Module3.Measurement of Vertical Distances
Module3.Measurement of Vertical Distances
Module3.Measurement of Vertical Distances
Measurement of
Vertical Distances
Leveling
• Leveling is the process of directly or indirectly
measuring of vertical distances to determine the
elevation of points or their differences in elevation.
• It is a vital and important aspect of surveying since
leveling operations are undertaken to provide
necessary data for engineering design, construction,
and the production of topographic maps.
Definition of Terms
• Level Surface – It is a curved surface which is at any point perpendicular to
the direction of gravity or the plumb line. It is best represented by the
surface of a large body of still water.
• Level Line – A level line is a curved line in a level surface all points of which
are normal to the direction of the gravity and equidistant from the center of
the earth.
• Horizontal Line – It is a plane that is tangent to a level surface at a particular
point.
• Vertical Line – A vertical line at any point is a line parallel to the direction of
gravity.
• Mean Sea Level – Mean sea level is an imaginary surface of the sea level
which is midway between high and low tides.
• Datum – Datum is any convenient level surface coincident or parallel with
mean sea level to which elevations of a particular are area referred.
• Elevation – For a particular point, its elevation is the vertical distance above
or below mean sea level or any other selected datum.
• Difference in Elevation – The difference in elevation between two points is
the vertical distance between the two level surfaces in which the points lie.
Leveling Methods
1. Direct or Spirit Leveling
2. Reciprocal Leveling
3. Profile Leveling
4. Trigonometric Leveling
5. Stadia Leveling
6. Barometric Leveling
7. Cross-section Leveling
8. Borrow-Pit Leveling
Types of Levels
• There are various types of instruments used in leveling work. These
instruments may differ somewhat in design, each can be used to establish
a horizontal line of sight by means of telescope fitted with a set of cross
hairs and a level bubble.
– Dumpy Level
– Wye Level
– Builder’s Level
– Automatic Level
– Tilting Levels
– Geodetic Level
– Transit as a Level
– Laser Level
– Hand Level
Dumpy Level
Automatic Level
Rod Level
• The rod level is a device used for fast and correct plumbing of
a leveling rod. It consists of a small circular spirit level. When
the bull’s-eye bubble is centered, the rod is plumb or
correctly held vertical.
Targets
• A target is a small device attached to the rod when extremely
long sights make direct reading of the rod difficult or
impossible.
Targets
Rod Level
Stadia Rod
Telescopes
• The telescope of a surveying instrument is a metal tube containing
a system of lenses which are used to fix the direction of the line of
sight and magnifying the apparent size of objects in its field of view
Level Vial
• A level vial is a sealed graduated glass tube containing some
amount of liquid and a smaller air bubble.
• It is used to determine the direction of the gravity.
Tripods
• Tripods serve as a base to prevent movement of the
instrument after it is set up.
• A tripod is consist of three wooden or aluminum legs which
are securely fastened to the tripod head by means of a hinged
joint.
Determining Difference in Elevation
• If the two differences in elevation are equal, the line of sight is in adjustment.
If not, the line of sight is inclined from the horizontal with an error of e or
difference between d and d’
• The correct rod reading at A with the instrument still set up near B is
Problem 1. In the two-peg test of a dumpy level as shown in the figure, Rod Instrument Instrument
the following observations were taken: Reading Set up near A Set up near B
a. Determine if the line of sight is in adjustment. On point A 1.505 m 0.938 m
b. If the line of sight is not in adjustment, determine the correct rod On point B 2.054 m 1.449 m
reading on A with the instrument still set up near B.
c. Determine the error in line of sight for the net distance AB.
Alternate Procedure for Two-peg Test
• This lesson will show another procedure of two-peg test by applying the
principle of deviation of horizontal distances and vertical elevations.
• If is equal to , the line of sight is parallel to the axis of the level tube, and it
can be concluded that the line of sight is horizontal. If not, is erroneous or
false difference in elevation, therefore
or
or
• The correct rod reading c’ at the far rod (held at B) is