F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-1

Levelling (Optical Levelling)

As discussed in Topic 2, a carpenter’s level, which contains bubble-tube called a spirit or
bubble level, can be used determine a horizontal or level orientation. Optical levelling
combines bubble levelling with telescopic instruments.
Wye levels were used in the 1800s.

By Own photograph by Sandstein, CC BY 3.0, [Link]

F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-2

Dumpy levels used in the early to mid-1900s were easier to use and transport.

[Link]
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-3

Automatic levels were invented in the 1950s which could adjust internally to be level
provided the device was physically levelled within a tolerance. This means it was much
easier to set up and could automatically correct for small disturbances to the device.
The internal adjustment or compensation uses prisms and a free-swinging mirror.

gravity vector
The internal prism mechanism of an automatically levelling telescope. By Inductiveload - Own work, Public Domain,
[Link]
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-4

Line of Sight (LoS)

When set up correctly, the optical line of sight (LoS) through the telescope of an automatic
level is always horizontal (direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity).

Direction of
gravity
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-5

We have defined elevation as a vertical distance from a specified datum.

What you see through the telescope of an automatic level is at the same elevation as your
instrument! If you know the elevation of your instrument, you also know the elevation of
what you are looking at!
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-6

Features of an Automatic Level

The following photos show the automatic level used in this course. It incorporates a bullseye
bubble-level to level the telescope using the three-screw leveling base.

Eyepiece focus ring

Bullseye bubble
level

Slow motion
(tangent) screw

Leveling foot screws

F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-7

Eyepiece focus ring Telescope focus knob

Slow motion
(tangent) screw

Leveling foot screws

F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-8

Tripod
The automatic level is supported by a three-legged
platform called a tripod.

Surveying tripods are commonly made of wood,

metal, fiberglass or composite materials.

Tripods have several important features:

• the top of the tripod has a screw to allow the
instrument to be securely attached
• the length of each leg of the tripod is adjustable
• foot pedals are provided to help press the tripod
feet firmly into the turf
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-9

Automatic Level Setup

Prior to the operation of the instrument, the automatic level must be correctly setup to
ensure accurate results.

The setup of the instrument typically takes four steps:

1. identifying where the instrument needs to be located
2. locating the tripod legs and pressing the tripod feet into the turf
3. leveling the instrument
4. focusing the instrument
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-10

Tripod Setup
Our automatic levels are supported by aluminum tripods.

The setup of an automatic level begins with the setup of

the tripod.

Adjustment screws allow the leg lengths to be adjusted.

Begin the tripod setup by opening the adjustment

screws located on each leg of the tripod (see photo).
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-11

The length of your tripod legs will dictate the height of your
instrument.

Your tripod legs should be set up so you can stand comfortably

while sighting through the instrument.

Begin by locating the top of the tripod approximately at chin level

as demonstrated.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-12

After establishing the length of the tripod legs, the legs are
secured by tightening the tripod leg screws (see photo).
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-13

Spread the tripod legs apart to ensure the stability

of the instrument as demonstrated in the photo.

Generally, the tripod feet should be approximately

one metre (1 m) apart.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-14

At this point, verify that the tripod platform located

at the top of the tripod is approximately horizontal.

If the ground is uneven, you may need to lengthen

or shorten one of the tripod legs.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-15

Next, carefully step on the foot pedals to press the

tripod feet into the turf. Your body weight should be
enough to firmly settle the tripod feet.

It is very important that your tripod feet are firmly in

the ground; otherwise, the tripod legs can be easily
disturbed after leveling the instrument.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-16

Attaching the Instrument

With the tripod in a stable position,
we turn our focus to the instrument.
Our automatic levels are stored in a
protective case. Open the case.
When moving the instrument from its
case to the tripod, always hold the
instrument with two hands.
Use one hand to support the base of
the instrument and the other hand to
stabilize the instrument (see photo).
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-17

This photo illustrates good practice,

where the:
• tripod is firmly pressed into the
turf
• the tripod platform is
approximately level
• instrument is held/supported
with two hands
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-18

The clamping screw is used to securely

attach the instrument to the head of the
tripod.
Align the instrument’s base screw hole to the
clamping screw.
Thread and tighten the clamping screw into
the base (righty-tighty, lefty-loosy).
Note how one hand is always holding the
instrument while the other is on the
clamping screw.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-19

At this point, the:

• tripod is firmly pressed into the turf
• tripod legs are spread for stability
• tripod platform is approximately level
• instrument is securely attached to the tripod
using the clamping screw.
Additionally, we would close the instrument case
and place it under the instrument as shown.

Before we can use the instrument, we need to:

• level the instrument
• focus the crosshairs
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-20

Bullseye Level or Circular Bubble Level

A bullseye level is a circular bubble level with a
slightly convex face. It is used to indicate if a plane is
level (versus the tube bubble level in carpenter’s level
which measures if a line is level).
When the plane is level, the bubble will rest in the
centre of the circular level (it hits the bullseye).
When out of level, the bubble will move to indicate the
‘high side’ of the plane.
All our automatic levels have a circular bullseye
leveling bubble that is used to level the instrument.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-21

Leveling Foot Screw Orientation – Choosing Screw A

We refer to the three levelling foot screws as screws A, B and C. We choose one screw to be
screw A and rotate the telescope barrel over it. See photo and figure below.

longitudinal

lateral
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-22

Example of Leveling Procedure

Consider the instrument orientation and bullseye level illustrated below. The bullseye level
shows the instrument is high on its top-left side. We level the instrument using the following
adjustment steps:
i. Coarse
ii. Fine lateral
iii. Fine longitudinal
iv. Repeat ii & iii as needed

longitudinal
lateral
 F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-23

Coarse Adjustment
We adjust the lengths of the tripod legs.
i. Carefully loosen one of the tripod leg-clamping
screws and adjust the length of the leg as
needed to move the bullseye bubble towards the
centre of the circular level (see photo).
Secure the tripod leg clamping screw when you
are happy with the location of the bubble.
You do not need to be overly precise at this stage.
We simply want the bubble nearer to the centre of
the circular level as shown below.
 F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-24

Fine Lateral Adjustment

We now use leveling foot screws B and C to level the instrument in the lateral direction
(perpendicular to the telescope line of sight).
For the example our goal is to ‘move’ the bubble to the right to be centred laterally.

ii. Leveling foot screws B and C are simultaneously adjusted to centre the bubble laterally.
They are ALWAYS rotated at the same time at the same rate in opposite directions:

Screw Rotation Telescope Base Adjustment Bubble Moves to

B counterclockwise Lowers left side
Right
C clockwise Raises right side
B clockwise Raises left side
Left
C counterclockwise Lowers right side
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-25

Left-Hand Thumb Rule

A great way to remember how to rotate the leveling foot screws to move the level bubble is to
use the left-hand thumb rule. If we position both hands to simultaneously rotate the screws,
as pictured below, our thumbs will be under the telescope barrel.
If we rotate screw B counterclockwise (and C clockwise) the bullseye bubble will move to the
right which matches the motion of our left-hand thumb.
 F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-26

After correctly adjusting foot screws B and C according to the left-

hand thumb rule, the spirit bubble should be centred laterally.

Fine Longitudinal Adjustment

Our next goal is to ‘move’ the bubble towards the
back of the instrument (towards the eyepiece).

iii. Levelling foot screw A is now used to raise or

lower the front of the telescope barrel in the
longitudinal direction until the bubble is
centered (hits the bullseye).
Screws B and C are NOT used!
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-27

We will use the same procedure for leveling a modern total station, except it has a digital
bullseye level!
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-28

Telescope Crosshairs
When sighting through the instrument’s
telescope, several lines (often referred to as
hairs or wires) will be visible:
• horizontal cross hair
o this will be the most important cross
hair used during the levelling process
• vertical cross hair
o used to align the line of sight
The remaining lines are known as stadia
hairs and will be used in a later topic:
• upper stadia hair
• lower stadia hair
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-29

Focusing the Instrument

It is critical for the instrument to be properly focused by each person using the instrument,
since it is based on each person’s eyesight. This involves adjusting (1) the eyepiece focus
ring, and (2) the telescope focus ring.

(2) Telescope
(objective lens)
focus ring

(1) Eyepiece
focus ring
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-30

Focusing the Eyepiece

Always focus the eyepiece lenses for each user before taking readings!
Hold a survey book (or other blank high contrast surface) directly in front of the instrument
and adjust the eyepiece focusing ring until the cross hairs are as black and sharp as possible.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-31

Focusing the Telescope

After you are confident that you have the cross hairs in proper focus, use the telescope
(objective lens) focusing knob to bring the survey rod into focus.
If you have your instrument properly focused, the cross hairs will appear to be superimposed
on the levelling rod.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-32

Cross Hair Parallax Error

Parallax refers to the displacement in the apparent position of an object. For automatic level
telescopes, parallax occurs when either the eyepiece or telescope are out of focus.
If parallax occurs, the cross hair will appear to move when the observer slightly raises or
lowers their eye with respect to the telescope eyepiece.
Consequently, parallax introduces measurement errors based on the location of the
observer’s eye, which can accumulate significant errors over the leveling survey.
A correctly focused instrument is essential for accurate work!

Parallax leads to different readings based on eye position of observer.

F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-33

Moving the Instrument

After all rod readings have been recorded at a particular
instrument setup, the instrument is moved. At this point,
there is no need to return the instrument to its case. We
simply move the instrument (tripod and level) to the next
instrument setup.

For the safety of the instrument and classmates, the

instrument carried with the telescope elevated and in front
(tripod feet lowered and behind) as shown in the photo.

After completion of the survey, the instrument is carefully

removed from the tripod and returned to its case.
F25 | CIVE/ENVE/GEOE 100 | Topic 3: Automatic Level Intro 3-34

Recap
This topic examined the use of the automatic level.
Automatic levels are optical instruments that need to be handled with care.

The operation of an automatic level involves:

1. tripod setup
2. attaching the instrument (at first instrument setup)
3. leveling the instrument
4. focusing the instrument

Up Next
We will learn how to correctly obtain readings from the survey rod (staff).