Levelling

(Week 2)

by Dr Mohammad Fardipour
Subject: Topographic Engineering CVE20001

Reading/Lecture slides reference: Surveying’ (1998-7th edition) by Arthur Bannister, Stanley Raymond & Raymond Baker
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Levelling (definition)
 Levelling is the operation required to compare the
height of points on the surface of earth
 Height of a point can only be determined relative to
another point or surface.
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Height Datum
 A level surface is a surface of constant elevation that
is perpendicular to a plumb line at every point. It is best
presented by the shape that a large body of still
water would take if it were unaffected by tides
 In practice the mean sea level is taken as the
reference level surface or datum
 Datum makes national and international comparisons of
heights possible
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Some terms used in levelling
 A Vertical Line is a line parallel to the direction of gravity at any
given point . Elevation of points on ground (e.g. A or B) are
measured along relevant vertical lines relative to datum.
 Level line is a curve which is at a constant elevation relative to
mean sea level (or datum).
 Horizontal line is tangential to the level line at any particular
point. It is perpendicular to the direction of gravity at that point.

B Elevation of point B
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Australian Height Datum (AHD) (Reference: Wikipedia)

 The Australian Height Datum is a geodetic datum for altitude measurement in Australia.
According to Geoscience Australia, "In 1971 the mean sea level for 1966-1968 was assigned the
value of 0.000m on the Australian Height Datum at thirty tide gauges around the coast of the
Australian continent. The resulting datum surface, with minor modifications in two metropolitan
areas, has been termed the Australian Height Datum (AHD) and was adopted by the National
Mapping Council as the datum to which all vertical control for mapping (and other surveying
functions) is to be referred."[1][2]
 References:
 Australian Height Datum Geoscience Australia
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Basic equipment required for levelling

 A device that gives a horizontal line (the level)

 The levelling staff to read vertical heights
 Additional equipment is necessary to enable the points
levelled to be located relative to each other on a map,
plan or section.
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Some terms used in levelling
 Reduced Level is the elevation of a point on the ground reduced
or relative to the mean sea level height datum.
 Line of sight or collimation is a line drawn from the point of
intersection of the cross hairs and the optical centre of the
objective system in the telescope of a Level
 Two peg test is a test to check for any collimation error. In other
words to check if the line of sight is truly horizontal or if the
imperfections are within the acceptable limit.
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Level line and Horizontal line

 Level line is taken to coincide horizontal line over short

distances.
 Over long distances a correction is necessary to take into
account the divergence of the two lines.
 For a distance of 100m the divergence (correction) of the level
and horizontal lines is about 1 mm in level
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Obtaining horizontal line in practice
 The level device is set up such that the line of sight is
horizontal.
 This means the device vertical axis which is at right
angle to the line of sight is to coincide the direction of
gravity at a given point.
 In early levelling devices this was achieved using a
plumb bob.
 Spirit levels have replaced plumb bob in more recent
levelling devices
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Achieving horizontal line of sight in
the earliest level equipment

The water level concept used in some early

level instruments

Plum bob and special protractors employed in

some early leveling devices to get the plum line
and horizontal line of sight
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In more modern levels:

A circular spirit level A tubular spirit level

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Types of Levels
 Dumpy levels
 Automatic or Self- Levelling Level (available at Swinburne)
 Electronic Digital Level
 Tilting Level
 Laser Level
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Automatic or Self Levelling Level
The levels used at Swinburne University are automatic levels
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Automatic or Self Levelling Level
 Automatic levels are used in today’s surveying jobs
 They are easy to set up and use
 Circular spirit level are commonly used in such levels
 They come in models suitable for different levelling
precisions (mainly third order and second order)
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levelling compensator
Automatic level has a suspended prismatic device
called “levelling compensator”
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levelling compensator
 When the instrument is approximately levelled using the
circular sprit level, the force of gravity swing the
prismatic device and let a precisely horizontal line of
sight be obtained instantly.
 An automatic level automatically re-level itself when it
is thrown slightly out of level say due to wind ,
vibrations, etc.
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Dumpy level
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Dumpy levels
 Dumpy levels were used until the past few decades
 They do not have the levelling compensating feature
 They employ a tube type of level
 Their main components include: telescope, levelling
screw, image focusing screw, eyepiece focusing ring
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Electronic Digital Level
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Electronic Digital Level
 Electronic Digital Levels are primarily designed to make
electronic readings on a level rod with a bar code
 Digital levels translate a single bar code reading into a
numerical reading as well as the distance to the rod
 Electronic Digital Levels feature the self compensating
mechanism. i.e. automatically level themselves if the circular
level is approximately levelled
 The telescope and cross hairs of the instrument can also be
used to make readings to a normal staff as with other levels
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Tilting levels
 Tilting levels are useful when a very high degree of
precision is required
 The use of such levels in ordinary survey jobs is not
justified economically
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Laser Levels
• Laser level have application in construction projects
• Could be categorized as single beam and rotating beam
lasers
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Measuring height difference
The height difference between any two points can be obtained
accurately if the line of sight or collimation is truly horizontal

∆ℎ
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Measuring height difference

• If BS-FS is positive, that indicates a rise

from the backsight to foresight point.

• If BS-FS is negative, that indicates a fall

from the backsight to foresight point
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Collimation error
• If the line of sight is not perfectly horizontal, we have collimation error
• Collimation error (e) on BS and FS readings cancel each other if the BS & FS distances are
the same
• e is the angle that the line of sight makes with the true horizontal direction
• In such a case, ∆ℎ is still true regardless of the collimation error
• This set up is regarded as the bench mark or reference set up in two peg test.

e e
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Collimation error
• If the backsight and foresight distances are not equal, the measured height difference
between two points of A & B is affected by the collimation error.
• The greater is the distance to the staff the larger is the effect of collimation error

FS BS
e

A
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Procedure to conduct two peg test
 The Two Peg Test is to be done before the start of any survey job to make sure the time, energy
and cost spent on the project is not wasted due to using an out of calibration level equipment.
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Two peg test- Standard booking

Intermediate
Backsight (BS) sight (IS) Foresight (FS) Remarks

1st reading Staff at Point A

3rd redaing 2nd reading Staff at Point B
4th reading Staff at point A

∑BS ∑FS

∑BS-∑FS=error
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Practical recommendations
 If 0< error <5mm
 With this level of generally accepted error, it is adequate to visually have the same backsight and foresight
distances to achieve a higher level of accuracy

 If 5< error <10mm

 Within this range of error, pacing is recommended to get BS & FS distances equal to cancel the collimation error
more reliably

 If 10< error <20mm

 Measurement is required to make sure backsight and foresight distances are equal to avoid significant mis-
closures
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Two Peg Test- booking example

BS IS FS Comment

1.645 Staff at Point A

2.004 1.345 Staff at Point B
2.307 Staff at point A

3.649 3.652

3.649-3.652=-0.003

• The error is 3mm <5mm, Visual consideration

is enough.

• if the error was more than 5mm then pacing

or measurement would be required
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Reduced Level (RL)
 Reduced level is the elevation or level of a point from
the mean sea level (reference height datum) and is
denoted as ‘RL’
 If the RL of any point (say 𝑅𝐿𝐴 ) is known on the
ground, the RL of any other point (say 𝑅𝐿𝐵 ) can be
obtained through a procedure which is discussed next.
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Levelling procedure
 Levelling procedure involves a basic operation to find the height
difference between two adequately close points (This depends
on the ground gradient , visibility, magnification of the level
equipment, and etc.)

 Levelling is generally done by repeating the basic operation

when there are several points involved, or when the points are
not close enough or the height difference is beyond the range
which is possible to measure in a single set up.
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Basic operation- Rise & Fall method

3.222 − 1.414 = 1.808𝑚 ( which is +ve & represents a rise from A to B)

3.222 − 3.484 = −0.262𝑚 (which is -ve, & represents a fall from A to B)

 If the reduced level at one point is given (e.g.𝑅𝐿𝐴 = 128.480𝑚), reduced level at the other point
can be calculated using the ‘Rise and Fall’ method :
 𝑅𝐿𝐵 =𝑅𝐿𝐴 + a Rise
 Example: 𝑅𝐿𝐵 = 128.480 + 1.808 = 130.288𝑚

 𝑅𝐿𝐵 =𝑅𝐿𝐴 − a Fall

 Example: 𝑅𝐿𝐵 = 128.480 − 0.262 = 128.218m
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Basic operation- Height of Collimation method

3.222 + 128.480 = 131.702( represents the height of collimation)

 If level at a point is given (e.g. RL at Point A=128.480) , level at all other points can also be
calculated using the ‘Height of Collimation’ method:

 𝑅𝐿𝐵 =𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝐵

 Example 1: 𝑅𝐿𝐵 = 131.702 − 1.414 = 130.288m
 Example 2: 𝑅𝐿𝐵 = 131.702 − 3.484 = 128.218m
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General levelling procedure and terms (BS, FS,IS)

 The first staff reading after each level set up is a backsight . So considering the
set up at the first level position above, 2.554m is recorded as a backsight.
note: The very first reading in a level run is usually to a point of known RL.

 The last reading before moving the level is recorded as a foresight which is
3.589 corresponding to Level position 1

 1.786, 0.927,1.983 readings corresponding to staff Points A, B and C are

booked as intermediate sights
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Standard method of booking

Backsight Intersight Foresight Rise Fall Reduced level Distance Remarks

2.554 RL=+50m from datum

1.786 staff position A
0.927 B
1.983 C
1.305 3.589 D , and change point
1.422 E
3.250 0.571 F, and change point
1.925 G
3.015 0.462 H, and change point
0.780 J
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RISE and Fall method of reduction

Backsight Intersight Foresight Rise Fall Reduced level Distance Remarks

2.554 RL=+50m from datum

1.786 0.768 staff position A
0.927 0.859 B
1.983 1.056 C
1.305 3.589 1.606 D , and change point
1.422 0.117 E
3.250 0.571 0.851 F, and change point
1.925 1.325 G
3.015 0.462 1.463 H, and change point
0.780 2.235 J
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RISE and Fall method of reduction

Backsight Intersight Foresight Rise Fall Reduced level Distance Remarks

2.554 50.000 RL=+50m from datum

1.786 0.768 50.768 staff position A
0.927 0.859 51.627 B
1.983 1.056 50.571 C
1.305 3.589 1.606 48.965 D , and change point
1.422 0.117 48.848 E
3.250 0.571 0.851 49.699 F, and change point
1.925 1.325 51.024 G
3.015 0.462 1.463 52.487 H, and change point
0.780 2.235 54.722 J
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Checks RISE and Fall method of reduction

Backsight Intersight Foresight Rise Fall Reduced level Distance Remarks

2.554 50.000 RL=+50m from datum

1.786 0.768 50.768 staff position A
0.927 0.859 51.627 B
1.983 1.056 50.571 C
1.305 3.589 1.606 48.965 D , and change point
1.422 0.117 48.848 E
3.250 0.571 0.851 49.699 F, and change point
1.925 1.325 51.024 G
3.015 0.462 1.463 52.487 H, and change point
0.780 2.235 54.722 J
∑BS= ∑FS= ∑Rises= ∑Falls= Last RL-First RL=
10.124 5.402 7.501 2.779 4.722

∑BS-∑FS = ∑Rises-∑Falls = Last RL-First RL

(10.124 − 5.402) = (7.501 − 2.779) = (54.722 − 50) = 4.722
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Important notes on checking approach
 Using the method shown in the previous slide, we can only check if there has
been any error in computations required for level reduction.
 This check does not reflect if there has been any human error or equipment
error involved in observations .
 To check for human and equipment errors we usually do a closed levelling
loop. i.e. we start levelling from a known point and close it to the same point.
In this case:
∑BS-∑FS = ∑Rises-∑Falls = Last RL-First RL = 0

 Alternatively the level run has to start from a point of known RL and end to
another point of known RL
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Height of Collimation method of reduction

• The height of collimation is updated following each set up by adding the backsight reading on the staff to corresponding RL value (e.g.
50+2.554=52.554m)
• Height of collimation taken away the staff reading gives the RL value at any other points, for instance: RL D= 52.554-3.589=48.965m
• Every time we change the position of the level, a new collimation line is to be calculated (i.e. 48.965+ 1.305= 50.27m)
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Height of Collimation method of reduction

Backsight Intersight Foresight Height of Collimation Reduced level Remarks

2.554 52.554 50.000 RL=+50m from datum

1.786 50.768 staff position A
0.927 51.627 B
1.983 50.571 C
1.305 3.589 50.270 48.965 D , and change point
1.422 48.848 E
3.250 0.571 52.949 49.699 F, and change point
1.925 51.024 G
3.015 0.462 55.502 52.487 H, and change point
0.780 54.722 J
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Inverted staff reading
• Inverted staff reading has useful applications in levelling.
• Inverted staff reading could be recorded as a backsight, intermediate sight or
a foresight (change point).
• Inverted reading is recorded as negative and treated as negative
• To obtain a bridge headroom for instance two readings are required.
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Inverted staff reading & Headroom of bridges

𝑖𝑓 𝑅𝐿𝐴 = 54.965𝑚
B
𝐻𝑜𝑓 𝐶 = 54.965 + 1.555 = 56.52𝑚
𝑅𝐿𝐵 = 56.52 − −2.535 = 59.055𝑚

Headroom of Bridge:
A
1.555 + 2.535 = 4.09𝑚
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Application of Levelling:
Apart from the general application as discussed so far
levelling can be made for the purpose of :
 Longitudinal sections
 Cross Sections
 Contouring
 Setting out levels
Some of these will be covered in later lecture/field work
practices
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Levelling for Longitudinal sections
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Depth of cuts and fills at centre line
 The following readings were taken along the centre line of a length of pipeline:
 Reduce levels with the rise and fall method and perform all the checks on computations
 If the finished pipeline level (Form RL) is to have the elevation of 102m at chainage point 500m with a constant
gradient of 1:200 increasing in the direction of chainage then calculate the depth of cuts and fills at centre line
as required to achieve this.
BS IS FS RISE FALL RL Form RL CUT FILL DIST
3.00 100 0
2.80 1.50 100
1.80 1.70 200
1.40 300
1.20 400
1.10 102 500
1.60 600
2.50 2.00 700
1.20 1.80 800
0.80 2.20 900
0.90 1000
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Depth of cuts and fills at centre line

105

104
Elevation (RL) in m

103

102

101

100

99
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100
Chainage (m)
Existing ground surface Finished pipeline level
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Depth of cuts and fills at centre line
Reduce levels with the rise and fall method and perform
all the checks on computations
BS IS FS RISE FALL RL Form RL CUT FILL DIST
3.00 100 0
2.80 1.50 1.5 101.5 100
1.80 1.70 1.1 102.6 200
1.40 0.4 103 300
1.20 0.2 103.2 400
1.10 0.1 103.3 102 500
1.60 0.5 102.8 600
2.50 2.00 0.4 102.4 700
1.20 1.80 0.7 103.1 800
0.80 2.20 1 102.1 900
0.90 0.1 102 1000

12.10 10.10 4.00 2.00 102-100=2

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Depth of cuts and fills at centre line
BS IS FS RISE FALL RL Form RL CUT FILL DIST
3.00 100 99.5 0
2.80 1.50 1.5 101.5 100 100
1.80 1.70 1.1 102.6 100.5 200
1.40 0.4 103 101 300
1.20 0.2 103.2 101.5 400
1.10 0.1 103.3 102 500
1.60 0.5 102.8 102.5 600
2.50 2.00 0.4 102.4 103 700
1.20 1.80 0.7 103.1 103.5 800
0.80 2.20 1 102.1 104 900
0.90 0.1 102 104.5 1000

12.10 10.10 4.00 2.00 102-100=2

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Depth of cuts and fills at centre line

BS IS FS RISE FALL RL Form RL CUT FILL DIST

3.00 100 99.5 0.5 0
2.80 1.50 1.5 101.5 100 1.5 100
1.80 1.70 1.1 102.6 100.5 2.1 200
1.40 0.4 103 101 2 300
1.20 0.2 103.2 101.5 1.7 400
1.10 0.1 103.3 102 1.3 500
1.60 0.5 102.8 102.5 0.3 600
2.50 2.00 0.4 102.4 103 0.6 700
1.20 1.80 0.7 103.1 103.5 0.4 800
0.80 2.20 1 102.1 104 1.9 900
0.90 0.1 102 104.5 2.5 1000

12.10 10.10 4.00 2.00 102-100=2

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Thank You