Introduction

Fly levelling is a very approximate form of levelling in which sights are taken as large
as possible. In this method a line of levels is run to determine approximately reduced levels
of the points carried out with more rapidly and less precision. It is a levelling that is done to
connect benchmark to the starting point of the survey line. In this levelling only back sight
and fore sight readings are taken and auto level is moved strictly on the line joining
benchmark and starting point of survey line.[ CITATION Gau13 \l 17417 ]
If the work site is away from the benchmark, surveyor starts the work with a back
sight on the benchmark by setting instrument at a convenient point. Then he proceeds towards
the site by taking fore sights and back sights on a number of change points till he establishes
a temporary benchmark in the site. Rest of the levelling work is carried out in the site. At the
end of the work again levelling is carried out by taking a set of convenient change points till
the bench work is reached. This type of levelling in which only back sight and fore sights are
taken, is called fly levelling, the purpose being to connect a benchmark with a temporary
benchmark or vice versa. Thus the difference between fly levelling and differential levelling
is only in the purpose of levelling.[ CITATION JAS15 \l 17417 ]
Fly levelling performed when work site is very far away from the bench mark. The
surveyor starts by taking back sight at bench mark and proceed towards worksite till the finds
a suitable place for temporary BM. All works are done with respect to temporary BM. At the
end of the day the surveyors comes back to original bench mark.[CITATION Rah09 \l
17417 ]

Figure 1: Fly Levelling

Objective
The purpose of fly levelling is to check the values of the reduced levels of the bench
marks already fixed. In this method only backsight and foresight are taken. There is no need
of intermediate sights. However great care has to be taken for selecting the change points and
for taking reading on the change points because the accuracy of levelling depends upon these.
Secondly, to determine the height of one level relative to another. It is used in surveying to
establish the elevation of a point relative to a datum or to establish a point at a given elevation
relative to a datum. [ CITATION Raz14 \l 17417 ]
Thirdly, fly levelling is to determine the differences in elevation between points on the
earths surface. Levelling is importance in acquiring data for the design of a wide variety of
civil engineering works such as highways, railways, damns, canals, tunnels, irrigation and
drainage works. Levelling also helps the construction engineer and contractor in executing all
such jobs. [ CITATION CVe13 \l 17417 ]
Fourthly, fly levelling can provide information about the distances and the height of
the site by using the data collected. When the contractors want to construct drainage, site
surveyors will do levelling and contractors can based on the data collected to give quotation.
This will save times and prevent the wastages of materials.[ CITATION sam11 \l 17417 ]

References
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engineering-What-is-the-latest-instrument-used-for-it
[Accessed 1 july 2017].