Md.

Siddikur Rahman
Associate Professor
Dept. of Farm Structure
LEVELS AND LEVELLING

Level: A level is an instrument by which the relative heights of different points on the surface of
the earth are determined.
Levelling: Levelling is the process by means of which the difference in elevation of various points
on the surface of the earth is calculated
Levelling Instruments:
i) Level ii) Levelling staff iii) Tape or Chain
Types of Level:
i) Dumpy level ii) Y or Wye level iii) Cooke’s reversible level
iv) Cushing’s level v) Zeiss, Wild’s and Watt’s modern level or Tilting level

Some definition:
a) Level surface: A level surface may be defined as the surface which coincides with the
shape adopted by the surface of a free liquid. The surface of a still lake may be considered
as a level surface.
b) Mean-Sea-Level (M.S.L.): It is the average elevation of the surface of the sea. In
Bangladesh, the mean-sea-level at Cox’s Bazar is taken as zero.
c) Geoid: The surface of the earth at mean-sea-level is termed as geoid.
d) Datum: It is the imaginary surface with respect to which the heights of different points on
the earth surface are determined.
• In almost every country the mean-sea-level is considered most suitable for datum.
• The M.S.L. at Cox’s Bazar is the datum in Bangladesh
• In levelling operation a certain datum is assumed and the relative heights of different
points are calculated with respect to this datum.
e) Reduced Level (R.L.): The elevation of any point with reference to the assumed datum is
termed as reduced level of that point.
f) Bench Mark (B.M.): A bench mark is a fixed point on the ground of known elevation.
There are four types of bench mark:
i) G.T.S. (Great Trigonometrical Survey): G.T.S. bench marks are established with high
degree of precision at regular intervals throughout the country and their elevation above
the M.S.L. at Cox’s Bazar are given by the Survey Department of Bangladesh.
ii) Permanent B.M.: Permanent bench marks are the fixed points of reference of known
elevations between the G.T.S. bench marks given by the Bangladesh P.W.D.
iii) Arbitrary B.M.: Arbitrary bench marks are the reference points whose elevations are
assumed arbitrarily for small levelling works.
iv) Temporary B.M.: Temporary bench marks are the reference points which are generally
established at the break of any levelling work on some permanent objects.
g) Height of instrument: the elevation of the line of collimation above the datum is termed
as the height of instrument. This is also known as R.L. of the line of collimation.
Line of
h) Station: A station is a point whose collimation
elevation is to be determined.
• It is a point where staff reading is taken
Height of
but not the point where the level is set up. instrument

Datum

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 h) Change point: It is an intermediate station on which two readings are taken while the
position of the instrument is shifted.
i) Back reading: In any set up of the levelling instrument, the first staff reading on a station
is termed as back reading.
j) Fore reading: The last staff reading on a station is termed as fore reading.
k) Inter reading: The reading of the intermediate station is termed as inter reading.

Types of levelling: Following are the most common types of leveling

i) Fly or differential levelling ii) Check levelling
iii) Profile or longitudinal levelling iv) Reciprocal levelling
v) Contouring vi) Trigonometrical levelling
vii) Precise levelling viii) Barometric levelling

Purpose or objectives of levelling:

i) To level a piece of ground according to a given altitude
ii) To know the relative heights or depths of two adjacent place
iii) To estimate the quantity of earth work for roads, canals, drains etc.
iv) To provide slopes of roads, railways, canals, rivers ground, roof etc.
v) To fix up permanent B.M. with R.L. for check and reference for local levelling.

Procedure of Levelling operation:

H5 H6 H7 H8 H9
H H1 H2 H3 H4 Hcp

P8 P9
B P7
R.L.= 100΄ P6
A P3 P4 Cp P5
P P1 P2

i) In figure, it is require to determine the heights of the point P1, P2, P3 etc.
ii) These heights can be determined with a reference to a bench mark P whose R.L. is known
iii) At first place the level at A, after proper levelling and adjustment of the level take the staff
readings at P1, P2, P3, P4 and Cp.
iv) Shift the level at B and take the staff readings at Cp, P5, P6, P7, P8, and P9.
v) The staff is always perpendicular to the line of collimation during taking readings on these
different points. This is achieved by swinging the staff backward and forward and recording
the smallest reading.
vi) Some times negative staff reading is taken when the ground is above the line of collimation
and these readings are taken with the staff upside down. This negative reading is added to the
R.L. of the line of collimation to obtain the R.L. of the required point.

Methods of calculating Reduced Level (R.L.):

a) Line of collimation method (Height of instrument method):
In this method the elevation of the line of collimation for every set up of the instrument is
found out and the reduced levels of different points with reference to the line of collimation
are obtained.

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 In this method the accuracy of the work can be checked by applying the following rule.
The difference of the sum of fore and back readings is equal to the difference of the R.L. of
first point and the last point.
i.e. ∑Fore readings - ∑Back readings = First R.L. – Last R.L.
b) Rise and Fall method:
In this method if the staff reading at a point is greater than the preceding one, it indicates a
fall (-Ve) and staff reading at a point is smaller than the preceding one, it indicates a rise (+ve).
The accuracy of the work can be checked by applying the following rule:
∑Back readings - ∑Fore readings = Total rise – Total fall = Last R.L. – First R.L.

Example: In a levelling work there are two setup of the instrument at A and B. From the position
A staff readings on P, P1, P2, P3, P4 and Cp are 5.42, 7.24, 6.46, 5.38, 6.55 and 6.92 ft respectively.
From position B staff readings on Cp, P5, P6, P7, P8 and P9 are 8.78, 8.52, 6.24, 5.96, 6.35 and 7.54
ft respectively. If the R.L. of the bench mark P is 100.00΄, calculate the reduced level of the above
points by both the methods and apply necessary checks.
Solution:
a) Line of collimation method:
Station Distance Staff reading Height of Reduced Remark
Back Inter Fore instrument level
A 0 5.42 105.42 100.00 Bench mark
50 7.24 98.18
100 6.46 98.96
150 5.38 100.04
200 6.55 98.87
B 250 8.78 6.92 107.28 98.50 Change point
300 8.52 98.76
350 6.24 101.04
400 5.96 101.32
450 6.35 100.93
500 7.54 99.74
Sum 14.20 14.46
*Height of instrument at B = (Back reading – Fore reading) + Height of instrument at A
Check: Sum of fore readings – Sum of back readings = 14.46 – 14.20 = 0.26 ft.
First R.L. – Last R.L. = 100.00 – 99.74 = 0.26 ft.
b) Rise and Fall method:
Station Distance Staff reading Difference Reduced Remark
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall level
A 0 5.42 100.00 Bench mark
50 7.24 1.82 98.18
100 6.46 0.78 98.96
150 5.38 1.08 100.04
200 6.55 1.17 98.87
B 250 8.78 6.92 0.37 98.50 Change point
300 8.52 0.26 98.76
350 6.24 2.28 101.04
400 5.96 0.28 101.32
450 6.35 0.39 100.93
500 7.54 1.19 99.74
Sum 14.20 14.46 4.68 4.94

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 Fall at 50 ft. distance = 5.42 – 7.24 = - 1.82
Rise at 300 ft. distance = 8.78 – 8.52 = + 0.26
Check: Sum of back readings – Sum of fore readings = 14.46 – 14.20 = 0.26
Total rise – Total fall = 4.94 – 4.68 = 0.26
Last R.L. – First R.L. = 100.00 – 99.74 = 0.26

Effect of Curvature on Levelling:

The effect of curvature on levelling is to increase the staff reading because the line of collimation
is not a level line but a horizontal one. For ordinary small survey works this effect is not generally
considered but for precise levelling and longer sights, correction for curvature is to be applied. As
the distance AB increases, the difference BC, between the level line and the collimation line goes
on increasing.
Line of collimation l
A A B
B
Level line
C R h
C
O
D

From figure,
(OB)2 = (OA)2 + (AB)2
⇒ (OC + CB)2 = (OA)2 + (AB)2 (for small distance AC = AB)
⇒ (OC) 2 + 2×OC×CB + (CB) 2 = (OA) 2 + (AB) 2
⇒ R2 + 2R×h + h2 = R2 + l2 ⇒ h(2 R + h ) = l 2
l2 l2
⇒ h= = (h is very small in comparison to 2R)
2R + h 2R
l2
⇒h = , where D is the diameter of the earth = 7916 miles
D
l 2 × 5280 2 2
When l is in miles, h = = l (approximately)
7916 3
So the error due to curvature is in ft. is equal to two-third of the square of the distance in miles.
This is approximately 8 inches for first mile.
2
Thus the correct staff reading = Observed staff reading – l 2
3

Effect of refraction on Levelling:

In case of the effect of curvature it is assumed that the rays of light follow a horizontal line (path)
from the staff. This correction should be added to the staff reading.
It is generally taken as 1/7th of the correction due to curvature. Line of collimation
1 2 2 B
So correction due to curvature = × l 2 = l 2 C
7 3 21 Refracted
line of sight
∴Correct staff reading
= Observed staff reading – correction
due to curvature + correction due to refraction
2 2 4
= Observed staff reading − l 2 + l 2 = Observed staff reading − l 2
3 21 7
(where l is in mile)

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Example: A dumpy level was placed at C on a line AB, 2200 ft from A and 4500 ft from B. The
back reading on A is 4.98 ft and the fore reading on B is 12.76 ft. calculate the true difference of
level between A and B.
4.98' 12.76'
Corrected staff reading on A
4
= Observed staff reading − l 2
7 A C
2
4 ⎛ 2200 ⎞ B
= 4.98 − ⎜ ⎟ = 4.88 ft 2200' 4500'
7 ⎝ 5280 ⎠
Corrected staff reading on A
2
4 ⎛ 4500 ⎞
= 12.76 − ⎜ ⎟ = 12.34 ft
7 ⎝ 5280 ⎠
Difference of level between A and B = 12.34 – 4.88 = 7.46 ft

Example: The top of the Kutubdia light house is visible just above the horizon from a certain
place in the Bay of Bengal. The distance of the light house from the observer is 20 miles.
Calculate the height of the light house.
20 mile
Horizon
Let the height of the light house is h ft.
4 4 2
∴ h = l 2 = (20) h
7 7
= 228.5 ft

Example: In the above problem if the height of the observer is 50 ft from the sea level. What is
the height of the light house?
l1 l2
Let h1 = height of the light house
h2
h2 = height of the light house = 50 ft h1
4 2 4 2
Here, h1 = l1 h2 = l2
7 7
and l = l1 + l2 = 20
7 7
We get, l2 = h2 = × 50 = 9.35 miles
4 4
and l1 = 20 – 9.35 = 10.65 miles
4 2
So height of the light house h1 = × (10.65) = 64.81 ft.
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