LEVELING METHODS

LECTURE 3
Levelling is defined as the branch of surveying that is
essentially used for determining the relative height of the
different points on, above and below the surface of the
ground.
1. To determine the elevation of the given points with
respect to the given/assumed reference line or datum.

2. To establish the points at a provided elevation or at

various elevations with respect to a given or assumed
datum.
1. Levelling is necessary for the estimation and planning of various civil
engineering works such as roads, bridges, and canals.
2. It is also used to calculate the quantities of cut and fill as well as for
balancing the earthworks.
3. Ensure a suitable slope of the land that will allow a smooth flow of
the liquid inside the pipe.
4. It is also vital for the preparation of contour maps.
5. It is necessary for the preparation of topographic maps.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Level Surface
It is a surface which is normal to the direction of gravity at
all points as indicated by a plumb line.

Datum Surface
This is an arbitrary surface with reference to which the
elevations of points are measured and compared.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Elevation of a Point
 Is the vertical distance above or below the datum. This is
usually called the reduced level of the point.

Back Sight
 Is the first staff reading taken after setting up the instrument in
any position. This will always be a reading on the point of
known elevation.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Fore Sight
 Is the last staff reading taken before moving the instrument. This will
always be reading on a point whose elevation is to be determined.

Intermediate Sight
 Is any staff reading taken on the point of unknown elevation after
the back sight and before the fore sight.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Change Point
 A change point indicates the shifting of the instrument.

Station Point
 A station point is a point whose elevation is to be determined or a
point which is to be established at a known elevation.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Benchmark
 Is a fixed point of reference of known elevation.

Temporary benchmarks
 Are the reference points which are established when there is a break in
the work.

Height of the instrument

 The elevation of the line of sight of the instrument
1.Differential Leveling
2.Double-rodded Leveling
3.Profile Leveling
Is the process of determining
the difference in elevation
between two or more points
some distance apart.
FORMULA:
HI = Elev 𝑩𝑴𝒂 + BS
Elev 𝑻𝑷𝟏 = HI - FS
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Prepare and complete the differential level notes for the information
shown in the accompanying illustration. Include the customary
arithmetic check.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

STA BS HI FS ELEV
BMa 0.68 125.45
TP1 0.98 3.75
TP2 3.73 3.52
TP3 3.90 1.64
BMb 0.35
SAMPLE PROBLEM

STA BS HI FS ELEV 125.45 m 119.84 m

+ 0.68 + 3.73
BMa 0.68 125.45 _________ _________
TP1 0.98 3.75 126.13 m (HI1) 123.57 m (HI3)
- 3.75 - 1.64
TP2 3.73 3.52 _________ _________
122.38 m (ELEV TP1) 121.93 m (ELEV TP3)
TP3 3.90 1.64
+ 0.98 + 3.90
BMb 0.35 _________ _________
123.36 m (HI2) 125.83 m (HI4)
- 3.52 - 0.35
_________ _________
119.84 m (ELEV TP2) 125.48 m (ELEV BMb)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

CHECK:
STA BS HI FS ELEV 125.45 m
+ 9.29 (ΣBS)
BMa 0.68 126.13 125.45 _________
TP1 0.98 123.36 3.75 122.38 134.74
- 9.26 (ΣFS)
TP2 3.73 123.57 3.52 119.84 _________
125.48 (ELEV OF BMb)
TP3 3.90 125.83 1.64 121.93
BMb 0.35 125.48
ΣBS=+9.29 ΣFS=-9.26
Is a method of determining differences in elevation
between points by employing two level routes
simultaneously.
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Complete the following differential level notes for a double-rodded line
from BM1 to BM2. Show the customary arithmetic check.
STA BS HI FS ELEV
BM1 1.964 205.549
1.964
TP1 H 2.187 1.104
TP1 L 2.629 1.549
TP2 H 1.393 1.794
TP2 L 1.780 2.202
TP3 H 0.317 2.991
TP3 L 0.741 3.415
BM2 2.634
2.631
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

ROUTE 1 – HIGH POINTS:

205.549 m 206.802 m
STA BS HI FS ELEV
+ 1.964 + 1.393
BM1 1.964 205.549 _________ _________
1.964 208.195 m (HI3 H)
207.513 m (HI1 H)
TP1 H 2.187 1.104 - 1.104 - 2.991
TP1 L 2.629 1.549 _________
_________
TP2 H 1.393 1.794 206.409 m (ELEV TP1 H) 205.204 m (ELEV TP3 H)
TP2 L 1.780 2.202 + 0.317
+ 2.187
TP3 H 0.317 2.991 _________ _________
TP3 L 0.741 3.415 205.521m (HI4 H)
208.596 m (HI2 H)
BM2 2.634 - 1.794 - 2.634
2.631 _________
_________
206.802 m (ELEV TP2 H) 202.887 m (ELEV BM2)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

ROUTE 2 – LOW POINTS:

205.549 m 206.391 m
STA BS HI FS ELEV
+ 1.964 + 1.780
BM1 1.964 205.549 _________ _________
1.964 208.171 m (HI3 L)
207.513 m (HI1 L)
TP1 H 2.187 1.104 - 1.549 - 3.415
TP1 L 2.629 1.549 _________
_________
TP2 H 1.393 1.794 205.964 m (ELEV TP1 L) 204.756 m (ELEV TP3 L)
TP2 L 1.780 2.202 + 0.741
+ 2.629
TP3 H 0.317 2.991 _________ _________
TP3 L 0.741 3.415 205.497m (HI4 L)
208.593 m (HI2 L)
BM2 2.634 - 2.202 - 2.634
2.631 _________
_________
206.391 m (ELEV TP2 L) 202.863 m (ELEV BM2)
SAMPLE PROBLEM

STA BS HI FS ELEV
BM1 1.964 207.513 205.549
1.964 207.513 Mean elevation of BM2 =
TP1 H 2.187 208.596 1.104 206.409
TP1 L 2.629 208.593 1.549 205.964 ½ (202.887+202.863)
TP2 H 1.393 208.195 1.794 206.802 = 202.875m
TP2 L 1.780 208.171 2.202 206.391
TP3 H 0.317 205.521 2.991 205.204
TP3 L 0.741 205.497 3.415 204.756
BM2 2.634 202.887
2.631 202.863

ΣBS=+12.975 ΣFS=-18.323
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

CHECK:
Mean elevation of BM2 = 202.875m

DE1 = (ΣFS+ΣBS)/2 DE2 = Elev BM1 - Mean Elev BM2

DE1 = (18.323+(-12.975))/2 DE2 = 205.549 - 202.875
DE1 = 2.674m DE2 = 2.674m

DE1 = DE2
The process of determining difference in elevation along a
fixed line at designated short measured intervals.
 STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV

BMa 0.95 125.50

SAMPLE PROBLEM 0+00

+10
3.0
2.3

Complete the following set TP1

0+22
3.13 0.64
2.7
of profile level notes and +30.5
+34.2
2.8
3.1
show the customary 39.3
+42.5
0.5
0.8
arithmetic check. TP2 2.16 1.28

+45 0.9
+48.6 1.2
+50 1.7
+53.7 2.8
TP3 0.82 2.37
TP4 1.35 3.50
+75 3.0
BMb 1.99
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV

BMa 0.95 125.50

125.50 + 0.95 = 126.45 (HI1)
0+00 3.0 126.45 – 3.0 = 123.5 (Elev Sta 0+00)
+10 2.3
126.45 – 2.3 = 124.2 (Elev Sta 0+10)
TP1 3.13 0.64
0+22 2.7
126.45 – 0.64 = 125.81 (Elev TP1)
+30.5 2.8
+34.2 3.1
39.3 0.5
+42.5 0.8 125.81 + 3.13 = 128.94 (HI2)
TP2 2.16 1.28 128.94 – 2.7 = 126.2 (Elev Sta 0+22)
+45 0.9
+48.6 1.2
128.94 – 2.8 = 126.1 (Elev Sta 0+30.5)
+50 1.7
+53.7 2.8 128.94 – 3.1 = 125.8 (Elev Sta 0+34.2)
TP3 0.82 2.37 128.94 – 0.5 = 128.4 (Elev Sta 0+39.)
TP4 1.35 3.50
128.94 – 0.8 = 128.1 (Elev Sta 0+42.5)
+75 3.0
BMb 1.99
128.94 – 1.28 = 127.66 (Elev TP2)
 SAMPLE PROBLEM
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
127.66 + 2.16 = 129.82 (HI3)
BMa 0.95 125.50
129.82 – 0.9 = 128.9 (Elev Sta 0+45)
0+00 3.0
+10 2.3
129.82 – 1.2 = 128.6 (Elev Sta 0+48.6)
TP1 3.13 0.64
129.82 – 1.7 = 128.1 (Elev Sta 0+50)
0+22 2.7
+30.5
+34.2
2.8
3.1
129.82 – 2.8 = 127.0 (Elev Sta 0+53.7)
39.3 0.5
+42.5 0.8 129.82 – 2.37 = 127.45 (Elev TP3)
TP2 2.16 1.28

+45 0.9
+48.6 1.2 127.45 + 0.82 = 128.27 (HI4)
+50 1.7
+53.7 2.8 128.27 – 3.50 = 124.77 (Elev TP4)
TP3 0.82 2.37
126.12 – 3.0 = 123.1 (Elev Sta 0+75)
TP4 1.35 3.50
+75 3.0 126.12 – 1.99 = 124.13 (Elev BMb)
BMb 1.99
SAMPLE PROBLEM
STA BS HI FS IFS ELEV
BMa 0.95 126.45 125.50
0+00
+10
3.0
2.3
123.5
124.2
CHECK:
TP1 3.13 128.94 0.64 125.81
0+22 2.7 126.2
125.50 m
+30.5 2.8 126.1 + 8.41 (ΣBS)
+34.2 3.1 125.8
39.3 0.5 128.4
_________
+42.5 0.8 128.1 133.91
TP2 2.16 129.82 1.28 127.66 - 9.78 (ΣFS)
+45 0.9 128.9 _________
+48.6 1.2 128.6
+50 1.7 128.1
124.13 (ELEV OF BMb)
+53.7 2.8 127.0
TP3 0.82 128.27 2.37 127.45
TP4 1.35 126.12 3.50 124.77
+75 3.0 123.1
BMb 1.99 124.13

ΣBS=+8.41 ΣFS=-9.78