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Principle
operation required in the determination of
heights of points on the surface of the Earth
ELS_Levelling05_06: 1
Equipment
1. Level with tripod (device
to gives a truly
horizontal line)
2. Levelling staff (a suitably
graduated staff for
reading vertical heights)
3. Chain/Tape (to enable
the points leveled to be
located relative to each
other on a map)
4. Change plate (staff base
plate)
5. Staff bubble
Elementary Land Surveying
ELS_Levelling05_06: 2
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Levelling Staff
1. Sectional and assembled
by slotting onto one
another vertically
2. Made of aluminium alloy
3. E-shaped graduation
(reading to 1mm for
ordinary levelling)
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ELS_Levelling05_06: 6
Levelling Terminology
1. Level line is a surface
which is at a constant
height relative to Mean
Sea Level (MSL) and is a
curved line
2. Horizontal line is
tangential to the level
line at any particular
point and is
perpendicular to the
direction of gravity.
Over short distance, the 2
lines are taken to
coincide
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ELS_Levelling05_06: 10
+5.00
TBM
+10.00
ELS_Levelling05_06: 11
BS
FS
IS
CP
Elementary Land Surveying
ELS_Levelling05_06: 12
FS
BS
FS
IS
IS
BS
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Field Procedure
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3. This procedure is repeated until all the required levels have been
obtained
4. The final staff position is at a point of known RL
Elementary Land Surveying
ELS_Levelling05_06: 15
Procedure in Levelling
ELS_Levelling05_06: 16
Procedure in Levelling
ELS_Levelling05_06: 17
BS
IS
FS
Rise
Fall
RL
Remarks
98.760
BM
1.283
97.477
98.415
0.145
98.270
0.432
97.838
D (CP)
0.663
1.946
1.008
0.938
1.153
2.787
1.585
2.270
0.517
98.355
1.218
1.052
99.407
0.646
0.572
99.979
2.231
3.079
3.450
1.860
99.979
2.231
1.860
98.760
1.219
1.219
1.219
ELS_Levelling05_06: 18
IS
FS
Collimation
RL
Remarks
99.423
98.760
BM
1.946
97.477
1.008
98.415
1.153
98.270
97.838
D (CP)
98.355
0.663
2.787
1.585
100.625
2.270
1.218
3.450
99.407
0.646
99.979
2.231
99.979
2.231
98.760
1.219
1.219
ELS_Levelling05_06: 19
Comparison
Rise and Fall Method
More accurate
More calculation
Intermediate RLs are known
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10
Accuracy in Levelling
For normal engineering works and site surveys
Allowable misclosure = 5 n mm
where n = no. of instrument positions
OR
Allowable misclosure = 12 k mm
where k = length of levelling circuit in km
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11
Collimation Error
if level is set up, levelled and the line of sight or
collimation is not truly horizontal, it will sweep out a
cone as it is rotated.
this cone will be either above or below the horizontal
plane
Staff
Horizontal Line
Level
Line of Sight
ELS_Levelling05_06: 23
S1 S2 = (S1 + x ) (S2 + x) = S1 S2
= true difference on height between A and B
X is the error due to collimation error (inclination of the collimation line by
angle
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12
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13
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Errors in Levelling
Errors in Equipment
1. Collimation Error
2. Parallax Error
3. Defects of Staff
Zero error, check by tape, does not affect height difference if one
staff is used
3-section staff should be properly extended
4. Tripod
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14
2. Unstable ground
4. Weather condition
5. Checking
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2. Erroneous Booking
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15
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IS
FS
Rise
Provisional
RL
Correction
Corrected
RL
Remarks
32.640
32.640
BM
32.893
0.003
32.896
CH0
0.318
32.575
0.003
32.578
CH20
Fall
1.944
1.691
0.253
2.009
0.367
2.114
4.425
0.833
31.742
0.003
31.745
CH40
1.223
2.842
0.856
30.886
0.005
30.891
CH60
1.347
0.124
30.762
0.005
30.767
CH80
0.775
0.572
31.334
0.005
31.339
CH100
0.816
1.298
32.632
0.008
32.640
BM
4.433
2.123
2.131
32.632
4.433
2.131
32.640
-0.008
-0.008
-0.008
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16
Collimation
Provisional RL
Correction
Corrected
RL
Remarks
34.584
32.640
32.640
BM
32.893
0.003
32.896
CH0
32.575
0.003
32.578
CH20
31.742
0.003
31.745
CH40
1.223
30.886
0.005
30.891
CH60
1.347
30.762
0.005
30.767
CH80
31.334
0.005
31.339
CH100
0.816
32.632
0.008
32.640
BM
4.433
32.632
IS
FS
1.944
1.691
2.009
0.367
2.842
2.114
4.425
0.775
32.109
33.448
4.433
32.640
-0.008
-0.008
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17
IS
FS
Rise
Fall
1.750
-3.100
4.850
1.490
4.590
-4.210
-2.560
1.640
8.900
Remarks
BM
77.150
A) Frame (lift-shaft)
72.560
B) Floor Level
76.610
C) Canopy
8.410
68.200
D) Kerb
13.000
68.200
4.050
4.200
-2.460
RL
72.300
1.640
13.000
72.300
-4.100
-4.100
-4.100
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Example
BS
IS
FS
1.432
-0.874
-1.235
Collimation
RL
31.432
30.000
TBM A
31.793
32.667
Top of wall
-1.107
0.558
32.900
Arch soffit
1.383
30.410
0.148
30.410
0.148
30.000
0.410
BS
Remarks
0.410
IS
FS
Rise
Fall
1.432
-0.874
-1.235
-1.107
2.667
0.233
1.383
0.558
0.148
2.900
RL
Remarks
30.000
TBM A
32.667
Top of wall
32.900
Arch soffit
2.490
30.410
2.490
30.410
0.148
2.490
30.000
0.410
0.410
0.410
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18
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Example
In levelling across a river, reciprocal levelling
observations gave the following results for staffs
held vertically at X and Y from level stations A
and B on each bank respectively:
Staff
Staff
Staff
Staff
reading
reading
reading
reading
of
of
of
of
X
X
Y
Y
from
from
from
from
A
B
A
B
=
=
=
=
1.753m
2.080m
2.550m
2.895m
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19
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Refraction
Line of sight is not really horizontal and bent
downwards towards the Earth
Value not constant, affected by pressure, temperature,
latitude, humidity etc.
Usually taken as 1/7 and opposite of the correction of
curvature
Combined correction
= 0.0785 L2 * (6/7) = 0.0673 L2 (m)
where L in km
If L = 120m, c = -0.00097m 0.001m 1mm
The effect is negligible for ordinary levelling
Elementary Land Surveying
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20
Example
A staff is held at a distance of 200m from a level
and a reading of 2.758m obtained. Calculate the
reading corrected for curvature and refraction.
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21