Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Carrying and Setting Up a Level

Always carry it in the container, Screw the head snugly on the tripod. For bull eyes bubble, alternately turn one screw and then the other two. On side-hill setups, place one leg on the uphill side and other two on the down hill side. Use hand level to check for proper height of the setup before precisely leveling the instrument.
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Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Duties of a Rodperson

For correct reading, the level rod must be held plumb. Using rod level, when the bulls-eye bubble is centered the rod is plumbed in both directions. When a rod level is not available waving the rod is one of the procedure.

Plumping a level rod.

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Rod level
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Differential Leveling

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Differential Leveling

To check the accuracy of the work, it is important to run closed circuit.

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Differential Leveling

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Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Differential Leveling

Balancing plus and minus sights distance to cancel errors caused by curvature of and refraction.

If D1 and D2 are made equal, collimation error e1 and e2 will cancel each other.
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Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Precision

Precision in leveling is increased by

Repeating measurements, Using high-quality equipment, Keeping it in good adjustment, and Performing the measurements carefully.

No mater how carefully the work is executed, errors will exist. Various organizations set precision standards based on their project requirements.

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Precision

For example, on a simple construction survey, an allowable misclosure of

C = 0.02 n ( ft )

C = 6 n (mm)

where n is the number of setups. The Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS) USA recommends allowable misclosures where C is the allowable loop misclossure, in millimeters, m is a constant, and K is the total length leveled in kilometers (for loops circuits that begin and end on the same BM, K is total perimeter distance.
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C=m K

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Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Precision

Allowable misclosure:

C=m K

The FGCS specify different constants for the five classes of leveling.

First order class I m = 4 mm First order class II m = 5 mm Second order class I m = 6 mm Second order class II m = 8 mm Third order m = 12 mm
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Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Adjustment of Simple Level Circuits

The misclosure = +0.24 ft Elevation adjustment = 0.24 ft / 3.0 per mi = 0.08 ft/mi
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Profile Leveling

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Profile Leveling

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Profile Leveling

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Leveling: Field Procedures and Computations

Sources of Errors in Leveling

Instrumental Errors Line of sight Cross-hear not exactly horizontal Rod not correct length Tripod legs loose Natural Errors Curvature of the earth Refraction Temperature variations Wind Settlement of the instrument Settlement of a turning point
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Sources of Errors in Leveling

Personal Errors

Bubble not centered Parallax Faulty rod reading Rod handling Target setting

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Mistakes

Improper use of a long rod, Holding a rod in different places for the plus and minus sights on a turning point. Reading a foot too high. Waving a flat bottom rod while holding it on a flat surface Recording notes Touching tripod or instrument during reading process.

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Reducing Errors and Eliminating Mistakes

Errors in running levels are reduced by

Carefully adjusting and manipulating both instrument and rod. Establishing standard filed methods and routines. The following routines prevent most large errors or quickly disclose mistakes:

Checking the bubble before and after each reading (if an automatic level is not being used). Using a rod level. Keeping the horizontal lengths of plus and minus sights equal. Making the usual field-book arithmetic checks

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