Leveling

Surveying-I (CL-314)
Leveling
Leveling
• Levelling is an operation in surveying performed to determine
the difference in levels of two points.
• By this operation the height of a point from a datum, known as

elevation, is determined.
Objectives of Leveling
• To find the elevations of given points with respect to a given
datum.
• To establish points at given elevations or different elevations

with respect to the given or assumed datum.
Terminologies
The general terms used in leveling are:
• Vertical line
• Horizontal line
• Level surface
• Datum
• Benchmark
• Mean sea level
• Reduced level
Terminologies
Vertical Line:
• It is the line which is indicated by plumb at required station. So, this is

also called as plumb line. It’s just decided based on the consideration
of earth’s gravity.
• Vertical line connects the station point to the center of the earth. A
plumb is released from the instrument height with the help of thread
and instrument is set up at that point as its center.
Terminologies
Horizontal Line:
• Horizontal line is the line of sight of instrument which is tangential to
the level surface and It is perpendicular the plumb line.
Terminologies
Datum:
• Datum line is the reference line with respect to which the levels of
other station points are fixed.
Mean Sea Level:

• Mean sea level is established by taking the average height of tides in
the sea over a very long period (generally 19years). Mean sea level or
MSL is used as datum level for all important surveys of that zone.
Terminologies
Benchmark:
• Benchmark is the point laid above or below the datum line with a
known elevation. Bench mark is considered as check for the other
level points.
Types:
• Great Trigonometrical Survey benchmarks
• Permanent benchmarks
• Temporary benchmarks
• Arbitrary benchmarks
Terminologies
Great Trigonometrical Survey Benchmark:
• Great trigonometrical bench mark or shortly GTS benchmarks are

very accurate, and they are established by conducting high precise
surveys.
• GTS benchmarks are decided by taking mean sea level as datum.
These are generally established by higher survey authorities of
particular country in all points of the country.
Terminologies
Permanent Benchmarks:
• Permanent benchmarks are established with reference to GTS

benchmarks. They are established by local state government agencies
or railways at railway stations, public buildings, at bridges etc.
Terminologies
Terminologies
Terminologies
Temporary Benchmarks
• Temporary benchmarks are created by the surveyors in the field to

mark the point in the field up to which the survey is completed. Then,
it is easier to continue the survey from that point after large gap or on
the next day of work.
Tools & Equipments
• Surveying Levels
• Tripod Stand
• Levelling Staff
Surveying Levels
Y Level
Dumpy Level
Surveying Levels
Auto Level
Tilting Level
Levelling Staff
Temporary Adjustment of a Level
• At each set up of a level instrument, temporary adjustment is
required to be carried out prior to any staff observation. It involves
some well defined operations which are required to be carried out in
proper sequence.
• The temporary adjustment of a level consists of:

1. Setting
2. Leveling
3. Focusing.
• Setting:
• The tripod stand is set up at a convenient height having its head
horizontal (through eye estimation).
• The instrument is then fixed on the head of tripod.
• Leveling of the instrument is done to make the vertical axis of the
instrument truly vertical. It is achieved by carrying out the following
steps:
• Step 1: The level tube is brought parallel to any two of the foot
screws, by rotating the upper part of the instrument.
• Step 2: The bubble is brought to the centre of the level tube by

rotating both the foot-screws either inward or outward. (The bubble
moves in the same direction as the left thumb.)
• Step 3: The level tube is then brought over the third foot screw
again by rotating the upper part of the instrument.
• Step 4: The bubble is then again brought to the centre of the

level tube by rotating the third foot screw either inward or
outward.
• Repeat Steps, till the bubble remains central in both the

positions.
• Step 3: The level tube is then brought over the third foot screw
again by rotating the upper part of the instrument.
• Step 4: The bubble is then again brought to the centre of the

level tube by rotating the third foot screw either inward or
outward.
• Repeat Steps, till the bubble remains central in both the

positions.
Types of Leveling in Surveying
Simple leveling
Differential leveling
Fly leveling
Direct
Profile leveling
Trigonometric
Leveling Precise leveling
Barometric
Reciprocal leveling
Stadia
Simple Leveling
• It is a simple and basic form of leveling in which the leveling
instrument is placed between the points which elevation is to be find.
• Leveling rods are placed at that points and sighted them through
leveling instrument.
• It is performed only when the points are nearer to each other without
any obstacles.
Simple Leveling
Differential Leveling
• Differential leveling is performed when the distance between
two points is more.
• In this process, number of inter stations are located and

instrument is shifted to each station and observed the elevation
of inter station points. Finally difference between original two
points is determined.
Differential Leveling
Fly Leveling
• Fly leveling is conducted when the benchmark is very far from the work
station.
• In such case, a temporary bench mark is located at the work station which is
located based on the original benchmark.
Profile Leveling
• Profile leveling is generally adopted to find elevation of points
along a line such as for road, rails or rivers etc.
• In this case, readings of intermediate stations are taken and

reduced level of each station is found.
• From this cross section of the alignment is drawn.

Profile Leveling
Profile Leveling
Reciprocal Leveling
• To find accurate relative elevations of two widely separated
intervisible points (between which levels cannot be set),
reciprocal leveling is being used.
Curvature Correction in Levelling
• Earth has a curved face which is assumed to be a level surface
but the line of sight as furnished by the levelling instrument is
horizontal and not the level line.
• The level line falls away from the horizontal line of sight and the
vertical distance between the horizontal line and the level line
denotes the effect of curvature of the earth.
• e = 0.0785 D2 m (negative)
Refraction Correction in Levelling
• It is a well-established law of physics that rays of light passing through
layers of different densities do not remain straight but are refracted
or bent down towards the denser medium.
• Consequently, the ray of light from the staff to the instrument is not
straight but it follows a curved path-concave towards the earth as the
near the surface of the earth is denser than the upper layers of air.
• e = 0.0112 D2 m (positive)
Curvature & Refraction Correction in Levelling
Combined Correction
• Due to curvature, the points appear to be lower than they actually
are; while due to refraction, they appear to be higher than they
actually are.
• The effect of curvature being greater than that of refraction, the

combined effect causes the points to appear to be lower than they
actually are.
ecomb = 0.0673 D2 m where D is the distance in km

Booking of Levels
Key Words:
• Reduced Level (RL)
• Height of Instrument (HI)
• Line of Collimation
• Back Sight Reading (BS)
• Fore Sight Reading (FS)
• Starting Point
• Intermediate Point (IP)
• End Point (EP)
Booking of Levels
• Reduced Level in surveying refers to equating elevations of survey points
with reference to a common assumed datum. It is a vertical distance
between survey point and adopted datum plane. Thus it is considered as
the base elevation which is used as reference to reckon heights or depths
of other important places.
• Line of collimation or line of sight is an imaginary line passing through the

cross-hair at the diaphragm and the optical centre of the object glass and
its continuation.
Booking of Levels
• Height of Collimation is the height of the horizontal plane through the
telescope. To find the Height of Collimation (Instrument Height) add the
staff reading to the level of the Bench Mark.
Examples
• The following records refer to an operation involving reciprocal leveling.
Instrument at Staff Reading on Remarks
A B
A 1.155 2.595 Dist. AB= 500 m
B 0.985 2.415 RL of A= 525.500 m
• Find true RL of B
• Also find the combined correction for curvature and refraction.
Reduction of Level
• The observed staff readings as noted in a level book are further
required to be manipulated to find out the elevation of points. The
operation is known as reduction of level.
• There are two methods for reduction of levels:

– Rise and Fall method and
– Height of instrument method.
Height of Collimation Line Method
• In any particular set up of an instrument height of instrument,
which is the elevation of the line of sight, is constant.
• The elevation of unknown points can be obtained by

subtracting the staff readings at the desired points from the
height of instrument. This is the basic behind the height of
instrument method for reduction of level.
Arithmetic Check:
Σ B.S. - Σ F.S. = Last R.L. - First R.L.
Rise and Fall Method
• For the same set up of an instrument, Staff reading is more at
a lower point and less for a higher point.
• Thus, staff readings provide information regarding relative rise

and fall of terrain points. This provides the basics behind rise
and fall method for finding out elevation of unknown points.
Rise and Fall Method
Reduction of Level
• The following consecutive readings were taken with a level
and 4 meter levelling staff on a continuously slopping ground
at common intervals of 30 m:
• 0.855 (on A), 1.545, 2.335, 3.115, 3.825, 0.455, 1.380, 2.055,
2.855, 3.455, 0.585, 1.015, 1.850, 2.755, 3.845 (on B).
• The RL of A was 380.500 m. Make entries in a level book and
the usual checks. Determine the gradient of AB.
Reduction of Level
Reduction of Level

Leveling

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Surveying-I (CL-314)

• By this operation the height of a point from a datum, known as

• To establish points at given elevations or different elevations

• It is the line which is indicated by plumb at required station. So, this is

Mean Sea Level:

• Great trigonometrical bench mark or shortly GTS benchmarks are

• Permanent benchmarks are established with reference to GTS

• Temporary benchmarks are created by the surveyors in the field to

• The temporary adjustment of a level consists of:

• Step 2: The bubble is brought to the centre of the level tube by

• Step 4: The bubble is then again brought to the centre of the

• Repeat Steps, till the bubble remains central in both the

• Step 4: The bubble is then again brought to the centre of the

• Repeat Steps, till the bubble remains central in both the

• In this process, number of inter stations are located and

• In this case, readings of intermediate stations are taken and

• From this cross section of the alignment is drawn.

• The effect of curvature being greater than that of refraction, the

ecomb = 0.0673 D2 m where D is the distance in km

• Line of collimation or line of sight is an imaginary line passing through the

• There are two methods for reduction of levels:

• The elevation of unknown points can be obtained by

• Thus, staff readings provide information regarding relative rise

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