This document defines various terms used in leveling and surveying. It describes different types of leveling instruments like dumpy level, wye level, tilting level, automatic level and their characteristics. It also discusses leveling staffs, bench marks, temporary and permanent benchmarks. Different methods of leveling are explained including simple, differential, fly, check, profile, cross, reciprocal, precise, trigonometric and barometric leveling. Diagrams of leveling equipment like levels, tripods, staffs and accessories are provided.

1. Leveling
Course: B.Sc. Agricultural
Subject : Fundamental of Soil, Water and Conservation engineering
Unit: 2

2. Definitions used in levelling
 Level surface:-It is the surface parallel to the mean
spheroidal surface of the earth
 Level line:-Line lying on level surface.
 Horizontal plane:-Horizontal plane through a point is a
plane tangential to level surface.
 Horizontal line:-It is a straight line tangential to level
line.

3.  Datum:-“It is an arbitrary level surface from which
elevation of points may be referred”. In India mean sea
level is considered as datum of zero elevation it is situated
at Karachi.
 Mean sea level is the average height of sea for all stages of
tides it is derived by averaging the hourly tide height over
a period of 19 years.
 Elevation or Reduced level:-It is height or depth of any
point above or below any datum. It is denoted as R.L.

4.  Bench Mark (B.M.):-It is a fixed reference point of
known elevation with respect to datum.
 Line of collimation:-It is a line joining the intersection
of cross hairs of diaphragm to the optical centre of
object glass and its continuation. It is also known as
line of sight.
 Height of instrument:-It is the elevation of line of
collimation with respect to datum
 Back sight:-It is a staff reading taken at a known
elevation. It is the first staff reading taken after setup
of instrument.

5.  Fore sight( F.S.):-It is the last staff reading taken
denoting the shifting of the instrument.
 Intermediate sight.(I.S.):-It is staff reading taken on a
point whose elevation is to be determined. All staff
reading between B.S. and F.S. are Intermediate sight.
 Change Point:-It is a point on which both fore and
back sight are taken.

6. Leveling may be the art of determining the relative heights or
elevations of points are objects on the earth’s surface. It deals
with measurements in a vertical plane.
Leveling

7.  The height of instrument (H. L):
 It is the elevation (or the R.L.) of the plane of collimation (or
plane of sight) when the instrument is correctly leveled. It is
also called the height of plane of the collimation.
 To determine elevation of points instruments are required, viz.
 A level
 Leveling staff or rod.
 The level
Level consists of essentially
 Leveling head
 The limb
 Telescope
 bubble tube

8.  Dumpy level
 y level / wye level
 Tilting level/Coke’s reversible level
 Automatic level
Types of level

9.  Dumpy level
 The Dumpy level is a simple, compact and stable
instrument. The telescope is rigidly fixed to its
supports. Hence it cannot be rotated about
horizontal axis.
1

10.  Wye level
 The essential difference between wye level and other
levels is that in wye level the telescope is carried by two
vertical wye supports. The telescope can be rotated,
moved or even raised in wyes.
2

11. Tilting level
It is also known as I.O.P. Level (Indian office Pattern).
In this level the telescope tilts about its horizontal axis hence it is
called tilting level
3

12.  Automatic level
 It is also known as self aligning level. It is a recent
development. The fundamental difference between auto
level and other levels is that the levelling is not
manually but it is levelled automatically. It is achieved
by inclination compensating device.
54

13. Levelling Staffs
Levelling staffs are scales on which these
distances are measured.
 Levelling staffs are of two types
A. Self reading staff
B. Target staff

14. A. Self reading staff
 The self reading staff can be read directly by the
level man looking through the telescope.
 Common types of self reading staffs
 Ordinary staff
 Folding Staff

15.  A vernier is provided on target
to give precise reading.
 In target staff level man directs
the staff man to move the
target up and down until it
bisects by the line of sight.
 The staff man observe the staff
reading
B. Target staff
• For very precise works and sight target staff are used.
A movable target is provided in this staff.
6

16. Bench Marks
 Bench mark is a point of known elevation
 There are 4 kinds of bench marks
1. GTS (Great trigonometrically survey bench mark)
2. Permanent bench mark
3. Arbitrary bench mark
4. Temporary bench mark

17. 1. GTS Bench mark
 They are the bench marks established with very high degree of
precision at regular intervals by the survey Department of India
all over the country Their position and R.Ls values above mean
seal level at Karachi are given in catalogue formed by the
department.
 Mean sea level
7

18. 2. Permanent Bench mark
 Permanent benchmarks are fixed in between GTS
benchmarks by govt. agencies such as railways, PWD, etc.
 This bench marks are written on permanent objects such
as milestones, culverts, bridges etc. their value are clearly
written and their position are recorded for future reference
8

19. 3. Arbitrary bench marks:-
 These are reference points whose R.L.s are
arbitrarily assumed.
 They are used in small works such bench
mark may be assumed as 100 or 50 m

20. 4. Temporary bench marks:-
 They are the reference points established during the leveling
operations when there is a break in work, or at the end of day’s
work the value of reduced levels are marked on some
permanent objects such as stones, trees etc.

21. TYPES OF LEVELING EQUIPMENT
 Hand Levels
 Abney Levels
 Automatic Levels
 Laser Levels
 Dumpy Levels

22.  HAND LEVELS
A hand held instrument. Low precision work or
for checking purposes.
 ABNEY LEVELS
A type of hand level. Includes a clinometers for
measuring vertical angles.
 AUTOMATIC LEVELS
Incorporate a self leveling feature. Popular for
general use.
Easy to set up and use.
Rough leveling is done by adjusting the leveling
screws, then the self-leveling feature takes over
to completely level the telescope.
9

23.  LASER LEVELS
Used in construction surveys to create a visible
line of known orientation and elevation from
which measurements for line and grade can be
made.
Give accurate readings at distances of 1000 ft.
Can provide control elevations over a
1,000,000 square foot area from a single setup.
 DUMPY LEVELS
Standard equipment before automatic levels
were available.
The telescopic sight must be completely
leveled manually by adjusting the leveling
screws.
10

24. Level Instrument
 Automated Levels
 Easy to use (not power!)
 Needs experience
 Robust even in hostile environment
 Digital Levels
 Push-button technique
 No reading errors, special staff
 Readings are stored and analyzed digitally
11

25. Automated Levels (Compensator)
Pendulum
Bull Eye
Tribrach
12

26. Digital Levels
 Uses Barcode staffs
 Internal storage of data
 Download to the computer
 Automated height computation + adjustment
 No feeling for quality anymore
 You frequently need power plugs
13 14

27. Tripod
Wooden design or aluminum
15

28. Staff/Pole
 Wood, aluminum
 INVAR type for high precision leveling
16

29. Change Plate
 For long survey lines
 Allows change of instruments
 Best is a metal change plate
 Screws e.g. at fences
 Sharp stones or nails
17

30. Bubble
 Keep the pole upright
 Any tilt will disturb your readings
18
19

31. Survey Markers
 Gives you a fixed point
 Should be of good quality
 Should be long-term
 Preferable in bedrock, settled buildings, or bridges
 Do not use fences or walls
20

32. 1. Classification of leveling
 1. Simple levelling
 2. Differential leveling
 3. Fly levelling
 4. Check levelling
 5. Profile levelling
 6. Cross levelling
 7. Reciprocal levelling
 8. Precise levelling
 9.Trignometric levelling
 10. Barometric levelling
 11. Hypersometric levelling

33. 1. Simple leveling:-
It is the simplest method used, when it is required to
find the difference in elevation between 2 points.
21

34. 2. Different leveling:
It is the operation of leveling to determine the
elevations of points. Some distance a part or to establish
bench marks.
This method is used to find the difference in the
elevation between points if they are too far apart or the
difference in elevation between them is too much.
22

35. 3. Fly leveling:-
Fly leveling is just like differential leveling carried
out to check the accuracy of leveling work. In fly leveling
only B.S. and F.S. are taken.
23

36. 4. Check leveling:
It is the operation of running levels for the
purpose of checking the series of levels, which have
been previously fixed. At the end of each day’s work,
a line of level is run, returning to the starting point of
that day with a view to check the work done on that
day.
This kind of leveling is carried out to check the
accuracy of work. It is done at the end of the days
work in the form of fly leveling to connect the
finishing point and starting point.

37. 5. Profile leveling or L-Section :
It is the operation in which the object is to
determine the elevation of points at known distance
apart along a given line, and thus to obtain the
accurate out line of the surface of the ground. It is
called the longitudinal leveling or sectioning.
This method is used for taking levels along the
centre line of any alignment like road, railway canal
etc. The object is to determine the undulations of the
ground surface along the alignment

38. 24
25

39. 6. Cross sectioning:
It is the operation of leveling to determine the surface
undulation or outline of the ground transverse to the
given line and on either side of it.
This operation is carried out perpendicular to
alignment at an interval of 10, 20 ,30, 40 m. The idea
is to make an estimate of earthwork.

40. 7. Precise leveling:-
It is used for establishing bench marks for future public
use. It is carried out with high degree of accuracy using
advanced instruments
 8. Trigonometric leveling:
It is then process of leveling in which the elevations of points
are computed from the vertical, angles and horizontal distance
measured in the field.
In this method vertical distances between points are computed
by observing horizontal distances and vertical angle between
points.

41. 9. Barometric leveling:
It is the method of leveling in which the altitudes of
points are determined by means of a barometer, which
measures atmospheric pressure.
In this method the altitude difference is determined by
means of a barometer.

42. 11. Reciprocal leveling:
It is then method of leveling in which the difference
in elevation between two points, accurately determined by
two sets of observation when it is not possible to set up
the level midway between the two points.
This method is adopted to accurately determine the
difference of level between two points which are far a
part. It is also used when it is not possible to setup level in
midway between two points

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Reference/Sources

44. Text book and web sources
- www.agriinfo.in
- ecourses.iasri.res.in
- Soil erosion and Conservation by R. P. Tripathi and H.
P. Singh