Levelling

Mr. Vedprakash Maralapalle, Asst. Professor

Department: B.E. Civil Engineering
Subject: Surveying- I
Semester: III
eCourseware@AIKTC

LEVELLING

Levelling
The art of determining relative heights of
different points on or below the surface
of the earth is called LEVELLING, deals
with measurements in the vertical plane.
For execution of Engineering Projects
it is very necessary to determine
elevations of different points along the
alignment of proposed project.

Uses or purpose of Levelling

1. To prepare a contour map for fixing sites for
reservoirs, dams etc. & to fix the alignment of
roads, railways, irrigation canals etc.
2. To determine the altitudes of different important
points on a hill or to reduced levels of different
points on or below the surface of the earth.
3. To prepare a longitudinal & cross section of a
project (roads, railways, irrigation canals etc) in
order to determine the volume of earth work.
4. To prepare a layout map for water supply ,
sanitary or drainage schemes.

Terms used in Levelling

Level Surface : The surface which is parallel to the mean
spheroidal surface of the earth is known as level surface.
Level line any line lying on a level surface is called a level line.

Datum Surface or line : This is an imaginary

level surface or level line from which the vertical
distances of different points (above or below this
line) are measured.

Mean Sea Level (M.S.L.) : M.S.L. is obtained

by making hourly observations of the tides at any
place over a period of 19 years. MSL adopted by
Survey of India is now Bombay which was Karachi
earlier.

Reduced Level (RL) : The vertical distances or

Height or depth of a point above or below the
assumed datum is called Reduced level. It may be
positive or negative.

Line of Collimation : It is the imaginary line passing

through the intersection of the cross hairs at the
diaphragm and the optical center of the object glass and
its extensions, it is also called line of sight or collimation.

Axis of the Telescope : This axis is an imaginary line

passing through the optical center of the object glass and
the optical centre of the eye piece.

 Bench Mark (BM) : These are fixed reference point or

marks of known elevation or RL determined with reference
to the datum line.
These are very important marks. They serve as reference
points for finding the RL of new points or for conducting
levelling operations in projects involving roads, railways,
etc.

GTS Bench mark (Great Trigonometrical Survey ):

These Bench marks are established by national agency
like Survey of India Department at a large interval all over
the country ( 100 km. interval). They are established with
highest precision. Their position and elevation above MSL
is given in a special catalogue known as GTS Maps .

Permanent Bench Mark : These are fixed points or marks

established by Government departments like PWD, Railway,
Irrigation, etc. RLs of these points are determined with reference
to GTS Bench mark (10 km. interval) & are kept on permanent
points like the plinth of building, parapet of bridge or culvert etc.

Arbitrary Bench mark : When the RLs of some fixed points

are assumed, they are termed arbitrary bench-marks. These are
adopted in small survey operations.

Temporary Bench mark : When the Bench marks are

established temporarily at the end of a days work, they are said
to be temporary Bench mark . They are generally made on the
root of tree, the parapet of a nearby culvert etc.

Back sight (B.S.) : This is the first staff reading

taken in any setup of the instrument after the
levelling has been perfectly done. This reading is
always taken on a point of known RL, i.e. on a
bench mark or change point.

Fore Sight (F.S.) : It is the last staff reading in

any setup of the instrument, and indicates the
shifting of the instrument.

Intermediate Sight (IS) : It is any other staff

reading between the BS & FS in the same setup of
the instrument.

Change Point (CP) : The point indicates the

shifting of the instrument.
OR
The point on which both the foresight and back
sight are taken during the operation of levelling is
called change point.

Height of Instrument (HI) : When the

levelling instrument is properly levelled, the RL
of the line of collimation is known as the height
of instrument.
OR
The elevation of the line of sight with respect to
assumed datum is known as HI. This is obtained
by adding the BS reading to the RL of the BM.

Parallax : The apparent movement of the

image relative to the cross hairs is known as
Parallax. This occurs due to imperfect focussing,
when the image does not fall in the plane of the
diaphragm

Types of Levelling Equipments

i) Dumpy level
ii) Tilting level
iii) Automatic level
iv) Digital Auto level

Tilting level
It consists of a telescope attached with a level tube
which can be tilted within few degrees in vertical
plane by a tilting screw.

The

Automatic

level

The fundamental
difference between automatic and the classic spirit
level is that in the former the line of sight is no
longer levelled manually using a tubular spirit level,
but is levelled automatically within a certain tilt
range. This is achieved by compensator in the
telescope.

Advantage of automatic level

Much simpler to use
High precision : Mean elevation error on
staff graduated to 5mm division varies
between +0.5 to 0.8 mm per km of forward
and backward levelling.
High speed : In fly levelling the progress
achieved by various level-wise compared.

Dumpy level :

It is
simple compact and
stable. The telescope
is rigidly fixed to its
support
therefore
cannot
be
rotated
about its longitudinal
axis.
A long bubble
tube is attached to the
top of telescope. The
instrument is stable
and
retains
its
permanent adjustment
for long time. This

Diaphram : A frame carrying cross hairs usually made of either

silk thread or platinum wire and placed at the plane at which
vertical image of the object is formed by the objective.
Vertical hair of the diaphram enables the surveyor to check the
verticality of levelling staff whereas horizontal hairs are used to
read the staff graduations.

Components of Dumpy level :

1.Tripod The tripod stand consist of three legs
which may be solid or framed to support the above
three parts of the level.

2.Levelling head : Levelling head generally

consists of two parallel plates with 3 foot screws.
Upper plate is known as Tribrach and lower plate is
trivet which can be screwed on to the tripod.
Levelling head has to perform 3 distant functions :
i) to support the telescope
ii) to attach the level to the tripod
iii) to provide a means for level (foot screws)
to bring the bubble of tube level at the centre of its
run.

3. Foot screws : Three foot screws are provided between

the trivet & tribrach. By turning the foot screws the tribrach can
be raised or lowered to bring the bubble to the centre of its run .

4. Telescope :

Telescope is an optical instrument used for

magnifying and viewing the images of distant objects. It
consists of two lenses. The lens fitted near the eye is called the
eye piece and the other fitted at the end near to the object is
called the objective lens.

5.Level Tube : Also known as Bubble Tube consists of

a glass tube placed in a brass tube which is sealed with
plaster of paris. The whole of the interior surface or the
upper half is accurately ground so that its longitudinal
section, is an arc of a circle. Level tube is filled with
either or alcohol, the remaining space is occupied by an
air bubble. The centre of air bubble always rest at the
highest point of the tube.

Points to be remembered by Staff

man
The staff should be made vertical by holding it
with both arms while standing behind it.
The staff should be held on firm ground.
When the telescopic staff is to be extended, care
should be taken so that it is perfectly stretched
and properly fixed on the spring catcher.
The bottom of the staff should be kept clean.

Points to be remembered by Level man

The Levelling instrument should be placed at a position
suitable for the greatest no. of observation to be taken.
The instrument should not be too high or too low.
The Levelling should be done perfectly.
The Levelling instrument should not be placed on the
profile line (i.e. the center line of the project).
The eye-piece should be focused by holding a sheet of
white paper in front of the telescope.

The objective should be focused by pointing the

telescope towards the staff.
The parallax should be eliminated.
The verticality of the staff should be verified by
observing the two vertical hairs & by noting the
minimum reading on the staff when it is moved
along the line of sight.

After taking the staff reading, the position of the

bubble should be verified. If it is disturbed, the
reading should be taken again.

Temporary Adjustment of Level

1. Selection of suitable position
2. Fixing level with tripod stand
3. Approximate levelling by legs of tripod
stand
4. Perfect levelling by foot screws
5. Focussing the eye-piece
6. Focussing the object glass
7. Taking the staff readings

Selection of suitable position - A sutaible position is selected for setting the level .
From this position , it should be possible to take the greatest number of
observation without difficulty.
Fixing level with tripod stand the tripod stand is placed at the required position
with its legs well apart, and pressed firmly into the ground. The level is fixed on
the tripod stand according to the fixing arrangement provided.
Approximate levelling by legs of tripod stand- the foot screws are brought to the
center of their run. Two legs of the tripod stand are firmly fixed into the ground.
Then the third leg is moved to the left or right , in or until the bubble is
approximately at the centre of its run.
Perfect levelling by foot screws longitudinal bubble on the top of the telescope.
Bubble brought to the center by turning the foot screw equally either both inward
or outward. Then telescope turned through 90 degree. And brought over the third
foot screw , and the bubble is brought to the center by turning this foot screw
clockwise and anticlockwise. The telescope again brought to its original position.
And bubble to the centered the process repeated several times until bubble
remain its central position.

Focussing the eye-piece a piece of white paper

is held in front of the object glass and the eye piece is
moved in or out by turning it clockwise or
anticlockwise until the cross hairs can be seen clearly.

Focussing the object glass telescope directed

toward the levelling staff. Looking through the eye
piece, the focusing screw is turned clockwise or
antilock wise until the graduation of staff is visible .

Taking the staff readings- finally the leveling of

the instrument is verified by turning the telescope in
any direction. When the bubble remain in the central
position for any direction of the telescope.

Types of Levelling operation

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Simple levelling
Differential Levelling
Fly Levelling
Longitudinal or Profile Levelling
Cross-sectional Levelling
Check Levelling

Simple levelling : When the difference

of level between two points is determined
by setting the levelling instrument midway
between the points, the process is known
as simple levelling.

Differential levelling :
i) If the difference in elevation between them
is too great.
ii) If there are obstacles intervening. In such
case it is necessary to set up the level in
several positions and to work in series of
stages.

Differential levelling

This method is also known as compound

levelling or continuous levelling.
Suppose it is required to know the difference
of level between A & B. the level is set up at
point O1, O2, O3 etc after temporary
adjustment staff reading are taken at every
set up . The point C1, C2, C3 are known as
change points then difference of level
between the A & B is found out.

Fly levelling
When Differential levelling is done in order
to connect a bench mark to the starting
point of the alignment of any project, it is
called fly levelling.
Fly levelling is also done to connect the BM
to any intermediate point of the alignment
for checking the accuracy of the work.

Longitudinal or profile levelling

The operation of taking levels along the

centre line of any alignment (road, railway,
etc.) at regular intervals is known as
longitudinal levelling. This operation is
undertaken in order to determine the
undulations of the ground surface along the
profile line.

Cross Sectional levelling

The operation of taking levels transverse
to the direction of longitudinal levelling is
known as cross sectional levelling. This
operation is undertaken in order to know
the nature of the ground across the centre
line of any alignment.

Check levelling

The fly levelling done at end of the days work to

connect the finishing point with the starting point on
the particular day is known as check levelling. It is
undertaken in order to check the accuracy of the
days work.

Reciprocal Levelling
In this levelling set up on both banks of the river
or valley and two set of staff reading are taken by
holding the staff on the both banks.
Procedure Suppose A& B are two points on the
opposite back of river. The level is set up very
near A and after proper temporary adjustment ,
staff reading are taken at A & B . Suppose the
readings are a1 &b2
The level is shifted and set up very near B and
after proper adjustment , staff reading are taken
at A & B . Suppose the reading are a2 & b2.

h= true difference between point A & B

In the first case
correct staff reading at A= a1
correct staff reading at B= b1 e
True difference of level between A & B
h = a1 (b1 e )
(1)
In second case
Correct staff reading at B = b2
Correct staff reading at A = a2 e
True difference in level
h =(a2 -e) b2
(2)
From (1)&(2)
2h = a1 (b1 - e) + (a2 - e) b2
= a1 b1 +e +a2 e b2
= (a1 b1) +(a2 b2)
h = (a1-b1) + (a2 b2) / 2

Difficulties faced in levelling

1. When the staff is too near the instrument
2. Levelling across a large pond or lake
3. Levelling across a river

Levelling across a large pond or lake

We know that the water surface of still lake or
pond is considered to be level.
Therefore all points on the a water surface have
the same R.L. Two peg A &B fix on opposite bank
of the lake or pond.
The top of the pegs are just flush with the water
surface. The level is set up at O1 and RL of A is
determined by taking FS on A. the RL of B is
assume to be equal to that of A .
Now the level is shifted and set up at O2 . Then
by taking a BS on peg B, levelling is continued.

Levelling across a river

In case of flowing water , the surface
cannot be considered level, the
water level on the opposite edges
will be different. In such case the
method of reciprocoal levelling is
aopted. Two peg A &B are driven in
opposite banck of river.

4. Levelling across a solid wall

Two peg A &B are driven on either side of wall, just touching
it. The level is set up at O1 and a staff reading is taken on A.
let this reading be AC. Then then the height of wall is
measured by staff . Let the height be AE. The HI is found out
by taking a BS on any BM or CP
RL of A = HI AC
RL of E = RL of A + AE = RL of F
RL of B = RL of F BF
HI at O2 = RL of B + BD

5 When BM is above line of collimation

this happens when the BM is at the bottom of the bridge girder or bottom surface of the culvert. And that it is required to find out RL of A. the level is set up at O and staff is held inverted on the
BM. The staff readig taken and noted with negative sign. Let BS & FS reading be 1.5 and 2.250 respectively.
HI of instrument = 100 1.5 = 98.5
RL of A = 98.5 2.250 = 95.250

6. Levelling across a rising ground or

depression
while levelling across high ground, the
level should not be placed on the top of
the ground , but on side so that the line of
collimation just passes through the apex.
While levelling across a depression the
level should be set up on one side and not
at the bottom of the depression.

Sources of Errors in levelling

Instrumental errors
Personal errors
Errors due to natural causes

Instrumental errors

The permanent adjustment of the instrument

may not be perfect. i.e. the line of
collimation may not be parallel to the axis of
the bubble tube.

The internal arrangement of the focusing

tube is not perfect.

The graduation of the levelling staff may not

be perfect.

Personal errors
a) The instrument may not be levelled perfectly.
b) The focusing of the eye-piece & object glass may not be perfect &
the parallax may not be eliminated.
c) The position of the staff may be displaced at the change point at
the time of taking FS & BS readings.
d) The staff may appear inverted when viewed through the
telescope. By mistake, the staff readings may be taken upwards
instead of downwards.
e) The reading of the stadia hair rather than the central collimation
hair may be taken by mistake.
f) A wrong entry may be made in the level book.
g) The staff may not be properly & fully extended.

Errors due to natural causes

When the distance of sight is long, the

curvature of the earth may affect the staff
reading.

The effect of refraction may cause a wrong

staff reading to be taken.

The effect of high winds & a shining sun may

result in a wrong staff reading.

References
Surveying and Levelling: N N Basak, Tata McGraw
Hill, New Delhi.
Surveying: R. Agor, Khanna Publishers.
http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses-contents/IIT Kanpur
and IIT Madras.
http://www.slideshare.net
www.scribd.com