Table of Contents

Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Equipments: ............................................................................................................................................ 2
Procedure:............................................................................................................................................... 3
Collimation Error: .................................................................................................................................... 4
Calculation: ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Checking: ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Conclusion: .............................................................................................................................................. 6

Introduction:
Checking of the instruments is important, because all instruments are subject to errors. And
since most levels will have a collimation error, some method is required to check this to
determine if the error is within accepted limits. This is known as the two-peg test which
should be carried out when using a new or different level for the first time and at regular
intervals after this depending on how much the level has been used.

Equipments:
Needed equipments for two-peg test are as follow:
1. Level Staff (2 units)
2. Tripod (1 unit)
3. Tapes (1 unit)
4. Auto Level (1 unit)
5. Writing staffs
6. Calculator

Procedure:
To run two-peg test,
Firstly:

We should assign two points (A & B) on a land surface with distance of 50 meters
and put the level staffs in each point.

The auto level needs to be placed in middle of the points. Take readings on both pegs
(S1 & S2) and find the difference in elevation. Figure 1.

1,530

1.310

S2

S1
25m

Peg S1
Peg S2
Difference

25m

RS1=1.310
RS2=1.530
H1= -0.220

(Figure 1)

Secondly:

We should move the Auto Level form the middle and set it up 5 meters from point
(A).

Take reading of the both points (S3 & S4), and find the difference of elevation. If the
elevation is different from the first readings, it means there is a collimation that
present the levels and determine the error if the error within the acceptance limits.

1.560
1.260

S4

S3
5m

50m
55m

Peg S3
Peg S4
Difference

RS3=1.260
RS4=1.560
H2= -0.300

(Figure 2)

Collimation Error:
Collimation error can be found by following formula:

Calculation:
S1 = 1.310 m
S2 = 1.530 m
S3 = 1.260 m
S4 = 1.560 m
L = 50 m

) (

m= 1.6mm
4

Note: The collimation error has been found, which should be less than 1mm per 20m.

(((((( we have 50M so it means we have collimation error limit (from -2.5mm to +2.5mm) ,
even though we got 1.6mm, so this mean we are in the limit of the collimation error, so
we can do our checking ))))))))))

Checking:

For checking of our survey result we should follow the bellow steps:
3 = S3 (collimation error * sighting distance DA)
4 = S4 (collimation error * sighting distance DB)

So:
3 = 1.260 (0.0016 x 5) = 1.252m
4 = 1.560 (0.0016 x 55) = 1.472m
= ( 3- 4) = (1.252-1.472) = -0.220
S = (S1 - S2) = (1.310 -1.530) = -0.220
=S = -0.220

Conclusion:
In conclusion, two peg test is the most important part of a leveling survey, as well as it needs to be

carried out before we start the levelling job to ensure the instrument is in a good condition.
Checking of instruments are important and needed, because they may subject to errors. The
main error is where the line of sight is not parallel to the horizontal line of collimation. A test
for checking the level is known as the two peg test. This test determines the amount of error.
The entire process should be repeated as a check. It is practically impossible to adjust the
instrument so that no collimation error exists - the purpose of the adjustment is to reduce the
size of the error. If the discrepancy (S2 - S1) can be reduced to around 2mm, this is perfectly
adequate, provided sight lengths are thereafter kept reasonably similar.