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Levelling
1.0 Introduction
Leveling is the procedure used to determine the differences in elevation between two
points that are some distance from each other on the surface of the earth. An
elevation is a vertical distance above or below a datum (Kavanagh, 2010).
The most common leveling method for determining vertical distance is differential
leveling, also known as spirit leveling. It consists of a telescopic sight and a spirit
bubble vial. Besides, instruments such as adjustable leg tripod, automatic level and a
level rod are needed to be used during leveling.
In order to carry out the spirit leveling, the auto level has to be set up.

1.1 Setting up an Automatic level
1. Set up the tripod leg to the suitable height, then step on the tripod legs to drive
into the ground to make it stable.
2. Mount the auto level to the tripod head.
3. Adjust the leveling screws to centralize the bubble in vial.
4. Adjust recital until crosshairs are clear.
5. Adjust the objective lens until the sighting object is clear.
(New England Laser & Transit Company, 2014)







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1.2 Leveling or Field Procedures
The leveling or field procedure that should be followed is shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Arrangement of the auto level on site.


Figure 2: Data obtained on site.

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Procedure:
1. Set up the levelling instrument at Auto Level position 1.
2. Hold the staff on the BM101 (100.00) and take a reading. This will be a backsight,
because it is the first staff reading after the leveling instrument has been set up.
3. Move the staff to A and take a reading. This will be a foresight, because after this
reading the level will be moved.
4. Measure and record the distance between the stations on a paper.
5. Move the level to Auto Level position 2 and leave the staff at A. Turn the staff so
that it faces the level and take a reading. This will be a backsight.
6. Move the staff to B and take a reading. This will be a foresight.
7. Jot down the distance between the stations on a paper.
8. Now repeat the steps describe 5 to 7 until you finished at point K.

1.3 Booking levels
There are two methods of booking levels:
1. Height of Collimation method and
2. Rise & Fall method and







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2.0 Objectives
To give definitions as a basis for the proper understanding of leveling.
To understand the collimation method and rise and fall method used in
leveling.
To understand how to set up the tripod.
To understand how to adjust the spirit bubble.
To know how to use the automatic level.
To know how to read the data from leveling rod.
To understand the error distribution to have adjustment in leveling.
To understand the importance of teamwork.
















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3.0 Data Obtained
3.1 Collimation Method

3.2 Rise and fall method



Back
sight
Intermediate
sight
Fore
sight
Rise Fall Reduced
Level
Adj. Final
R.L.
Remarks
1.290 100.000 100.000 BM
1.410 3.615 2.325 97.675 -0.003 97.672 A
1.445 1.355 0.055 97.730 -0.006 97.724 B
1.400 1.525 0.080 97.650 -0.009 97.641 C
1.465 1.450 0.050 97.600 -0.012 97.588 D
1.320 1.200 0.265 97.865 -0.015 97.850 E
1.405 1.365 0.045 97.820 -0.018 97.802 F
1.360 1.635 0.230 97.590 -0.021 97.569 G
1.415 1.330 0.030 97.620 -0.024 97.596 H
2.965 1.450 0.035 97.585 -0.027 97.558 I
1.365 0.438 2.527 100.112 -0.030 100.082 J
1.440 0.075 100.037 -0.033 100.004 K
16.840 16.803 2.877 2.840 100.037
16.803 2.840 100.000
0.037 0.037 0.037
Back
sight
Intermediate
sight
Fore
sight
Rise Fall Reduced
Level
Remarks
1.290 100.00 BM
1.410 3.615 2.325 97.675 A
1.445 1.355 0.055 97.730 B
1.400 1.525 0.080 97.650 C
1.465 1.450 0.050 97.600 D
1.320 1.200 0.265 97.865 E
1.405 1.365 0.045 97.820 F
1.360 1.635 0.230 97.590 G
1.415 1.330 0.030 97.620 H
2.965 1.450 0.035 97.585 I
1.365 0.438 2.527 100.112 J
1.440 0.075 100.037 K
16.840 16.803 2.877 2.840 100.037
16.803 2.840 100.000
0.037 0.037 0.037
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3.3 Error distribution
The misclosure is 0.037, there are 11 set-ups, so the correction per set-up is
0.037/11=0.0034















Back sight Intermediate
sight
Fore sight Collimation Reduced
Level
Remarks
1.290 101.290 100.00 BM
1.410 3.615 99.085 97.675 A
1.445 1.355 99.175 97.730 B
1.400 1.525 99.050 97.650 C
1.465 1.450 99.065 97.600 D
1.320 1.200 99.185 97.865 E
1.405 1.365 99.225 97.820 F
1.360 1.635 98.950 97.590 G
1.415 1.330 99.035 97.620 H
2.965 1.450 100.550 97.585 I
1.365 0.438 101.477 100.112 J
1.440 100.037 K
16.840 16.803 100.037
16.803 100.000
0.037 0.037
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4.0 Summary
This is our first field work. For this field work, there are 11 points which are point A to
point K. The reading can be attained by seeing through the scope. There will be a
crosshair. The reading is where the crosshair lies on.
Firstly, the level will be placed at an ideal place. Then the levelling staff will be set at
the benchmark. Once the reading is taken, then the staff will be shifted to point A to
get the second reading. The level will be shifted when the levelling staffs is too far to
be read.
The benchmark is 100.00. But our final reading at the benchmark is 100.037. There
is an error of 0.037. The final reduced level is slightly more than the initial RL. Thus,
there are some error occurred during the leveling process. So correction must be
done to get the accurate amount.
The error for our group is 0.037. We have all together 11 points. The error is divided
to the number of turning point, which are 11. Since the error is positive, we have to
deduct the errors. At each turning point, the error deducted gradually increase.
The error:


The final reduce level:
( ), where is 1, 2, 3,..



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5.0 References
Kavanagh, BF., 2010, Surveying with Construction Applications 7
th
edn, Pearson,
Upper Saddle River, NJ.
New England Laser & Transit Company 2014, How To use Auto Levels, Available at
http://newenglandlaser.com/index.php?n=how_to_use_auto_levels, [Accessed 24
June 2014].