Leveling
Civil Engineering - Year 2
(Geomatics)
14CIVL05I
Dr Ahmed Ragheb
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics
Leveling Basic Definitions
Leveling is the operation in surveying performed to determine the elevation
of points
The elevation of a point is defined as its vertical distance above (+) or
below (-) a given reference surface (datum) سطح مقارنة
The benchmark is a permanent physical mark of known elevation fixed by
National surveying authority (Egypt: ESA) and distributed all over the
country for referencing
Reference datum or bench mark elevation could be Global: relative to MSL
(mean Sea Level) or Local assumed at any elevation. If local, then could be
referenced at a later stage.
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 1
Leveling Leveling classification
Depends on available instruments and accuracy of
the technique based on project and application
Ordinary Leveling: Ordinary level and Ordinary staff (1cm accuracy)
Precise Leveling: Precise level and precise staff (0.05mm accuracy)
Tacheometric Leveling: Theodolite and ordinary staff (for elevations
and distances)
Trignometric Leveling: Theodolite and ordinary staff (taking
Earth’s curvature and refraction into
consideration)
Barometric Leveling: Difference in height between points is
determined by measuring difference in
pressure by barometer H P
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 2
Leveling Types of Ordinary Levels
According to the method of leveling the instrument
Dumpy level Tilting level Automatic level
Circular and plate Leveling by circular bubble
level bubble tube tube only + compensator
Leveling by circular bubble
tube and U-shape tube Laser level
Laser beam coded
Quick approximate leveling is on a digital staff
achieved using circular bubble
Accurate leveling is achieved using Compensator: A glass plate freely
plate level bubble tube or U-shape suspended to adjust level automatically
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 3
Leveling Leveling Telescope
[Link] rotation screw
[Link] bubble tube (to form Hz plane)
[Link] to view circular bubble tube
[Link] plate (sits on tripod)
[Link] screw (to adjust the Hz plane)
[Link]
[Link] circle (for Hz angles)
[Link] lens
[Link]
[Link] knob (for clear visibility)
[Link] for digital angle reading
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 4
Leveling Basic idea
staff rA Hz Collimation level rB
A staff
higher reading lower elevation
HA B
reference datum
HB
HA + ra = HB + rb
∆HAB = HB - HA = rA - rB
OR Diff. in elevation = diff. in readings
HB = HA + rA - rB
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 5
Leveling Leveling Staff
- Usually 3m or 4m in height
- 4m Divided into 40 parts each part 10cm Divided into 10parts 1cm
- Zero end of staff located on point required to obtain its elevation
- Direction of increase upwards or downwards (How?)
0 13 = 14 parts = 1.4m
2 whole centimeters = 0.02m
Estimate the remaining part = 0.002m
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 6
Leveling Leveling Procedure
last reading in setup
(Foresight FS)
first reading in setup
(Backsight BS)
Usually distance
any intermediate reading in setup between level
(intermediate sight IS) and staff ≤ 30m
- Determination of elevation of any no. of points with minimum setups
to decrease error
- Form a leveling table for ease of calculations
- To connect the whole job together in order to calculate all elevations,
last observed point in setup (i) (FS) must be first observed point in
setup (i+1) (BS) and called turning point (TP)
- The leveling procedure must include at least one BM (local or global)
Note that what is important is the position of the staff not the level
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 7
Leveling Collimation Method
Staff Readings Collimation
Point Elevation (H) Remarks
BS IS FS Level (CL)
A rA CL1=HA+ rA HA BM
rB Setup I
B HB=CL1- rB
C r'C rC CL2=HC+ r'C HC=CL1- rC TP
D rD HD=CL2- rD
E rE Setup 2 HE=CL2- rE
F r'F rF CL3=HF+ r'F HF=CL2- rF TP
G rG HG=CL3- rG
H rH Setup 3 HH=CL3- rH
∑BS ∑IS ∑FS
The Collimation method usually used where
the leveling involves a great number of IS
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 8
Leveling Rise and Fall Method
If rB > rA B lower than A ∆HAB = -ve
If rB < rA B higher than A ∆HAB = +ve
HB= HA + ∆HAB
Staff Readings Height Difference
Point Elevation (m) Remarks
BS IS FS ∆H (m)
A rA HA BM
B rB ∆HAB= rA - rB HB= HA + ∆HAB
C r'C rC ∆HBC= rB - rC HC= HB + ∆HBC TP
D rD ∆HCD= r'C - rD HD= HC + ∆HCD
E rE ∆HDE= rD - rE HE= HD + ∆HDE
F r'F rF ∆HEF= rE - rF HF= HE + ∆HEF TP
G rG ∆HFG= r'F - rG HG= HF + ∆HFG
H rH ∆HGH= rG - rH HH= HG + ∆HGH
∑BS ∑FS ∑∆H
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 9
Leveling Computational Checks
Collimation Method
1- No. of BS = No. of FS
2- BS - FS = elevation of last point - elevation
of first point
3- elevations except 1st = (CL x no. of IS & FS)
- IS - FS
Rise and Fall Method
1- No. of BS = No. of FS
2- BS - FS = elevation of last point - elevation
of first point = ∆H
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 10
Leveling Leveling Techniques
Open Leveling: Start from a known BM and ends at an
unknown point
(No checks)
Closed Leveling: Starts from a known BM and ends at the
same BM
Error (∆) = calc. elev. of BM – known elev. of BM
Connected Leveling: Starts from a known BM1 and ends
at another BM2
Error (∆) = calc. elev. of BM2 – known elev. of BM2
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 11
Leveling Observational Checks
allowable (mm) c L (km)
Where
∆allowable is the allowable closing error in (mm)
L is the length of leveling route (km) [Distance between level
and BS’s and FS’s only]
C is a constant depends on the degree of leveling technique
C= 12 - 25 for ordinary leveling
IF allowable leveling procedure accepted distribute error equal accumulative
IF allowable leveling procedure rejected STOP repeat observations
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 12
Leveling Leveling Applications
1- Inverted Staff:
∆HAB = rA - rB
∆HAB = rA - (-rB)
∆HAB = rA + rB
If staff regular with zero end touching ground
Substitute normally in leveling table
If staff inverted with upper end touching ground
Subtract reading from staff height (rcorr. = 4 - r )
If staff inverted with zero end touching roof
Substitute with -r instead of r in leveling table
If staff regular with upper end touching roof
Subtract reading from staff height then substitute with -r
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 13
Leveling Leveling Applications
2- Flying Leveling: الميزانية الطائرة
A procedure used to get the level of point (B) at a far
distance from known a Benchmark (A) without the need
to measure intermediate sights for quickness and easiness
BS FS
BS FS
TP2
BS FS
Required point B
TP1
Known BM (A)
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 14
Leveling Leveling Applications
3- Longitudinal Profile: القطاعات الطولية
Showing the ground elevations in a
certain long direction (road design)
4- Cross Sections: القطاعات العرضية
Showing the ground elevations in
certain sections of the longitudinal profile
5- Grid Leveling: الميزانية الشبكية
Transformation of network (Grid) of elevations into continuous lines
(contour lines) each having a constant elevation (3D information on a
2D map)
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 15
Leveling Solved Example
The following staff readings (m) were taken by a level:
setup 1 2.005, 2.407,3.386 ,1.223 | setup 2 2.654, 0.982, 1.935
OR If the underlined readings are backsights 2.005, 2.407,3.386 ,1.223 2.654, 0.982, 1.935
Given the elevation of the 1ST point as 10.00 m, find the elevations of all points and perform all
possible computational checks.
Staff Readings (m)
Point CL (m) H (m) Remarks
BS IS FS
A 2.005 12.005 10.000 BM
Setup I
B 2.407 9.598
C 3.386 8.619
D 2.654 1.223 13.436 10.782 TP
E 0.982 12.454
F Setup 2 1.935 11.501
4.659 6.775 3.158
Computational checks
1- No of BS = No of FS = 2 OK
2- BS – FS = 4.659 – 3.158 = 1.501
Elevation of last point – Elevation of 1st point = 11.501 – 10.000 = 1.501 OK
3- elevations except 1st = 9.598 + 8.619 + 10.782 + 12.454 + 11.501 = 52.954
(CL*no. of IS & FS)–IS–FS=(12.005*3+13.436*2) – 6.775 – 3.158 = 52.954 OK
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 16
Leveling How to prepare the level practically
Setting the Tripod
1. Loosen screws of tripod legs, pull out
to required length and tighten screws.
3.
2. In order to guarantee a firm foothold
sufficiently press and force the tripod
legs into the ground.
3. Set up the upper plate of the tripod
approximately to a horizontal position.
Minor inclinations of the tripod can be
corrected with the screws of the tripod
legs.
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 17
Leveling How to prepare the level practically
Adjusting Horizontality 1.
[Link] the level onto tripod. Tighten central
fixing screw of the tripod.
2. Ensure leveling screws in midway position.
3. Rotate level parallel to screws A and B.
4. Turn leveling screws A and B
simultaneously in OPPOSITE directions until
3. 4.
bubble is in the centre (on the imaginary "T").
4. Turn the level 90° and then turn the
leveling screw C until bubble is centered
inside the circle.
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 18
Leveling How to prepare the level practically
Focusing and Reading
1.
1. Aim telescope against a bright
background (e.g. white paper).
2. Turn eyepiece screw until reticule is
sharp-focused and deep black. Now the 2.
eyepiece is adapted to your eye.
3. Aim telescope on staff using the quick
and slow horizontal motion screw. 3.
4. Turn focusing knob until image of staff is
sharply focused.
5. Take reading on staff.
4. 5.
Dr Ahmed Ragheb Lecture 4 14CIVL05I – Geomatics 19