PRECISE LEVELLING

BACKGROUND First vertical datum used for Peninsular Malaysia is LAND SURVEY DATUM (LSD1912) Establish in 1912 by British Admiralty Surveyors At Port Swettenham (Port Kelang) Based on 1 year tidal observations No records and evidences In 1983, DSMM began to redetermine the precise MSL value in conjunction with the establishment of the new Precise Levelling Network for Peninsular Malaysia. This was carried out by the setting-up of a Tidal Observation Network that consists of 12 tidal stations. Port Kelang was selected for the adoption as a reference for the NGVD origin, based upon a 10-year tidal observations period (1984-93).

In 1994, a monument to signify the establishment of the NGVD was built within the DSMM compound in Kuala Lumpur. Port Kelang Datum was extended to the new monument via precise levelling and gravity survey. The Precise Levelling Network project was conducted in 1984. The project consists of establishing a first-order levelling survey along main roads and highways. It consists of 2089 precise levelling bench marks over a distance of 1946 km Second class levelling were also carried out to densify the network. A total of 824 bench marks have been established using this technique, covering a distance of 1158 km. The whole network has precision ranging from 3 to 12 mm per km which correspond to first and second class requirements. It incorporate corrections for rod scale, temperature, level collimation and refraction.

PRECISE LEVELLING
INTRODUCTION

Precise levelling is used where a high degree of accuracy is required for determination of the elevations of various points.
Also known as First Order Levelling

Being used as a method of height transfer from one point to another Also required to set up critical engineering structure such as dam, tunnel etc.

PRECISE LEVELLING METHOD

CONVENTIONAL PRECISE LEVELLING
Used optical precise levelling and parallel plate micrometer

Graduated invar staff

Manually recorded DIGITAL PRECISE LEVELLING Used digital automatic level

Barcodes staff
Observed and recorded automatically

Reduced human and gross errors

MOTORISED LEVELLING

Conventional level and transport (modified)

Time saving

DIGITAL LEVEL

DIGITAL LEVEL

GENERAL GUIDELINES

The following are the general guidelines which should be considered while planning precise levelling. Always set-up the tripod on a firm ground. Push the tripod legs firmly into the ground. The BS and FS distance should be balanced. Take minimum possible time between BS and FS readings at each set up to reduce errors due to changes in atmospheric conditions.

Select suitable turning point/change point. The selected point should not settle between BS and FS. Use precise levelling instruments and precise staffs.

 Avoid levelling during the period of severe heat waves. Levelling in cloudy weather is preferable. Use an umbrella to shade the instrument on sunny day. Levelling should be done in the morning or evening to reduced the refraction effects. Stop the work when there are strong winds.
Keep the line of sight at least 0.3 meter above ground surface to reduce shimmering effects. Keep the instruments in perfect adjustments. Test the instruments frequently. Special base plates with rounded tops should be used for turning point/change point so that the base of the staff can be kept at same position for the BS and FS.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRECISE LEVELLING REFER TO SURVEY REGULATIONS SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA 1965

Instruments
The levels used should be the precise type. The level instrument must be fitted with a Parallel Plate Micrometer attachment. The glass diaphragms should be fitted with at least
one vertical line a leveling line two stadia lines

Classical Precise Level

PRECISE LEVEL WITH PARALEL PLATE MICROMETER

PARALLEL-PLATE MICROMETER

A parallel-plate micrometer is the device which is either attached to the levelling instrument or build into the levelling instrument itself. This is a modification of the conventional level in which a parallel plate micrometer is placed in front of the objective lens. This allows the image of the staff graduation to be moved up or down by very small measurable amounts. Used to read the smallest fraction of the precise staff The movement of cross hair from its original position to the nearest staff segment can be obtained from the micrometer reading This eliminates gross estimation. For sight lengths of under 50m, single reading accuracies of 0.02mm to 0.03mm can be achieved.

Staffs
Two precise staffs are to be used. Graduation are marked in 0.01 meter Before use and thereafter at intervals of 3 months the staffs are to be calibrate.

Turning points
Staff are to be supported on turning points.

Precise Staffs

Readings
Readings are to be made in the following order:
Odd staff 1. lower stadia line 2. upper stadia line 3. leveling line Even staff leveling line 5. lower stadia line 6. upper stadia line Even staff 7. leveling line only Odd staff 8. leveling line only
4.

Readings
The time taken between readings 3 and 4 and between readings 7 and 8 should be reduced to a minimum. Between readings 6 and 7 the telescope is to be dislevelled by turning the gradienter screw and carefully relevelled by the use of the same screw only The same staff , say the odd , shall always be used at bench marks. Staff numbers should be entered in the appropriate space in the field book. The back staff will be read first at the odd stations and the forward staff first at even stations. Booking will be carried out in field books designed for this method of observation. Readings are to be made to the nearest 0.00001 meter by estimation on the micrometer drum

Readings

Readings

Tolerences
The sum of the stadia readings and the sum of the two level readings on the same staff are within 0.0050 meter. The difference between the two level readings on the same staff is not more than 0.0006 meter.

Setting up
To eliminate axis irregularities, the level should always be placed in the same position relative to the staffs one particular footscrew always pointing to the same staff.

Bubble adjustments
Footscrews must not be altered during a sight, bubble adjustment being made by the use of the gradienter screw.

Line of sight
Staff and instrument stations must be carefully selected so that the line of sight does not pass close to the ground. Readings must not be made to the lowest 0.3 meter of the staff. The optimum length of sight is normally 40 meters, but under favorable condition it may be extended to 50 meters. The back and forward staff should be equidistant from the level to within 1 meter.

Verticality of Staffs
Staff must be tested weekly by plumbob for verticality and also be compared with each other face to face and back to back.

Observations periods
Observations should be made in the very early morning and late afternoon and must be discontinued when the atmospheric conditions make observations difficult.

Setting of turning point

Turning points should be in position at least half an hour before use and staffs must not be held on them until the surveyor is ready for observation. The days work must always be closed on a permanent bench mark or culvert.

Directions
Each section is to be levelled in one direction in the morning and in the opposite direction in the afternoon. The direction of the morning leveling is to be reversed in alternate sections. In single line leveling the direction is to be reversed in alternate sections.

Criterion for rejection

Sections must be relevelled in both directions when the discrepancy between forward and backward levelling exceed 0.003 / K meters where K is the distance in Kilometers.

Difference in level
The difference in level will be obtained from the mean difference of the two level line reading. Stadia line readings are to serve as a check on gross error only and are not to be included in the computations.

Booking Form
Observation No. :

Date :

12-01-2006

Time :

09.00 am

Temp. :

25o C

Staff Reading
Back Sight Stadia Level Fore Sight Level Stadia

Note :

Back staff at BM A
10.000m

Reduced Level Is :

2 1

3 8

4 7

6 5

Diff. In Height :
Bring Forward : Total :

Distance :

Distance :

Observer :

CS Salleh

Booking Form
Observation No. :

Date :

12-01-2006

Time :

09.00 am

Temp. :

25o C

Staff Reading
Back Sight Stadia Level Fore Sight Level Stadia

Note :

Back staff at BM A

Book Staff At :

2 1
9=2+1

3 8
10=3+8

4 7
11=4+7

6 5
12=6+5

Reduced Level Is : Diff. In Height : Bring Forward : Total :

17 = 10.000m
18 = 10/2 11/2

17 = 10.00000
19=18 + 17
CS Salleh

13=2-1
Distance :

14=3-8

15=4-7
Distance :

16=6-5

13 x 100

16 x 100

Observer :

Booking Form
Observation No. :

Date :

12-01-2006

Time :

09.00 am

Temp. :

25o C

Staff Reading
Back Sight Stadia Level Fore Sight Level Stadia

Note :

Back staff at BM A

Book Staff At : Reduced Level Is :

300.292 279.469 258.650 279.471

76.520 76.523

97.271 55.769

10.000m 2.02949

Diff. In Height :

558.942 558.940 153.043 153.040

41.642
Distance :

Bring Forward :

10.00000
12. 02949
CS Salleh

- 0.002

- 0.003
Distance :

41.502

Total :

41.642 m

41.502 m

Observer :

OBSERVATION PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

Planning
Field Instruction Monumentation Observations

Data Processing
Network adjustment for final height Using Least Square Adjustment method

Documentation
Final reduced level of BMs Identification number of BMs

Locality information