 

DCC2082 : ENGINEERING SURVEY 1

By : Mdm Nor Safizah Binti Ponachi
 Levelling is involved with the use of a (usually) optical level to
determine elevations. We do this by starting from a point of
known elevation (a benchmark), and proceeding (often the
original benchmark). We can then calculate whether any errors
(misclosure) exists in our measurements. If the misclosure is
small, we can distribute the error over all our measurements.

 refers to height measurements for representing the relative

difference in height (altitude) between various points on the
earth’s surface.
 Staff
1.353 2.887
Differences Level
in elevation
= 1.543m
A
RLA = 100.000m

B
 Automatic level
Almost universal now. It uses a compensating system
of prisms suspended in the telescope to ensure that
the line of collimation is horizontal. Simply centre the
pill bubble as above.

 Digital level
An automatic level that reads and records the staff for
you (at much greater cost).
 Tilting level
The telescope is hinged. An accurate
bubble tube (usually with a split bubble
viewer) is used for accurate levelling of
each shot. The Tilting level replaced the
Dumpy level which required 3 footscrews
to be adjusted for each shot.
Automatic level

Digital level

Tilting level
 In order to calculate the heights of points a datum is required, i.e. a
reference level. This is usually the mean sea level. For this purpose, the use
of Bench Marks is necessary, and these are classified as follows:

 Bench Mark (BM) – a point with known height above mean sea level (or
other reference datum). These are permanent points (e.g. unchanged by
weather conditions) and are provided by the Department of Lands and
Surveys.

 Temporary Bench Mark (TBM) – a point of known height above a pre-defined

level. This level is not absolute and is defined locally by the surveyor for the
purpose of the survey. Based on the TBM the survey may then later be
reduced to absolute levels if the level of TBM is known.

 The height of any target point is referred to as Reduced Level (RL), because
it is reduced to a known datum.
 TBM

BM
 Instrument not correctly levelled.
 Telescope not correctly focused.
 The wrong cross-hair reading recorded (e.g. top instead of
middle).
 Staff incorrectly read or not held vertical.
 Staff incorrectly booked.
 Backsight (BS): first staff reading taken immediately
after setting up the instrument.
 Foresight (FS): last staff reading taken before moving
the instrument to another location.
 Intermediate sight (IS): all readings taken between a BS
and a FS.
 So, if the instrument is set up at one location only, there
will be just one BS (first reading to a TBM), one FS (last
reading) and several IS.
 Auto Level Staff bubble

Measurement tape
Tripod
Staff
STAFF

BS FS

STAFF
BM (-ve)
LEVEL
 TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENTS
 Setting up the level
 Levelling up
 Elimination of parallax
 Focusing the eye for distinct vision of cross hairs.
 Focusing the objective so that image is formed in the plane of cross hairs

 Setting up the level : This operation includes fixing the instrument on the tripod and also approximate
levelling by leg adjustment.

 Levelling up : Accurate levelling is done with the help of foot screws and by using plate levels. The object
of levelling up the instrument is to make its vertical axis truly vertical.

 Elimination of parallax : If the image formed by the objective does not lie in the plane of the cross hairs,
there will be a shift in the image due to shift of the eye. Such displacement of image is termed as
parallax. Parallax is removed in two stages.
 Level readings can be taken either from one location (one set-up levelling) or
from various stations,if some points of interest are not visible. A level survey can
be used for setting-out purposes, the presentation of soil profiles etc.,

A
HPC
B

RLA RLB
Datum
Figure 1
 Now consider Figure 1. The level is set up as shown,
and using the staff at points A and B,height readings
are recorded. This is just the height read through the
telescope horizontal line of sight (known as line of
collimation). If no reduced level is known only the
difference in height can be found between A and B,
not their absolute levels.
 Staff Reading at A is 1.135m
 Staff Reading at B is 1.875m
 difference in height is = 1.875 – 1.135
= 0.740m
 Ifwe know that RLA = +120.000m (above datum),
then RLB = 120.00 – 0.740 = +119.260m i.e. a fall
from A. If RLB was known we would calculate a rise
in level. Hence, the following can be defined:
 Rise – staff reading is less than previous reading.
 Fall – staff reading is greater than previous reading.
A second way to calculate the reduced levels is by using
the Height (level) of collimation line (or plane). From the
above numerical example,
 Height of Plane of Collimation (HPC) = +120.000 +
1.135 = +121.135m (as from Figure 2)
 => RLB = HPC – (Staff Reading at B) = +121.135 –
1.875 = +119.260m
 BM

PB
BM 49.87m

2.191

A
A

PA
2.505

L1

L1
PA
B

B
2.325
C

TP
C
1.496 3.019

Figure 2
PA
L2
L2

PH

D
D

2.513
2.811
E

TP
E

1.752
PB
L3
L3

3.824
TBM 48.71m
TBM
 BS IS FS RISE FALL RL ADJ. ADJ. RL REMAKS

2.191 49.87 - 49.87 BM 49.87

2.505 0.314 49.556 +0.003 49.56 A

2.325 0.180 49.736 +0.003 49.74 B

3.019 1.496 0.829 50.565 +0.003 50.57 C (CP)

2.513 0.506 51.071 +0.006 51.08 D

1.752 2.811 0.298 50.773 +0.006 50.78 E (CP)

3.824 2.072 48.701 +0.009 48.71 TBM 48.71

6.962 8.131 1.515 2.684

Arithmetic checks (necessary for checking
the reduction)

 Σ (BS) - Σ (FS) = 6.962 – 8.131 = - 1.169m

 Σ (RISES) – Σ (FALLS) = 1.515 – 2.684 = - 1.169m
 LAST (RL) – FIRST (RL) = 48.701 – 49.87 = -1.169m
 BS IS FS HOC RL ADJ. ADJ. RL REMAKS

2.191 52.061 49.87 - 49.87 BM 49.87

2.505 49.556 +0.003 49.56 A

2.325 49.736 +0.003 49.74 B

3.019 1.496 53.584 50.565 +0.003 50.57 C (CP)

2.513 51.071 +0.006 51.08 D

1.752 2.811 52.252 50.733 +0.006 50.78 E (CP)

3.824 48.701 +0.009 48.71 TBM 48.71

6.962 8.131
Arithmetic checks (necessary for
checking the reduction)

 Σ (BS) - Σ (FS) = 6.962 – 8.131 = - 1.169m

 LAST (RL) – FIRST (RL) = 48.701 – 49.87 = - 1.169m
 a2
b2
3e
e

a1 b1

e e

A C
20m 20m 20m
 A two peg test is a test for error within a surveying level. This test
gives a fairly accurate check for the amount of collimation error.
Collimation error is the difference between what the level hairs in
the scope say is level, and what is actually level.
 Setup and mark on the ground (with wooden pegs
driven into the earth, or roofing nails in tar) two
point some 40m apart. Set up the the level exactly
mid-way between them.
 Take measurements of back sight and foresight for
this first setup. The height difference dh1 will be
free of the effects of collimation error.
 Next, move the level to a position just beyond the
fore staff position (about 20m).
 Then repeat the readings.
 STAFF READING
STESEN
LEVEL STAFF A STAFF B

C a1 = 3.75 b1 = 4.25

D a2 = 7.86 b2 = 6.36
A = (a2 – 3e)
B = (b2 – e)

The actual correction = (a2 – 3e) – (b2 – e)

= (7.86 – 3e) – (6.36 –e)
= 1.5 – 2e
The actual difference = a1 – b1
= 3.75 – 4.25
= -0.5
 -0.5 = 1.5 – 2e
2e = 2
e = 1m/jarak
- Actual reading at A (a2) = 7.86 – 3 = 4.86
- Actual reading at B (b2) = 6.36 – 1 = 5.36
 B (51.750)
A (48.000) B (51.750) 50.000 = contour value
H h
5m A (48.000)

x
C (50.110) D (56.710) 5m

5m
H = h H = 51.750 – 48.000
5m x = 3.750

x = 2.000
x 5.000
3.750 h = 50.000 – 48.000
= 2.000
= 2.667m