INTRODUCTION TO LEVELLING

Leveling is a general term used in land surveying that applies to vertical measurements. Vertical measurements are made and referenced to datums, as elevations.

Basic Principals Levelling is the process by which differences in height between two or more points can be determined.

INSTRUMENT
1. AUTOMATIC LEVEL 2. STAFF 3. MEASURE TAPE 4. TRIPOD

Automatic Level Quicker in use and free from operator errors in setting the telescope bubble. In condition of wind or vibration the staff image may oscillate, negating the instruments advantages.

AUTOMATIC LEVEL

Staff 4m high in three telescopic sections. Standard metric 10mm staff has 10mm bars marked 10mm apart on the face of the staff in red (odd meters) and black (even meters). Value are marked every 100mm, being in meters and decimals. The underside of the number is the point to which it refers.

STAFF

Tripod Have pointed feet and telescopic legs to facilitate the setting them firmly over stations so that a automatic level can easily be leveled and centered.

TRIPOD

Measuring tape In 30m or 50m To measuring a distance from staff to another staff

MEASURE TAPE

Level component tools Foot screw adjustment the bubble Focusing screw adjustment the focusing Eyes piece adjustment the cross hair Slow motion screw to adjustment the movement of telescope

A surveying optical telescope

line of focusing screw collimation

diaphragm eyepiece

focusing lens

object lens

cross hairs

Typical diaphragms - in different makes of instrument The aim of focusing is to remove (eliminate) PARALLAX Focusing 1. Rotate eyepiece to give a sharp, clear image of the cross hairs 2. Rotate focusing screw to give a sharp, clear image of the object being observed.

Temporary adjustment
For a level to give reliable results, the bubbles must be correctly adjusted. The check can be carried out in the field. If the bubble does not stay central, bring the bubble halfway back to the central position with the foot screws. Turn the bubble adjusting screws until the bubble case is set with the bubble central.

 Turn the telescope through 180 again, check and re-adjust if necessary. Repeat the procedure until the bubble remains central. note that bull's-eye bubbles are usually secured by three small screws which can easily be broken if over tightened. All three should be loosened initially and then gently tightened until the bubble is set correctly.

Leveling procedure The instrument should be set up on stable ground in position from which as many points to be leveled (staff station). Work should commence with a sight to a bench mark and should finish with a sight to be bench mark or other point of known altitude. It is rare that all leveling can be accomplished from one instrument station.

 Before the instrument is moved, a staff station should be chosen which is visible from old and new instrument stations. Such a point is called a change point and it should be stable and visible. A foresight is taken from the old station, the instrument is set up at the new station and a back sight is taken. Both sight are booked on the same line of the field book.

Levelling Staff

Levelling
(HPC)

Height of the Plane of Collimation BS

FS
Reduced Level of B

Reduced Level of A

DATUM

SETTING UP A LEVEL
INSTRUMENT CONSIDERATIONS
1. Bubble must be sensitive 2. Telescope must have clear optics 3. Check stability of the instrument, including tripod (anything loose?) 4. Stable change point and stable setting-up point 5. Level fairly low and legs of tripod spread to half the height of the tripod for maximum stability - Avoid areas causing vibrations eg. roads

LEG ADJUSTMENT LOCATING THE TRIPOD.

LEG ADJUSTMENT THE INSTRUMENT IS PLACE AT A CONVENIENT HEIGHT

LEG ADJUSTMENT
THE INSTRUMENT IS PLACE AT A CONVENIENT HEIGHT TRIPOD LEGS SPREAD WELL APART ADJUST THE TRIPOD HEAD AS NEARLY HORIZONTAL AS CAN JUDGED BY THE EYE.

FIXING THE INSTRUMENT OVER TRIPOD FIX ON THE TRIPOD BY TURNING ROUND THE LOWER PART WITH THE RIGHT HAND AND IS FIRMLY SCREWEDS OVER THE TRIPOD.

BULLS EYE OR POND BUBBLE

When pond bubble is centred the instruments standing axis is approximately vertical.
The compensators in the instrument take over and adjust the optical Line of Collimation so that it is horizontal (hopefully)

When the instrument is rotated the compensators ensure that a horizontal plane of collimation is swept out (hopefully)

LEVELING UP

BULLS EYE IS NOT AT CENTER POSITION. NEED TO DO LEVELLING .

LEVELING UP THE TELESCOPE IS ALIGN OVER PARALLELTO TWO FOOTSCREWS

LEVELING UP

THE TELESCOPE IS ALIGN OVER ONE FOOTSCREWS

LEVELING UP

THE BULLS EYE IS CENTER POSITION.

STADIA DIAPHRAGMS
Upper hair

Middle hair

Lower hair

Reading an E-type levelling staff The value is ?

Read value at the horizontal cross hair

1.932

1.930 1.920 1.910 1.900

1.133

1.130 1.120 1.110 1.100

Some Terminology
BS

RL A A Level staff on A
C B Back Sight (BS) reading is first reading

FS

RL A A Level staff on A Level staff on B

C B Back Sight (BS) reading is first reading

Fore Sight (FS) reading is last reading

Move instrument to new position

BS

RL A A
C B CP

Move instrument to new position

Level staff stays on B

The instrument has changed its position about point B

Point B is known as a Change Point (CP)

2nd instrument position starts with BS to B

BS

FS

RL A A

C B
and finishes with FS to C

REMEMBER !! Always start levelling work with BS and end with FS.

BACKSIGHT

Reduce Level A (known)

FORESIGHT

BS BS FS

FS
RL C C

RL A A
RL A is known B (CP)

BS
1.255 2.118

IS

FS
1.306

RISE

FALL RL (m)
30.0

REMARKS

A B (CP)

2.065
LEVELLING BOOKING FORM

Summary of Levelling Procedure

When the level has been set up we always start a point whose RL is known - such as an OBM or a TBM

with a BS to

The last reading at any instrument position is always a FS

i.e.always

end with a FS

Either the instrument moves or the staff moves -

never move both

We must always finish levelling at a point of known RL value
- such as an OBM or a TBM

always close your levelling

Errors in Levelling
Instrumental Errors Collimation Error Error due to curvature & Refraction Other Errors

1. Instrumental error and Correction Collimation error

Correction: Check before use and equalise sights.

Under sensitive bubble. Errors in staff graduation

Correction: Check

Loose tripod head. Telescope not parallel to bubble tube

Correction: Permanent adjustment.

Telescope not at right angles to the vertical axis

Correction: Permanent adjustment

2. Error of Collimation:
Collimation error occurs when the collimation axis is not truly horizontal when the instrument is level. The effect is illustrated in the sketch below, where the collimation axis is tilted with respect to the horizontal by an angle a:

Curvature of the earth: The earth appears to fall away with distance. The curved shape of the earth means that the level surface through the telescope will depart from the horizontal plane through the telescope as the line of sight proceeds to the horizon.

Other sources of errors in levelling and their correction: