INTRODUCTION

Leveling is the most frequently used survey skill where civil engineers can determine the elevation of a
specified location relative to another known as elevation. Leveling requires a graduated staff for the
vertical measurements and an instrument called level that will provide a horizontal line of sight.
Vertical Control is the general term applied to any of the various processes by each elevation of points or
differences in elevation are determined. It is an important surveying operation for mapping, engineering
design, constructions and so on.
Before we start the leveling job, two peg test is needed to carry out to ensure the instrument in good
condition. Two peg test is also a surveying operation carried out to determine whether the leveling bubble
and telescope line of sight are parallel.

PART A: TWO PEG TEST

1.0

OBJECTIVE
To determine if the leveling bubble (bubble axis) and telescope line-of-sight (line of collimation)
are parallel.

2.0

THEORY

2.1

Peg Test is a surveying operation to be carried out to determine if the leveling bubble and
telescope line-of sight are parallel.

2.2

If the instrument is the same distance from both staff positions, the errors are equal and
cancel out.

2.3

When the instrument is moved outside the pegs,

2.4

If m = m, then the instrument is OK!

If not, the errors is e = [(S1 S2) (S1 S2)]/L mm/m
This error is known as collimation error, which is the difference in the differences.

The acceptable error is 1 mm per 20 m

3.0

EQUIPMENTS
3.1
Level and Tripod (1 set)
3.2
Staff (2 sets)
3.3
Staff bubble (2 sets)
3.4
Tape (1 set)

4.0

PROCEDURES
4.1

Before we start the leveling job, we are required to perform a peg test to check whether

4.2
4.3

the instruments are in good condition or not.

Two points of 30 m apart are marked on the ground with roofing nails in tar of the road.
The theodolite is then set up midway between two pegs as shown in Figure 1.

S2

S1

Setup 1: Equal lengths to A and B

15 m

15 m
L = 30 m

The height difference m = S1 S2

Figure 1: The first set up

4.4

The back sight and foresight of staff on each peg were read and the height difference, m
was calculated.

4.5

The instrument was then move

4.6

Figure 2.
The staff on each peg was read again and the height difference, m was calculated

3 m beyond the fore staff position pegs as shown in

S1

S2

Setup 2: unequal lengths to A and B

L = 30 m

3m

The height difference m = S1 S2

Figure 2: The second set up

4.7
5.0

The whole set up is then repeated by using L = 60m.

OBSERVATION DATA AND ANALYSIS

First set up

Reading Staff B (S1)

Reading Staff A (S2)

Height difference = m

30 m

1.270

1.329

0.059

60 m

1.380

1.382

0.002

Reading Staff B (S1)

Reading Staff A (S2)

Height difference = m

Second

30 m

1.300

1.359

0.059

set up

60 m

1.268

1.270

0.002

Difference (m m)

6.0

30m

60m

0.000

0.000

DISCUSSION
For L = 30 m, m = m, therefore the instrument is OK!
Same to L = 60 m, m = m, therefore the instrument is OK!

7.0

CONCLUSION

Since for both L = 30m and 60m, m m = 0.000, therefore there is no collimation error in the
leveling instrument.

PART B : LEVELLING ESTABLISH TBM

1.0

OBJECTIVES
1.1

To check the amount of collimation error, and by following the manufacturers

1.2

handbook procedures, can be adjusted by a simple calibration of the instrument.

To determine and check the vertical stability of the temporary bench mark (TBM) with

1.3

respect to reference points (benchmarks) in its immediate vicinity.

To transfer reduced level from known value point to another point(s) and establish a

1.4

new Temporary Bench Marks near construction site.

To ensure the auto levelling machine that we are using in good conditions and give us
accurate and precise results we desired to.

2.0

THEORY

Levelling is a measurement process whereby the difference in height between 2 or more

points can be determined.

The engineer will first take a backside reading (BS) to a point of known elevation
(datum) to determine the elevation of the instrument.

The engineer will then took a foresight reading (FS) to a point of unknown elevation.

Finally, the elevation of that point (FS) can be determine using the elevation of the
instrument minus the value on the level staff read through the levels telescope (BS FS)

Specialised equipment is required to undertake levelling and traditionally this has been
an optical level with its tripod and staff. There are two terms of level which are level line
and horizontal line.

A Level line is defined as a line along which all points are of the same height.

A horizontal line is one which is normal to the direction of gravity ( the vertical ) at a
particular point. Horizontal lines are, therefore, tangential to level lines ( or surface ) at
individual points.

When an optical or digital level is set up correctly, it defines a horizontal line for
measurement of height differences and this would seem to contradict the need to
measure along (curved) level lines.

And for all surveys, a level line is chosen to which the elevation of all points is elated and
is known as a datum or datum surface.

3. 0

EQUIPMENTS
3.1

Level and tripod(1 set)

3.2

Staffs (2 set)

3.3

Staff bubble (2set)

3.4

Tape (1set)

4. 0

PROCEDURES
4.1
4.2

A series of measurement of level loop was decided as shown in figure above.

Starting at TBM 2, first reading measurements from station 1 was a back sight to BM A, then

4.3

second reading was a foresight to CP1 known as a Change Point.

The instrument was moves to station 2 while the leveling staff remains at CP1. Back sight

4.4
4.5

reading to CP1 was taken and also foresight reading to CP2.

Back sight reading (station 4) was made to CP3 and foresight reading to TBM 2.
Traverse then was closed. This allows a check on the level, since the sum of all the change
will be zero.

TBM 2

Station
1

A
CP
1
6
CP
2

Station

Station
4

CP
3
Station
3
Figure 3: A sample of leveling loop

6.0

ANALYSIS DATA

Misclosure :

CORRECTION :

7.0

DISCUSSION
Vertical control is one method that used in civil engineering work where needed to
determine the point level on the earth surface. Any point level is relative and refers to the datum
and also known as mean sea level. In this survey, the two peg test result shows that the value of
collimation error is greater than acceptable error. Anyway, the result that obtained in leveling still
can closed. This because the collimation proportional direct with the distance. The different
distance that used in two peg tests influence the test result. Based on the result in leveling
survey, arithmetic check show that the different of back sight and foresight with rise and fall is quit
same. Make sure the vertical control work is free from any mistake. The distance from station to
station that used in leveling is approximately 60 m and the distance for station to total station is
30 m. After the calculation of the leveling is done, the result shown that the leveling work is closed
because the value of TBM 2 before the measurement and after the measurement came back is
exactly the same.

8.0

RECOMMENDATION
1) The project should be done in the morning because the weather can affect observer mood which
is one of the factor of gross error.
2) Choose the person who is experience in adjust instruments so that can increase rate of reading
time on staff.
3) Read the staff until 3 decimal places (3 d.p.), to make sure that the data we get accurately with
lesser errors.

4) The eye sight level must be perpendicular to the staff while taking the reading to avoid parallax
error.
5) While holding the level staff and setting up the instrument (theodolite), we have to ensure that the
bubble was in the centre.

9.0

CONCLUSION
As the conclusion from this survey, we get the vertical control for the TBM 2 to TBM 1.
Our leveling survey are fulfill the requirement needed an accepted to continue for next
construction work. By the calculation, we found that the end closure less than allowable closure.
Meanings that, the survey work was done properly.

For this survey, we can know the contour for land strata for a single distance. We can use
the leveling data to proposed next construction work such as road and drainage work, cut and fill,
slopping and more.

10.0

REFERENCES

Modul Ukur Kejuruteraan I, Jabatan Kejuruteraan Awam Politeknik Merlimau

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