in elevation between two
points is the vertical distance between the two level surfaces in which
the points lie
 Terms Used in Leveling

Terms Used in Leveling

o Bench Mark (B.M.) – it is a fixed reference point of known elevation
with respect to datum
o Line of Collimation– is a line joining the intersection of cross hairs of
diaphragm to the optical center of object glass and its continuation. It
is also known as line of sight
o Height of Instrument– it is the vertical distance from the line of
collimation to datum
 Terms Used in Leveling

Terms Used in Leveling

o Back Sight (BS) – it is a staff reading taken at a known elevation. It is
the first staff reading taken after setup of instrument.
o Foresight (FS) - it is the last staff reading taken denoting the shifting
of the instrument
o Change Point (TP) - an intermediate point between benchmarks which
provides a temporary point of known elevation for a level circuit between two
benchmarks a long distance apart
 Leveling Methods

Leveling Methods
o Direct or Spirit Leveling – commonly employed method of
determining the elevation of points some distance apart by a series of
set-ups of a leveling instrument along a selected route. Vertical
distances are measured above or below a level line and these values
are used to compute the elevation of points or their differences in
elevation

o Reciprocal Leveling – is the process of accurately determining the difference

in elevation between two intervisible points located at a considerable distance
apart and between which points leveling could not be performed in the usual
manner.
 Leveling Methods

Leveling Methods
o Profile Leveling – used to determine differences in elevation between
points at designated short measured intervals along an established
line to provide data from which a vertical section of the ground
surface can be plotted. Designing roads, railroads, canals, drainage
systems and transmission lines is necessary to first obtain profile of
the existing ground surface.

o Trigonometric Leveling – employed in determining by trigonometric

computations the difference in elevation between two points from
measurements of its horizontal or slope distance and the vertical angle
between the points.
 Leveling Methods

Leveling Methods
o Stadia Leveling – combines features of direct leveling with those of
trigonometric leveling. The method is in a form of trigonometric
leveling.

o Barometric Leveling – involves determination of differences in elevation

between points by measuring the variation in atmospheric pressure at each
point by means of a barometer
o Cross-Section Leveling – in highway or railroad constructions it is often
necessary to obtain a representation of the ground surface in either side of
the centerline
 Leveling Methods

Leveling Methods
o Borrow-Pit Leveling – a method of determining the relative elevations
of points in borrow-pit excavations for the purpose of calculating
volumes of earthwork. Usually encountered in the construction of
roads and railroads.
 Instruments Used for Leveling

❑LEVEL
❑LEVELING STAFF
 Types of Levels
▪ Dumpy Level
- the most widely used direct leveling
instrument and simple in construction
- Has a long telescope which is rigidly attached
to the level bar
 Types of Levels
▪ Wye Level
- Is very identical to Dumpy level, the
only distinct difference between them is
in the manner by which their telescopes
are attached to the supporting level bar
- It has a detachable telescope which
rests in supports called wyes

- Is now almost obsolete and seldomly used

 Types of Levels
▪ Builder’s Level
- Used primarily in the different phases of
building construction where a high degree of
precision is not primary requisite

- Engineers, architects and builders use it in

the setting of concrete forms and
establishing grades for earthwork
- Often called a construction level or
architect’s level
 Types of Levels
▪ Automatic Level
- Become popular for conventional leveling
work because of the ease and speed of
operation

- Particularly useful where the ground is soft

or when strong winds blow against the
instrument since it can automatically relevel
itself
 Types of Levels
▪ Tilting Level
- Can be tilted or rotated about its horizontal
axis. A bull’s eye level employed for its quick
and approximate leveling.

- Commonly employed for very precise

leveling operations and in other general
leveling work
- Equipped with a horizontal circle which
makes it suitable for layout and
construction surveys
 Types of Levels
▪ Geodetic Level
- Basically another type of tilting level

- Most parts are made of invar to reduce the

effects of temperature

- Employed in first-order leveling work

where extreme precision is an important
requirement
 Types of Levels
▪ Transit as a Level
- Engineers transit has always been referred
to as the “universal surveying instrument”
because of its variety of uses.

- Can provide results which are fairly precise

although not as good as those obtained
with conventional levels. This is because the
transit has a relatively shorter telescope and
level vial
 Types of Levels
▪ Laser Level
- A new innovation introduced in surveying
operations with the use of lasers.

- A laser system is a separate unit equipped

with portable power supply and may be a
helium-neon laser or gas laser.
 Types of Levels
▪ Hand Level
- Used on surveys involving short sights and
where a low order of accuracy is sufficient.

- Provides a quick way of determining how

high or how low the engineers level should
be set up in order to be able to read a
leveling rod held a certain distance awat
Instruments Used for Leveling

❑LEVELING
STAFF/ROD
- Graduated rod which is
used for measuring the
vertical distance
between the line of sight
through leveling
instrument
 OTHER TYPES OF LEVELLING
STAFFS/RODS
o Rods Named After Cities or States
o Rod Ribbons
o Precise Rod
o Geodetic Rod
o Tape Rod
 Benchmarks in Leveling

Bench Marks
• Bench mark is a point of known elevation
• GTS (Great trigonometrically survey bench mark)
• Permanent bench mark
• Arbitrary bench mark
• Temporary bench mark
 Benchmarks in Leveling

Bench Marks
 Benchmarks in Leveling

Bench Marks
Methods of Leveling
❖ Barometric Leveling
❖ Trigonometric Leveling
❖ Differential Leveling
❖ Inertial Leveling
 Differential Leveling

❖ Differential Leveling
▪ Progresses from known to unknown
▪ Requires the shift of instrument
▪ 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 + BS = HI
▪ 𝐇𝐈 − 𝐅𝐒 = 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧
Differential Leveling
 Differential Leveling
▪ HI = 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 + BS
▪ 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 = 𝐇𝐈 − 𝐅𝐒

STATION BS HI FS Elevation 𝐇𝐈 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 + 𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟑. 𝟕𝟓

BM3 3.75 𝟏𝟎𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 100.00 𝐓𝐏𝟏𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯 = 𝟏𝟎𝟑. 𝟕𝟓 − 𝟐. 𝟔𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟏. 𝟏𝟑

TP1 6.09 𝟏𝟎𝟕. 𝟐𝟐 2.62 𝟏𝟎𝟏. 𝟏𝟑 𝐇𝐈 = 𝟏𝟎𝟏. 𝟏𝟑 + 𝟔. 𝟎𝟗 = 𝟏𝟎𝟕. 𝟐𝟐

TP2 7.43 𝟏𝟎𝟗. 𝟓𝟖 5.07 𝟏𝟎𝟐. 𝟏𝟓 𝐓𝐏𝟐𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯 = 𝟏𝟎𝟕. 𝟐𝟐 − 𝟓. 𝟎𝟕 = 𝟏𝟎𝟐. 𝟏𝟓

BM6 1.58 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐇𝐈 = 𝟏𝟎𝟐. 𝟏𝟓 + 𝟕. 𝟒𝟑 = 𝟏𝟎𝟗. 𝟓𝟖

𝐁𝐌𝟔 = 𝟏𝟎𝟗. 𝟓𝟖 − 𝟏. 𝟓𝟖 = 𝟏𝟎𝟖
 Differential Leveling
Sample Problem2: Using the following notes, what is the elevation of BM14?
STATION BS HI FS Elevation
▪ HI = 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 + BS
BM12 4.64 214.29 209.65
TP1 5.80 215.03 5.06 209.23 ▪ 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 = 𝐇𝐈 − 𝐅𝐒
TP2 2.25 212.26 5.02 210.01
BM13 6.02 212.43 5.85 206.41
TP3 8.96 217.05 4.34 208.09
TP4 8.06 221.89 3.22 213.83
TP5 9.45 227.63 3.71 218.18 235.95 is the Elevation of BM14
TP6 12.32 237.93 2.02 225.61
BM14 1.98 235.95
 Differential Leveling
Sample Problem 3: Using the following notes, what is the elevation of BM14?
STATION BS HI FS Elevation
▪ HI = 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 + BS
BM12 4.64 214.29 209.65
TP1 5.80 215.03 5.06 209.23 ▪ 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐮𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 = 𝐇𝐈 − 𝐅𝐒
TP2 2.25 212.26 5.02 210.01
BM13 6.02 212.43 5.85 206.41
Elev of BM14 = Elev of BM12 + σ 𝑩𝑺 - σ 𝑭𝑺
TP3 8.96 217.05 4.34 208.09
TP4 8.06 221.89 3.22 213.83
TP5 9.45 227.63 3.71 218.18
TP6 12.32 237.93 2.02 225.61
BM14 1.98 235.95
 Differential Leveling and Two Peg Test
Sample Problem 3:

From the given data of a differential STATION BS HI FS Elevation

(meters)
leveling as shown in tabulation:
1 5.87 392.25
• Find the difference in elevation of 2 7.03 6.29
station 7 and station 5 3.48 6.25
3
4 7.25 7.08
• Find the difference in elevation of
station 7 and station 4 5 10.19 5.57

• Find the elevation of station 3 6 9.29 4.45

7 4.94
 Two Peg Test
❖ Two Peg Test
▪ All instruments are subject to errors. The checking of instrument
(level) is therefore important

▪ The main error is where the line of sight is not parallel to the
horizontal line of collimation. In this case your levels will not be
correct. A test for checking the level is known as the two peg test.

▪ This test determines the amount of error and if an error occurs notify
the technician (the level must be serviced)
 Two Peg Test
❖ Two Peg Test
▪ A two peg test is used for checking Automatic or Dumpy Levels. By
comparing two sets of readings from two unequal lengths on the same
two points, the accuracy of the Automatic or Dumpy Level can be
calculated
▪ The purpose of the two peg test is to check the accuracy of the Auto or
Dumpy Level while it is in use. If the auto or dumpy level accuracy is
acceptable for the task at hand, then we can complete the task. If the
auto or dumpy level accuracy is not acceptable then it will need to be
adjusted or calibrated before being used again.
 How to Check the Level:
Alternate Peg Method
1. On the ground, two points A and B marked a distance of approximately 50meters apart. In
sandy soil, two pegs are used on hard surfaces nails or paint may be used. The level is set
up half way between the two points and carefully levelled. A leveling staff is placed at Peg
A and a staff reading is taken then the level is placed on Peg B and a reading is taken. The
staff reading at A is 1.540 and at B 1.268. The difference between the reading is 0.272.
∆𝑯 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
e e
1.540 - e 1.268 – e

1.540 – e – (1.268 – e) = ∆𝑯
0.272= ∆𝑯
Student Reading and Point A Point B Difference
Instrument Location (Staff Reading 1) (Staff Reading 2)

Reading 1 (Midpoint) 1.540 1.268 0.272

Reading 2 (4m behind A)
 How to Check the Level:
Alternate Peg Method
2. Then the level is move 4 meters behind one of the pegs. Then take the staff reading
at A and B again. Reading at A is 1.621 and B is 1.092

4m
Student Reading and Point A Point B
Instrument Location (Staff Reading 1) (Staff Reading 2)

Reading 1 (Midpoint) 1.540 1.268

Reading 2 (4m behind A) 1.621 1.092

 How to Check the Level:
𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏 𝒆𝟏
𝒆𝟐

= 0.272m
4m 50m
Student Reading and Point A Point B
Instrument Location (Staff Reading 1) (Staff Reading 2)

Reading 1 (Midpoint) 1.540 1.268

Reading 2 (4m behind A) 1.621 1.092 𝟒𝒎 𝟓𝟒𝒎

By Similar Triangle: =
𝒆𝟏 𝒆𝟐
𝒆𝟐
𝒆𝟏 𝟒𝒆𝟐 = 𝟓𝟒𝒆𝟏
4m 54m 𝟓𝟒
𝒆𝟐 = 𝒆
𝟒 𝟏
𝟐𝟕
𝒆𝟐 = 𝒆 𝑬𝒒. 𝟏
𝟐 𝟏
 How to Check the Level:
𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏 𝒆𝟏
𝒆𝟐
𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝒆𝟐 + ∆𝑯
𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝒆𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟐
= 0.272m
4m 50m
Student Reading and Point A Point B
Instrument Location (Staff Reading 1) (Staff Reading 2) 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝒆𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟐
Reading 1 (Midpoint) 1.540 1.268 𝒆𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 + 𝒆𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟐
Reading 2 (4m behind A) 1.621 1.092
𝟐𝟕
𝒆𝟏 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 + 𝒆𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟐
𝟐
𝟐𝟕 𝟐𝟕
𝒆𝟐 = 𝒆 𝒆𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟐
𝟐 𝟏 𝑬𝒒. 𝟏 𝟐
𝟐𝟕 𝒆𝟏 = - 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟔
𝒆𝟐 = (−𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟔)
𝟐
𝒆𝟐 = −𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟕𝟓𝟔
 How to Check the Level:
𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏 𝒆𝟏
𝒆𝟐
𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝒆𝟐 + ∆𝑯
𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝒆𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟐
= 0.272m
4m 50m
Student Reading and Point A Point B
Instrument Location (Staff Reading 1) (Staff Reading 2)
𝒆𝟏 = - 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟔
Reading 1 (Midpoint) 1.540 1.268
𝒆𝟐 = − 𝟎. 𝟐𝟕𝟕𝟓𝟔
Reading 2 (4m behind A) 1.621 1.092

𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 @𝑨 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 − 𝒆𝟏 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 @𝑩 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − 𝒆𝟐

= 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟏 − (−𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟎𝟓𝟔) = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗𝟐 − (−𝟐𝟕𝟕𝟓𝟔)

= 𝟏. 𝟔𝟒𝟓𝟏𝟔 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟔𝟗𝟓𝟔
 Two Peg Test
Sample Problem 2
1. A dumpy level was test whether the line of sight is truly horizontal when the bubble
is at the center by using an alternate peg method as follows. The level was set up
midway between the points A and B which is 100m apart. The rod reading on A and B
are recorded as 3.00m and 2.00 m respectively. The instrument was then transferred
to a point C which is in line with points A and B but not in between A and B with A
nearer than B. Rod reading were then taken at A and B to be 2.75m and 1.50m
respectively. Distance from C to A is 20m. What should be the reading at B with the
instrument still at C so that the line of sight will be truly horizontal?
 Two Peg Test
Sample Problem 3
3. In the two peg test of a dumpy level, the following observations are taken:

Instrument at A Instrument at B
Rod Reading on A 1.506 0.938
Rod Reading on B 2.024 1.449

• What is the difference in elevation between A and B?

• If the line of sight is not in adjustment, determine the correct rod reading on A with
the instrument still set up at B.
• Determine the error in the line of sight