Introduction to Surveying (BPD)

LEVELLING PROCEDURES
Dr Philip Collier
Department of Geomatics
The University of Melbourne
p.collier@unimelb.edu.au
Room D316
Review of levelling
In this lecture we will cover :
Equipment and procedures
Purposes of levelling
Some definitions
Reading a staff
Collimation error
Two-peg test
Booking and reduction
Adjustment
Errors
Applications
Equipment
Level
Tripod
Staff
Change plate
Staff bubble
50 m tape measure (sometimes)
BS FS
What is levelling?
A measurement process whereby the
difference in height between two or more
points can be determined
Difference in height
H=BS-FS
When do we level?
Typical examples include :
To establish new vertical control (BM or TBM)
To determine the heights of discrete points
To provide spot heights or contours on a plan
To provide data for road cross-sections or volumes
of earthworks
To provide a level or inclined plane in the setting
out of construction works

Definitions
Level surface
A surface over which water will not flow
The direction of gravity is always normal to a level
surface
Horizontal surface
A horizontal surface will be tangent to a level
surface
Over short distances (<100 m) the horizontal
surface and the level surface will coincide
Definitions (cont.)
limit of practical
coincidence (~100 m)
direction of gravity
level surface
horizontal
surface
Reading an E-face staff
0.3
0.33
0.339
Collimation error
Occurs when the line of sight (as defined by
the cross-hairs) is not horizontal
Leads to an incorrect staff reading
horizontal line
error
Two-peg test
Identifies whether the level has a collimation
error
Allows the collimation error to be determined
See the plane surveying web site for the two-
peg test procedure
More definitions
Datum
A reference surface to which the heights of all
points in a survey or on a site are referred
May be arbitrary or a national height datum
In Australia we have the Australian Height Datum
(AHD)
The surface which defines the AHD is
(approximately) Mean Sea Level (MSL)
More definitions
Reduced Level (RL)
The height of a point above the datum
Benchmark (BM)
A stable reference point of known RL
Usually used as the starting and finishing point
when levelling
Temporary Bench Mark (TBM)
A point placed (e.g. peg, nail, spike) to provide a
temporary reference point
More definitions
Backsight (BS)
Always the first reading from a new instrument
station
Foresight (FS)
Always the last reading from the current
instrument station
Intermediate sight (IS)
Any sighting that is not a backsight or foresight

More definitions
Change point (CP)
Location of the staff when the level is moved
Change points should be...
Stable
Well defined
Recoverable
e.g. sharp rock, nail, change plate, etc...
Rules for levelling
Always commence and finish a level run on a
Benchmark (BM or TBM)
Keep foresight and backsight distances as
equal as possible
Keep lines of sight short (normally < 50m)
Never read below 0.5m on a staff (refraction)
Use stable, well defined change points
Levelling procedures
The example on the plane surveying web site
shows
Observation procedures
Booking procedures
Reduction procedures
A sample loop
BM A
CP 1
CP 2
CP 3
Kerb
Post
Kerb
Setup 1
Setup 2
Setup 3
Setup 4
Booking the observations
BM A
CP 1
CP 2
CP 3
Kerb
Post
Kerb
Setup 1
Back Inter Fore Point
BM A
CP 1
1.32
3.98
Booking the observations
BM A
CP 1
CP 2
CP 3
Kerb
Post
Kerb
Setup 1
Setup 2
Back Inter Fore Point
1.32 BM A
3.98 CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
2.56
1.25
3.65
0.67
Booking the observations
BM A
CP 1
CP 2
CP 3
Kerb
Post
Kerb
Setup 1
Setup 2
Setup 3
Back Inter Fore Point
1.32 BM A
2.56 3.98 CP 1
1.25 Kerb
3.65 Post
0.67 CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
3.49
2.58
1.54
Booking the observations
BM A
CP 1
CP 2
CP 3
Kerb
Post
Kerb
Setup 1
Setup 4
Setup 2
Setup 3
Back Inter Fore Point
1.32 BM A
2.56 3.98 CP 1
1.25 Kerb
3.65 Post
3.49 0.67 CP 2
2.58 Kerb
1.54 CP 3
BM A
2.64
3.79
Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 CP 1
1.25 Kerb
3.65 Post
3.49 0.67 CP 2
2.58 Kerb
2.64 1.54 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 Kerb
3.65 Post
3.49 0.67 CP 2
2.58 Kerb
2.64 1.54 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 Post
3.49 0.67 CP 2
2.58 Kerb
2.64 1.54 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 CP 2
2.58 Kerb
2.64 1.54 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 Kerb
2.64 1.54 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A


Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A
10.01 9.98

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A
10.01 9.98
(0.03)
Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A
10.01 9.98 6.24 6.21
(0.03)
Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A
10.01 9.98 6.24 6.21
(0.03) (0.03)
Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A
10.01 9.98 6.24 6.21
(0.03) (0.03) (0.03)
Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)
Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment
1.32 50.00 BM A
2.56 3.98 2.66 47.34 CP 1
1.25 1.31 48.65 Kerb
3.65 2.40 46.25 Post
3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 CP 2
2.58 0.91 50.14 Kerb
2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 CP 3
3.79 1.15 50.03 BM A
10.01 9.98 6.24 6.21
(0.03) (0.03) (0.03)
Loop misclosure
Misclosure
The amount by which the measured height
difference (H
meas
) differs from the known height
difference derived from the RLs of the starting and
finishing benchmarks (H
known
)
Misclosure = H
known
- H
meas
An acceptable misclose?
Small misclosures in closed level loops are
expected because of the accumulation of
errors
If the misclosure is small, it can be adjusted
If the misclosure is large, the loop (or part of
it) must be repeated
Misclosures can also result from errors in
published BM levels and from BM instability
Testing the misclose
The amount of misclosure we are prepared to
accept depends on the accuracy we are
hoping to achieve
For routine levelling, the third order levelling
standard is adopted
misclosure 12k mm
where k is the length of the loop in km
Continuing the example
The misclosure is +30 mm
The length of the loop is 0.7 km
The misclosure limit is
12(0.7) = 10 mm
The misclosure of +30 mm is too big
The loop must be repeated (or find the error)
Adjusting the misclose
Adjustment is carried out to ensure that the
measured and known RLs of the closing
benchmark agree
The misclosure is linearly distributed
according to the number of set-ups
The adjustment per set-up for the previous
example is (0.03/4)...
Adjusting the misclose
Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL
50.00 BM A
47.34 CP 1
48.65 Kerb
46.25 Post
49.23 CP 2
50.14 Kerb
51.18 CP 3
50.03 BM A
Adjusting the misclose
Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL
50.00 BM A 0.000 50.000
47.34 CP 1 0.008 47.332
48.65 Kerb
46.25 Post
49.23 CP 2
50.14 Kerb
51.18 CP 3
50.03 BM A
=1*(0.03/4)
Adjusting the misclose
Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL
50.00 BM A 0.000 50.000
47.34 CP 1 0.008 47.332
48.65 Kerb 0.015 48.635
46.25 Post 0.015 46.235
49.23 CP 2 0.015 49.215
50.14 Kerb
51.18 CP 3
50.03 BM A
=2*(0.03/4)
Adjusting the misclose
Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL
50.00 BM A 0.000 50.000
47.34 CP 1 0.008 47.332
48.65 Kerb 0.015 48.635
46.25 Post 0.015 46.235
49.23 CP 2 0.015 49.215
50.14 Kerb 0.023 50.117
51.18 CP 3 0.023 51.157
50.03 BM A
=3*(0.03/4)
Adjusting the misclose
Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL
50.00 BM A 0.000 50.000
47.34 CP 1 0.008 47.332
48.65 Kerb 0.015 48.635
46.25 Post 0.015 46.235
49.23 CP 2 0.015 49.215
50.14 Kerb 0.023
51.18 CP 3 0.023
50.03 BM A 0.030 50.000
=4*(0.03/4)
Adjusting the misclose
Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL
50.00 BM A 0.000 50.000
47.34 CP 1 0.008 47.332
48.65 Kerb 0.015 48.635
46.25 Post 0.015 46.235
49.23 CP 2 0.015 49.215
50.14 Kerb 0.023 50.117
51.18 CP 3 0.023 51.157
50.03 BM A 0.030 50.000
Errors in levelling
Collimation
Parallax
Change point instability
Instrument instability
Staff instability
Benchmark instability
Refraction
Errors in levelling
Staff reading and interpolation errors
Staff verticality
Instrument shading
Temperature on staff
Booking errors (e.g. using just 1 benchmark)
Earth curvature
Magnetic field effects on auto level

Applications of levelling
Point heights (relative to a datum)
Height differences (independent of datum)
Longitudinal sections and cross sections
Data for volume calculations
Contouring
Setting out
Establishing a new point
Benchmark
New point
RL
BM

Datum
RL
NEW

Measuring height differences
Benchmark
RL
BM

Datum
H
1

H
2
H
3
Profiles and cross-sections
RL
BM

Benchmark
Datum
1.100
2.905 2.510
A
B C
Plotting contours
The RLs for points A, B and C have been
determined by levelling. We are now
required to determine the location of the
contours using a 0.5 m contour interval.
Plotting contours
LINE AB
H
AB
= 2.51 - 1.10 = 1.410
D
AB
= 10 m
1.100
2.510
A
B
A
B
1.41
10 m
1.4
9.93
For the 2.5 m contour :
D = 10*(2.5 - 1.1)/1.41 = 9.93
0.9
6.38
For the 2.0 m contour :
D = 10*(2.0 - 1.1)/1.41 = 6.38
0.4
2.84
For the 1.5 m contour:
D = 10*(1.5 1.1)/1.41 = 2.84
Plotting contours
LINE AC
H
AC
= 2.905 - 1.100 = 1.805
D
AC
= 14.14 m
For the 1.5 m contour :
D = 14.14*(1.5 - 1.1)/1.805 = 3.13
For the 2.0 m contour :
D = 14.14*(2.0 - 1.1)/1.805 = 7.05
For the 2.5 m contour :
D = 14.14*(2.5 - 1.1)/1.805 = 10.97
1.100
2.905 2.510
A
B C
Plotting contours
LINE BC
DH
BC
= 2.905 - 2.510 = 0.395
D
BC
= 10 m
no contours cross this line
1.100
2.905 2.510
A
B C
1.100
2.905 2.510
A
B C
Plotting contours
Introduction to Surveying (BPD)

LEVELLING PROCEDURES
Dr Philip Collier
Department of Geomatics
The University of Melbourne
p.collier@unimelb.edu.au
Room D316