Trigonometric Leveling
It is the branch of leveling in which the
relative elevations of different stations
are determined from the observed
vertical angles and known distances.
V = S Sin = H Tan
ZB = ZA + hi + S Sin r
ZB = ZA + hi + H Tan r
m h m h d cot z
Trigonometric levelling
Trigonometric levelling
Trigonometric levelling
Trigonometric levelling
Trigonometric levelling
Trigonometric levelling
Trigonometric levelling
Advantage:
the instrument height is not
necessary;
non intervisible points can be
measured, too.
m d B cot z B B d A cot z A A
t B cos z B B t A cos z A A
Trigonometric heighting
Advantages compared to optical levelling:
A large elevation difference can be measured over short
distances;
The elevation difference of distant points can be measured
(mountain peaks);
The elevation of inaccessible points can be measured (towers,
chimneys, etc.)
Disadvantages compared to optical levelling:
The accuracy of the measured elevation difference is usually
lower.
The distance between the points must be known (or measured) in
order to compute the elevation difference
m d AP cot z A
m lO d AP cot z A
d AP
a
sin
d AP a
sin sin 180
sin
d BP
a
sin
d BP a
sin sin 180
sin
m lO d AP cot z A
A
m l d BP cot z B
B
B
O
m
m
m
2
Trigonometric Leveling
When long distances are involved it is
essential to consider the effect of
Curvature of Earth and Refraction
due to atmospheric conditions.
The effect of curvature is to make the
objects appear lower than they really are.
The effect of refraction is to make them
appear higher than they really are. It is
taken as one sixth of that of curvature.
The combined effect is to cause the object
appear lower than they really are.
Trigonometric heighting
The effect of Earths curvature
Trigonometric heighting
The effect of Earths curvature
Trigonometric heighting
The effect of Earths curvature
d AB
Trigonometric heighting
The effect of Earths curvature
Trigonometric heighting
The effect of Earths curvature
d AB d AB
sz d AB tan d AB
2
2R
2R
Trigonometric Heighting
The effect of refraction
Trigonometric Heighting
The effect of refraction
d AB
d
m d cot z AB
2
Trigonometric heighting
The effect of refraction
Lets introduce the refractive coefficient:
R
k
d
m d cot z AB
d cot z AB r
2
where:
d2
d2
r
k
2
2R
Trigonometric heighting
The combined effect of curvature and refraction
Note that the effects have
opposite signs!
Trigonometric heighting
The combined effect of curvature and refraction
2
d
m d cot z AB k
2R
= r
d2
sz
2R
The elevation difference between A and B (the combined effect of
curvature and refraction is taken into consideration):
d2
m h l d cot z AB 1 k
2R
The fundamental equation of trigonometric heighting
Constants
Effect of Curvature
C = 0.0239 F square ( 1000 of ft)
or
C = 0.0785K square If distance in m
Effect of Refraction
R= 0.0033 F square ( 1000 of ft)
or
R = 0.011K square (If distance in m)
Combined Effect of C and R
H = 0.0206 F square ( 1000 of ft)
or
H = 0.0675K square If distance in m