Land Surveying / Engineering Surveying I

Chapter 4 : Levelling (Part 2)

Contents
3.7
Rise and Fall Method
3.71 Sample Loop 1
3.72 Booking Observations
3.73 Reducing Level (Rise & Fall)
3.74 Loop Misclosure
3.75 Adjusting Misclosure
3.8
Height of Collimation
Method
3.81 Reducing Level (HPC)
3.82 Loop Misclosure

3.7 Rise and Fall Method

Sample Loop 1 shows all the readings for the

leveling sequence recorded in a rise & fall
field book.
The calculation proceeds in the following
manner, in which the height of a point is
related to that of a previous point.

3.71

Sample Loop 1
Setup 4
CP 3

BM A

Kerb
Setup 1

Setup 3
Kerb
Setup 2

CP 1
CP 2
Post

3.72 Booking
Observation
CP 3

BM A

BS
1.321

FS

Point
BM A

3.986 CP 1

Kerb
Setup 1
Kerb

CP 1
CP 2
Post

IS

3.72 Booking
Observation
CP 3

BM A

BS

IS

1.321
2.567

Kerb

FS

BM A
3.986
1.255

Setup 1
Kerb

0.670

CP 1
CP 2
Post

CP 1
Kerb

3.658
Setup 2

Point

Post
CP 2

3.72 Booking
Observation
CP 3

BM A

BS

IS

FS

1.321
Setup 1

BM A

2.567

Kerb
Setup 3
Kerb

3.492

Setup 2

3.986

Kerb

3.658

Post
0.670
1.542

CP 2
Post

CP 1

1.255

2.586

CP 1

Point

CP 2
Kerb
CP 3

3.72 Booking
Observation
Setup 4
CP 3

BM A

BS

IS

FS

1.321
Setup 1

Setup 3
Kerb
Setup 2

3.986

CP 1
CP 2

CP 1

1.255

Kerb

3.658

Post

3.492
2.643

Post

BM A

2.567

Kerb

Point

0.670
2.586

CP 2
Kerb

1.542
3.817 CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255
3.658

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255
3.658

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

2.665

47.335 CP 1

Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

1.312

3.658
3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

2.665

1.542
3.817

47.335 CP 1
48.647 Kerb

Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

1.542
3.817

47.335 CP 1
48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658
3.492

2.665

46.244 Post

CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542
3.817

2.988

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post
49.232 CP 2

Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542
3.817

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

CP 3
BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542
3.817

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3

BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542
3.817

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3
1.174

50.008 BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

1.542
3.817

10.023

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

10.015

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3
1.174

50.008 BM A

3.73

Reducing Level
(Rise & Fall)

When the Initial RL column of the table

has been completed, a check on the
arithmetic involved is possible and must
always be applied.
This check is
BS - FS = RISES - FALLS
= Last RL First RL

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643

1.542
3.817

10.023

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

10.015
0.008

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3
1.174

50.008 BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643
10.023

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542

46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3

3.817

1.174

10.015 6.250

6.242

0.008

47.335 CP 1

50.008 BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643
10.023

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3

3.817

1.174

10.015 6.250

6.242

0.008

0.008

50.008 BM A

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643
10.023

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3

3.817

1.174

10.015 6.250

6.242

0.008

0.008

50.008 BM A
0.008

3.73
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(Rise
& Fall)
FS Rise Fall
RL
Remarks
50.000 BM A

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255

2.665

3.492

2.403
0.670

2.586
2.643
10.023

48.647 Kerb

1.312

3.658

1.542

47.335 CP 1
46.244 Post

2.988

49.232 CP 2

0.906

50.138 Kerb

1.044

51.182 CP 3

3.817

1.174

10.015 6.250

6.242

0.008

0.008

50.008 BM A
0.008

3.74

Loop Misclosure

Misclosure
The amount by which the measured height difference
(DHmeas) differs from the known height difference derived
from the RLs of the starting and finishing benchmarks
(DHknown)

Misclosure = DHmeas Dhknown

Misclosure = Last R.L. Original
R.L.

3.74

Loop Misclosure

Acceptable misclosures as follows :

Small misclosures in closed level loops are expected

because of the accumulation of errors.

If the misclosure is small, it can be adjusted.

If the misclosure is greater than the allowable

misclosure then the levelling must be repeated.

The usual method of correction is to apply an equal, but

cumulative, amount of the misclosure to each
instrument position.

The sign of the adjustment being opposite to that of the

3.74

Loop Misclosure

The amount of misclosure we are prepared to

accept depends on the accuracy we are hoping
to achieve.
For routine levelling, the allowable misclosure is
given by :
Allowable misclosure = mn mm
where m is a constant, and;
n is the number of instrument
positions.

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure
From the loop, the misclosure is +8 mm.
Therefore, the allowable misclosure is 54
= 10 mm.
The misclosure of +8 mm is smaller than
allowable misclosure.

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure
Adjustment is carried out to ensure that the
measured and known RLs of the closing
benchmark agree.
The misclosure is linearly distributed according
to the number of set-ups.
The adjustment per set-up for the previous
example is
( - 0.008 / 4 ) = - 0.002

BS
1.321
2.567

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure

IS

FS

3.986
1.255
3.658

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

RL
50.000
47.335
48.647
46.244
49.232
50.138
51.182
50.008

Adj. Adj. RL Remarks

0.000 50.000 BM A
-0.002 47.333 CP 1
Kerb
-1x(0.008/4)
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure
BS
1.321
2.567

IS

FS
3.986

1.255
3.658
3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

RL
50.000
47.335
48.647
46.244
49.232
50.138
51.182
50.008

Adj. Adj. RL
0.000 50.000
-0.002 47.333
-0.004 48.643
-0.004 46.240
-0.004 49.228

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
-2x(0.008/4)
CP 3
BM A

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure
BS
1.321
2.567

IS

FS
3.986

1.255
3.658
3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

RL
50.000
47.335
48.647
46.244
49.232
50.138
51.182
50.008

Adj. Adj. RL
0.000 50.000
-0.002 47.333
-0.004 48.643
-0.004 46.240
-0.004 49.228
-0.006 50.132
-0.006 51.176

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A
-3x(0.008/4)

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure
BS
1.321
2.567

IS

FS
3.986

1.255
3.658
3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

RL
50.000
47.335
48.647
46.244
49.232
50.138
51.182
50.008

Adj. Adj. RL
0.000 50.000
-0.002 47.333
-0.004 48.643
-0.004 46.240
-0.004 49.228
-0.006 50.132
-0.006 51.176
-0.008 50.000

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

-4x(0.008/4)

3.75 Adjusting
Misclosure
BS
1.321
2.567

IS

FS
3.986

1.255
3.658
3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

RL
50.000
47.335
48.647
46.244
49.232
50.138
51.182
50.008

Adj. Adj. RL
0.000 50.000
-0.002 47.333
-0.004 48.643
-0.004 46.240
-0.004 49.228
-0.006 50.132
-0.006 51.176
-0.008 50.000

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.8 Height of
Collimation Method
The level book for the reduction of the leveling is
shown in the height of collimation form.
This method of reducing levels is based on the
HPC being calculated for each instrument
position.

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321

51.321

2.567

3.986
1.255
3.658

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

50.000 BM A

CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321

51.321

2.567

3.986
1.255
3.658

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

50.000 BM A
47.335 CP 1

Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986
1.255
3.658

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

1.542
3.817

51.321

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986
3.658
0.670
2.586

2.643

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1
48.647 Kerb

1.255
3.492

51.321

1.542
3.817

Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

51.321

1.542
3.817

CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

51.321

1.542
3.817

49.232 CP 2

Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670
2.586

2.643

51.321

1.542
3.817

52.724

49.232 CP 2

Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

49.232 CP 2
50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

51.321

1.542
3.817

CP 3
BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

49.232 CP 2
50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

51.321

1.542
3.817

51.182 CP 3

BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

51.321

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

49.232 CP 2

1.542
3.817

53.825

51.182 CP 3

BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

51.321

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

49.232 CP 2

1.542
3.817

53.825

51.182 CP 3
50.008 BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

51.321

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

49.232 CP 2

1.542
3.817

53.825

51.182 CP 3
50.008 BM A

3.82

Loop Misclosure

Arithmetic Check:
With the initial RL column in the table completed,
the following check can be applied
BS - FS = Last RL First RL
The second check is given by
IS + FS + RLs except first = [each HPC x
no. of applications]

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

51.321

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

1.542
3.817

10.023

49.232 CP 2

10.015

53.825

51.182 CP 3
50.008 BM A

3.81
BS

IS

Reducing Level
(HPC)
FS
HPC
RL
Remarks

1.321
2.567

3.986

51.321

50.000 BM A

49.902

47.335 CP 1

1.255

48.647 Kerb

3.658

46.244 Post

3.492

0.670

52.724

50.138 Kerb

2.586
2.643

1.542
3.817

10.023

49.232 CP 2

10.015
0.008

53.825

51.182 CP 3
50.008 BM A

3.82
BS

IS

Loop Misclosure
FS

1.321
2.567

3.986

HPC

RL

51.321

50.000

49.902

47.335

1.255

48.647

3.658

46.244

3.492

0.670

52.724

2.586
2.643

50.138
1.542
3.817

10.023

49.232

10.015
0.008

53.825

51.182
50.008

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.82
BS

IS

Loop Misclosure
FS

1.321
2.567

3.986

HPC

RL

51.321

50.000

49.902

47.335

1.255

48.647

3.658

46.244

3.492

0.670

52.724

2.586
2.643

50.138
1.542
3.817

10.023

49.232

53.825

51.182
50.008

10.015
0.008

0.008

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.82

Loop Misclosure

BS - FS = 10.023 10.015
= 0.008 m
Last RL First RL = 50.008 50.000
= 0.008 m
BS - FS

= Last RL First RL

3.82

Loop Misclosure

IS + FS + RLs
except first

3.82
BS

IS

Loop Misclosure
FS

1.321
2.567

3.986

HPC

RL

51.321

50.000

49.902

47.335

1.255

48.647

3.658

46.244

3.492

0.670

52.724

2.586
2.643

49.232
50.138

1.542
3.817

53.825

51.182
50.008

10.023 7.499 10.015

0.008

0.008

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.82
BS

IS

Loop Misclosure
FS

1.321
2.567

3.986

HPC

RL

51.321

50.000

49.902

47.335

1.255

48.647

3.658

46.244

3.492

0.670

52.724

2.586
2.643

49.232
50.138

1.542

53.825

51.182

3.817

50.008

10.023 7.499 10.015

342.786
0.008

0.008

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.82

Loop Misclosure

IS + FS + RLs
except first
= 7.499 + 10.015 +
342.786
= 360.300

3.82

Loop Misclosure

[each HPC x no. of

applications]

3.82
BS

IS

Loop Misclosure
FS

1.321
2.567

3.986

HPC

RL

51.321

50.000

49.902

47.335

1.255

48.647

3.658

46.244

3.492

0.670

52.724

2.586
2.643

49.232
50.138

1.542
3.817

53.825

51.182
50.008

10.023 7.499 10.015

0.008

0.008

Remarks
BM A
CP 1
Kerb
Post
CP 2
Kerb
CP 3
BM A

3.82

Loop Misclosure

[each HPC x no. of applications]

The first HPC of 51.321 m has been used once to calculate
the reduced levels of CP1.
The second of 49.902 m has been used 3 times to calculate
the reduced levels of Kerb, Post and CP2.
The third of 52.724 m has been used twice to calculate the
reduced levels of Kerb and CP3.
The last HPC of 53.825 m has been used once to close the
levels onto BM A.

=
[51.321x1]+[49.902x3]+[52.724x2]+[53.825x1]
= 360.300

3.82

Loop Misclosure

After applying the check, any acceptable

misclosure is distributed as for the rise and fall
method.