LEVELS AND LEVELLING

Definitions : A level is an instrument by which the

relative heights of different points on the surface of
the earth are determined. And leveling is the process
by means of which the difference in elevation of
various points on the earth's surface is calculated.
The main instruments that are essential in carrying
out the leveling operation are (1) a level and (2) a
staff.
Levels: There are different types of levels, such as
Dumpy level. Wye or Y-level, Cooke's Reversible level.
Cushing's level, and Zeiss, Wild's and Watt's modern
levels Among these the Dumpy and Y-levels are very
commonly used /or their simplicity and compactness.

Dumpy Level: In this type of level the telescope, the

frame and the vertical axis are rigidly fixed. Because
of its rigidity it retains its two adjustments for a long
time, moreover, it has greater optical power than the
Wye level (Fig 5.1).
FIG

1. Telescope
2. Eye Piece
3.Ray Shade
4. Level Tube
5.Focutiing Screw
6. Diaphragm
Screw
7.Crou Bubble Tube
8. Level Tube Nuts
9. Leveling Head
10.Leveling Screw

Y or Wye Level: In this type of level the telescope is

fitted on two Y-supports. The heights of these Y-support
can be adjusted. But this adjustment does not last long 4
Fig. 52).

Y-Level
elescope
ye PieceRay Shade
Clip
Diaphragm
Focusing Screw
Wyes
Leveling Screw
Level Tube

Cooke's Reversible Level :

In this type of level,
the combinned advantages of Dumpy and Y-levels are
provided. The telescope is supported on two collars
and these collars are connected by a rigid socket. The
telescope can be rotated around its longitudinal axis
within the socket.
Cushing's level : In this type, the telescope can not
be removed from its socket and also the telescope can
not be rotated about its longitudinal axis. But the eyepiece and objective are interchangeable to make
the telescope reverse.
Zeiss, Wild's and
These are for precise
adjusting
They are
because the telescope
horizontal axis.

Watt's Modern Levels :

leveling works and are self
also known as tilting levels
has a small motion about its

Leveling Staff :
The leveling staff which is most com
monly used is shown in Fig. 5.3. It is
made of best variety of seasoned timber
and is in two pieces, each 7 ft. long when
pulled out
to full length, the staff
FIG. 5.3 Leveling Staff.
measures 14 ft. and is held in position be
a brass spring catch. It is graduated into
feet, tenths and hundredths of a foot.
The hundredth*are coloured In black and
white alternately. The line& hawing the
first place of decimal are longer than
others. The figures indicating tenths of a
foot are painted black while the figures
indicating foot are painted red.

Purpose of leveling : This is performed to know the

undulation of the ground along and across the
alignment of a route project such as roads, railways,
irrigation canals, water and sewer lines, etc, so as to
determine the amount of earth work in cutting and in
embankment' it also determines the area from contour
map; such as reservoir area, catchment area. etc.

5-10

Different Types of Leveling:

(a)
Fly or Differential leveling
(b)
Check Leveling
(c)
Profile or longitudinal leveling
(d)Cross-sectional Leveling or Cross Sectioning
(e) Reciprocal Leveling
(0 Contouring.
(g)Trigonometrical Leveling
(h)
Precise Leveling.
(i)
Barometric Leveling
(j) hypsometry.

Profile or Longitudinal Leveling : The objective of this type

of leveling is to determine the undulations of ground surface
along a predetermined line. This line is generally determined
during reconnaissance of the whole land through which a road or a
railway or a canal or a pipe line will have to be aligned This line
may be a single straight line or a series of lines connected be
curves and it passes along the centre line of project for which the
survey is to be conducted. From the longitudinal profile the land
and also a few sections perpendicular to this line when plotted
enable to calculate the quantity of earth work that is to be filled (in
case of embankment) or cut (in case of excavation).
Cross-Sectional Leveling or Cross Sectioning '. These are
sections run perpendicular to the longitudinal section on either
side of it so as to determine the undulation on both sides of the
centre line. Generally for highways and railways cross sections are
taken at 100 ft interval along the centre line. The length of the
cross-section is 150 ft on either side in case of .highway and 300
ft. for railways. Generally, staff readings are taken at 25 ft interval
when the land is more or less flat. This interval is shortened if
the land is undulated.

Reciprocal Leveling : This type. of leveling is used to

obtain the difference in level between two points which
are separated by obstacles such as river, canal,
marshland lake, etc., where the leveling instrument can
not be set up midway between them.

In Fig. 5.11, A and B are the points on either sides of the river.
The difference of level between A and B is to be found out. The
instrument is placed at C at a certain distance from A. Staff
reading ht and h3 at A and B respectively are taken. The
instrument is then placed at D at a certain distance from B and
staff readings h4 and h3 at A and B respectively are taken. True
difference of elevation between A and B where di=difference
between hz and h, and d2=difference between h3 and h4

Contouring : Contours are imaginary lines joining-points of

equal altitudes upon the earth's surface with reference to a fixed
datum. The process by which a contour map is prepared is known
as contouring. And the map showing the altitudes of all these
points is called contour map or topographic map. By studying a
contour map it is easy to predict the nature of the terrain such as
ridge, valley, depression, etc. It also indicates as to which way the
land is sloping. Contours are generally plotted at equal vertical
intervals. The vertical distance between any two consecutive
contours is known as contour interval
while the horizontal
distance between two contour is
known
as
. horizontal
equivalent.
Contour intervals depend upon the nature of the
terrain . Purpose of it is to survey, scale of the map, expenditure
and extant of the time in its determination. For engineering
purposes as canals, reservoirs, town planning and building sites,
contour interval is generally 5 ft to 10 ft. For greater accuracy as
in the case of earth work computation it may be I ft. For hilly
regions it is generally 50 ft to 100 ft.

Characteristics of Contours :
(1) Two contour lines of different
elevations do not cross each other.
(2) Contours never split or run into
one except on an overhanging cliff.
(3)All points on a contour line have
the same elevation.
(4)Contour lines run close together
near the top of a hill which represents
very steep ground, and wide apart at
the foot of the hill indicating flat
ground

(5) If thecontours are uniformly spaced, it indicates a

uniform slopewhile a plane surface is represented when
the contrours are straight, parallel and equal spaced
(6) Contours cross ridge or valley lines at right angles.
(7) Each contour line must be a continuous one until it
either goes off the map or closes itself
(8)A series of closed contours on the map indicates a
depression or a hill according to the lower orhigher values
inside them.
(9) A series of contours indicate either a drainage or a
watershed, If ihe centre of the curve is towards the low
side it is a drainage while if the centre of the curve is
towards the high ground, it is a watershed.

Uses of contour map:

(1)A contour map indicates whether the country is
hilly, flat or undulating.
(2) It helps to locate suitable strategic position for
placing guns, ammunitions and reserves for military
purposes It also enables to locate sites for taking
shelters.
(3) It enables to select an economical and suitable
alignment for important engineering works like
irrigation canals, drainage canals, water and sewer
lines, highways and railways
(4) It enables to determine the area of a drainage
basin and reservoir capacity.
(5) It enables to calculate the amount of earth work
in cutting and in embankment.