Leveling Worked Examples

The following consecutive readings were taken with a dumpy level: 0.565, 0.854,
0.940, 1.005, 0.640, 0.660, 0.785, 0.800, 0.635, 1.135, and 1.420 The level was
shifted after the fourth and the seventh readings. The first reading was taken on the
bench mark of R.L. is 100.565. Calculate the reduced levels of the change points,
and the difference of level between the first and last points.

B.S =1.365; F.S =3.210;

B.S - F.S = 2.005 3.210 = - 1.205
First R.L. =100.000; Last R.L. = 98.795
Last R.L. - First R.L. = 98.795 100.000 = - 1.205
(Checked)

Rise and fall method

Solution:
The level was shifted after the fourth and the seventh readings. Hence, the fourth
(1.005) and seventh readings (0.785) are fore sight readings. Where as the fifth
(0.640) and eight reading (0.800) are back sight readings.

Readings (m)
Station

B.S

2
0.854

3
0.940

I.S

I.S

4
1.005

5
0.640
B.S

6
0.660

7
0.785

F.S

8
0.800
B.S

9
0.635

10
1.135

I.S

I.S

F.S

0.854
0.940
0.640

11
1.420

0.289
0.086
0.065
0.020
0.125

1.005
0.660

0.800

0.785
0.635
1.135

F.S

I.S

F.S

0.165
0.500
0.285

1.420

Collimation or Height of instrument (H.I.) method

Readings (m)
Station

B.S

I.S

F.S

0.565

Instrument
height (m)
100.565

0.854
0.940
0.640

1.005

100.200

0.785

100.215

0.660
0.800
0.635
1.135
1.420

2.005

Reduced
Level
R.L (m)
100.000
99.771
99.625
99.560
99.540
99.415
99.580
99.080
98.795

Remarks

2.005

3.210

0.165

C.P 2

B.S =1.365; F.S =3.210;

B.S - F.S = 2.005 3.210 = - 1.205
First R.L. =100.000; Last R.L.=98.795
Last R.L - First R.L = 98.795 100.000 = - 1.205
Rise = 0.165; Fall = 1.370;
Rise - Fall = 0.165 - 1.370 = - 1.205

Last Point

3.210

Arithmetical check:
The difference between the sum of back sights and the sum of fore sights should be
equal to the difference of first and last R.L.

Reduced
Level R.L
(m)
100.000
99.771
99.625
99.560
99.540
99.415
99.580
99.080
98.795

Remarks
B.M

C.P 1
C.P 2

Last Point

1.370

Arithmetical check: The difference between the sum of back sights and
the sum of fore sights is equal to the difference between the sum of the
rise and fall and should be equal to the difference of first and last R.L.

B.M

C.P 1

Fall (m)

0.565

The starting reading is back sight reading. The last reading is fore sight reading.
1
0.565
B.S

I.S

Rise (m)

(Checked)

A page of an old level book had been damaged by white ants and the
readings marked xx are missing. Find the readings from the available
readings and check.
Distance
in m

Readings (m)
B.S

I.S

F.S

xx
0
30
60
xx
120
150
xx
210

240
270
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Instrument
height (m)
xx

1.675
xx
3.355
0.840

xx

209.520

xx
xx
xx

2.630
xx
1.920
xx

xx

Reduced
Level
R.L (m)
209.510
xx
210.425
209.080
xx
208.275
210.635
xx
206.040

Remarks

14. RL 0 = HI at start IS 0 = 212.435 1.675 = 210.760

15. IS 30 = = HI at start RL 30 = 212.435 210.425 = 2.010
Distance
in m

B.M

C.P
bridge
xx

205.895
205.690

Difference in RL between 240m and 270m is 205.895 205.690 = 0.205

Hence FS corresponding to 270m is IS 270 + 0.205 = 1.920 + 0.205 = 2.125
RL 210 is 206.040 and RL 240 is 205.895. Difference = 0.145
Hence IS 210 = 1.920 + 0.145 = 2.065
With RL 205.895 and IS 240 1.920, Instrument height becomes 205.895 +
1.920 = 207.815
RL 180 = - FS 180 + Previous instrument height = 209.520 2.630 =
206.890
Corresponding BS is Ht of instrument RL 180 = 207.815 - 206.890 =
0.925
At 150, RL 150 = 210.635; HI = 209.520. Therefore IS 150 = 210.635
209.520 = 1.115
At 120, IS 120 = 209.635 208.275 = 1.245
At 90, BS 90 = 0.840, IH = 209.520. Therefore RL 90 = 209.520 840 =
208.680
Between RL 60 and RL 90 the difference is 209.080 208.680 = 0.400.
Therefore FS 90 = 3.355+0.400 = 3.755
HI before that reading is RL 60 + IS 60 = 209.080 + 3.355 = 212.435
BS at start = HI at start - RL of BM = 212.435 - 209.510 = 2.925

Readings (m)
B.S

I.S

F.S

2.925
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
210

Instrument
height (m)

212.435
1.675

210.760

2.010

210.425
209.080
208.680
208.275
210.635

3.355
0.840

3.755

209.520

2.630

207.815

1.245
1.115
0.925
2.065
1.920

240
270

Reduced
Level
R.L (m)
209.510

Remarks
B.M

C.P
bridge

206.890 CP
206.040

205.895
205.690

2.125

In a traverse leveling from a bench mark of RL 183.185, the following

readings were obtained.
Back sight 2.085, 1.025, 1.890, 0.625 and Foresight 1.925, 2.820, 0.890.
From the last position of the instrument five pegs at 25 m intervals are to be
set out on an uniformly falling gradient line with 1 in 100 gradient. Top of
the first peg is to have a RL of 182.350. Determine the staff readings
required to set up the tops of the pegs in the given gradient.
Distance
in m

Readings (m)
B.S

I.S

F.S

Instrument
height (m)

1.925
2.280
0.890

185.270
184.370
183.440
183.175

2.085
1.025
1.890
0.625
0
25
50
75
100

0.825
1.075
1.325
1.575
1.825

Reduced
Level
R.L (m)
183.185
183.345
181.550
182.550
182.350
182.100
181.850
181.600
181.350

Remarks
B.M

Peg 1
Peg 2
Peg 3
Peg 4
Peg 5