3a.

LEVELLING

Rauf Rasam raufrasam@yahoo.com

OUTLINE

Levelling When do we level? Definitions/Terminology Levelling Instrumentation Method of Levelling Rules for Levelling Levelling Procedures (Two peg test, reducing levels using rise and fall method)

What is levelling?

A measurement process whereby the relative difference in height between two or more points can be determined

BS

FS

Difference in height H=BS-FS

When do we level?

Typical examples include :

To establish new vertical control (BM or TBM) To determine the heights of discrete points To provide spot heights or contours on a plan To provide data for road cross-sections or volumes of earthworks To provide a level or inclined plane in the setting out of construction works

To prepare a layout map for engineering work (e.g. Water supply, road, sanitary or drainage.

Definitions

direction of gravity

Vertical line

level surface

A Reduced level

Earth Surface

Datum = M.S.L

Definitions (cont.)
BS FS

BS

FS
TBM

CP BM
Fixed mark of known RL

Definitions (cont.)

Level surface

A curved surface The direction of gravity is always perpendicular to a level surface

Horizontal Plane

A horizontal plane will be tangent to a level surface Over short distances (<100 m) the horizontal surface and the level surface will coincide

Definitions (cont.)

Datum

A reference surface to which the heights of all points in a survey or on a site are referred
Datum in Malaysia is Mean Sea Level

Definitions (cont.)

Reduced Level (RL)

The height of a point above/below the datum

Benchmark (BM)

A stable reference point of known RL Usually used as the starting and finishing point when levelling

Temporary Bench Mark (TBM)

A point placed (e.g. peg, nail, spike) to provide a temporary reference point

Definitions (cont.)

Backsight (BS)

Always the first reading from a new instrument station

Foresight (FS)

Always the last reading from the current instrument station

Intermediate sight (IS)

Any sighting that is not a backsight or foresight

10

Definitions (cont.)

Change point (CP)

Location of the staff when the level is moved Change points should be...

Stable Well defined Recoverable e.g. sharp rock, nail, change plate, etc...

Parallax
-Imperfect focusing due to the image move up/down relative to cross-hairs/plane of diaphragm

11

Levelling Instruments

Level (e.g. dumpy, wye, tilting, automatic/auto & digital) Tripod Levelling Staff Levelling Staff bubble 50 m tape measure (sometimes)

12

Levelling Instruments (cont.)

Focusing skru Eyepiece

Object lens

Circular bubble

Tangent screw Auto level

Base plate

Levelling staff

Cross hair in a diaphgram of level

13

Method of levelling

Barometric levelling

Atmospheric Pressures Compute by vertical angle and horizontal angle Also called stadia levelling Level and levelling staff

Trigonometric levelling

Direct levelling

14

Reading an E-face staff

0.364
0.342

0.315

15

Rules for levelling

Always commence and finish a level run on a Benchmark (BM or TBM)

Keep foresight and backsight distances as equal as possible

Keep lines of sight short (normally < 50m) Never read below 0.5m on a staff (refraction) Use stable, well defined change points

16

Procedures
1. Temporary Adjustment/ Levelling Adjustment

Setting Up Instrument Levelling up Eliminate of errors (parallax, collimation)

2. Fieldwork/Labworks

Setting/Levelling Up Instruments (Observation) Taking & booking the staff readings Calculating and adjusting/reducting reduced levels

17

Procedures/ Levelling Adjustment

Levelling Adjustment: Two peg test

Identifies whether the level has a collimation error Allows the collimation error to be determined

18

Two-peg test (Cont.)

19

Procedures/ Fieldwork/Labworks

Setting/Levelling Up Instruments (Observation)

20

Procedures/ Fieldwork/Labworks

Taking & booking the staff readings

21

A sample loop
Setup 4 BM A CP 3

Kerb Setup 1 Kerb Setup 2 CP 1 CP 2

22

Setup 3

Post

Booking the observations

BM A

CP 3 Back 1.32 Kerb 3.98 Inter Fore Point BM A CP 1

Setup 1 Kerb

CP 1

CP 2
23

Post

Booking the observations

BM A

CP 3 Back 1.32 Kerb 2.56 1.25 3.65 0.67 3.98 Inter Fore Point BM A CP 1 Kerb Post CP 2

Setup 1 Kerb

Setup 2

CP 1

CP 2
24

Post

Booking the observations

BM A

CP 3 Back 1.32 Kerb 2.56 Setup 3 Kerb 3.49 1.25 3.65 0.67 2.58 3.98 Inter Fore Point BM A CP 1 Kerb Post CP 2 Kerb CP 3

Setup 1

Setup 2

1.54
CP 1

CP 2
25

Post

Booking the observations

Setup 4 BM A CP 3 Back 1.32 Kerb Setup 1 Kerb Setup 3 3.49 2.56 1.25 3.65 0.67 2.58 1.54 3.79 3.98 Inter Fore Point BM A CP 1 Kerb Post CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Setup 2 2.64
CP 1

CP 2
26

Post

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

50.00 3.98

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

27

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98

2.66

50.00 47.34

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

28

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66

50.00 47.34 48.65

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

29

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

30

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

2.98

49.23

31

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

2.98 0.91

49.23 50.14

32

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

2.98 0.91 1.04

49.23 50.14 51.18

33

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64

0.67
1.54 3.79

2.98 0.91 1.04

1.15

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

34

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64 10.01
35

0.67
1.54 3.79 9.98

2.98 0.91 1.04

1.15

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64 10.01
36

0.67
1.54 3.79 9.98

2.98 0.91 1.04

1.15

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

(0.03)

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64 10.01
37

0.67
1.54 3.79 9.98

2.98 0.91 1.04

1.15 6.24 6.21

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

(0.03)

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64 10.01
38

0.67
1.54 3.79 9.98

2.98 0.91 1.04

1.15 6.24 6.21

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

(0.03)

(0.03)

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64 10.01
39

0.67
1.54 3.79 9.98

2.98 0.91 1.04

6.24

(0.03)

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 1.15 BM A 6.21 (0.03) (0.03)

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25

BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

3.49
2.58 2.64 10.01
40

0.67
1.54 3.79 9.98

2.98 0.91 1.04

6.24

(0.03)

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 1.15 BM A 6.21 (0.03) (0.03)

49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03