BEC 102 Engineering Surveying

LEVELLING PROCEDURES

Sr SITI NUR ALIAA ROSLAN KLIUC

Review of levelling

In this lecture we will cover :

Equipment

and procedures Purposes of levelling Some definitions Reading a staff Collimation error Two-peg test Booking and reduction Adjustment Errors Applications

Equipment
Level Tripod Staff Change plate Staff bubble 50 m tape measure (sometimes)

What is levelling?

A measurement process whereby the 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 To To To

establish new vertical control (BM or TBM) determine the heights of discrete points provide spot heights or contours on a plan

provide data for road cross-sections or volumes of earthworks provide a level or inclined plane in the setting out of construction works

To

Definitions

Level surface
A

surface over which water will not flow The direction of gravity is always normal to a level surface

Horizontal surface
A

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

Definitions (cont.)
direction of gravity

horizontal surface

level surface

limit of practical coincidence (~100 m)

Reading an E-face staff

0.339 0.33 0.3

Collimation error
Occurs when the line of sight (as defined by the cross-hairs) is not horizontal Leads to an incorrect staff reading

error horizontal line

Two-peg test

Identifies whether the level has a collimation error Allows the collimation error to be determined See the plane surveying web site for the two-peg test procedure

More definitions

Datum
A

reference surface to which the heights of all points in a survey or on a site are referred be arbitrary or a national height datum

May In

Australia we have the Australian Height Datum (AHD) surface which defines the AHD is (approximately) Mean Sea Level (MSL)

The

More definitions

Reduced Level (RL)

The

height of a point above 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

More definitions

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

More definitions

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...

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

Levelling procedures
The example on the plane surveying web site
shows

Observation procedures Booking procedures Reduction procedures

A sample loop
Setup 4 BM A CP 3

Kerb Setup 1 Setup 3 Kerb Setup 2 CP 1 CP 2 Post

Booking the observations

BM A CP 3

Back
1.32 Kerb Setup 1 Kerb

Inter

Fore
3.98

Point BM A CP 1

CP 1 CP 2 Post

Booking the observations

BM A CP 3

Back 1.32
Kerb Setup 1 Kerb Setup 2 2.56

Inter

Fore 3.98

Point BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

1.25 3.65 0.67

CP 2

CP 1 CP 2 Post

Booking the observations

BM A CP 3

Back 1.32
Kerb Setup 1 Kerb Setup 2 3.49 Setup 3

Inter

Fore 3.98

Point BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

2.56 1.25 3.65

0.67
2.58 1.54

CP 2 Kerb CP 3

CP 1 CP 2 Post

Booking the observations

Setup 4 BM A CP 3

Back 1.32
Kerb Setup 1 Kerb Setup 2 Setup 3

Inter

Fore 3.98

Point BM A CP 1 Kerb Post

2.56 1.25 3.65 3.49 2.58

2.64

0.67 1.54
3.79

CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

CP 1 CP 2 Post

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65 3.49 2.58 2.64

3.98

0.67 1.54 3.79

50.00 BM A CP 1 Kerb Post 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 3.49 2.58 2.64

3.98

0.67 1.54 3.79

50.00 BM A 2.66 47.34 CP 1 Kerb Post 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 3.49 2.58 2.64

3.98

0.67 1.54 3.79

50.00 BM A 2.66 47.34 CP 1 1.31 48.65 Kerb Post CP 2 Kerb CP 3 BM A

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.58 2.64 1.54 3.79

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

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 2.64 1.54 3.79

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

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 2.64 1.54 3.79

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

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 3.79

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

Reducing levels (Rise and Fall)

Back Inter Fore Rise Fall RL Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 3.79 1.15 50.03

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

Back Inter Fore Rise

Fall

RL

Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 3.79 1.15 50.03 10.0 9.98 1

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

Back Inter

Fore

Rise

Fall

RL

Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65 3.49

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

0.67 2.98 2.58 0.91 2.64 1.54 1.04 3.79 1.15 10.0 9.98 1 (0.03 )

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

Back

Inter Fore Rise Fall

RL

Commen t

1.32 2.56

3.49 2.64 10.01

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 1.54 1.04 51.18 3.79 1.15 50.03 9.98 6.24 6.21 (0.0 3)

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

Back Inter Fore Rise

Fall

RL

Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 3.79 1.15 50.03 10.0 9.98 6.24 6.21 1 (0.03 (0.03 ) )

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

Back Inter Fore Rise

Fall

RL

Comment

1.32 2.56

50.00 3.98 2.66 47.34 1.25 1.31 48.65 3.65 2.40 46.25 3.49 0.67 2.98 49.23 2.58 0.91 50.14 2.64 1.54 1.04 51.18 3.79 1.15 50.03 10.0 9.98 6.24 6.21 1 (0.03 (0.03 (0.03) ) )

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

Back Inter

Fore

Rise

Fall

RL

Comment

1.32 2.56 1.25 3.65 3.49 2.58 2.64 10.0 1

3.98 1.31

2.66 2.40

0.67 1.54 3.79 9.98 (0.03 )

2.98 0.91 1.04 6.24 1.15 6.21

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

(0.03 (0.03) )

Loop misclosure

Misclosure
The

amount by which the measured height difference (Hmeas) differs from the known height difference derived from the RLs of the starting and finishing benchmarks (Hknown) Misclosure = Hknown - Hmeas

An acceptable misclose?

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 large, the loop (or part of it) must be repeated Misclosures can also result from errors in published BM levels and from BM instability

Testing the misclose

The amount of misclosure we are prepared to accept depends on the accuracy we are hoping to achieve For routine levelling, the third order levelling standard is adopted misclosure 12k mm Misclosure = + 5 n

where k is the length of the loop in km Where n is the number of changing point

Continuing the example

The misclosure is +30 mm The length of the loop is 0.7 km The misclosure limit is 12(0.7) = 10 mm

The misclosure of +30 mm is too big The loop must be repeated (or find the error)

Adjusting the misclose

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 (0.03/4)...

Adjusting the misclose

Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

Adjusting the misclose

Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

0.000 0.008

50.000 47.332
=1*(0.03/4)

Adjusting the misclose

Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

0.000 0.008 0.015 0.015 0.015

50.000 47.332 48.635 46.235 49.215

=2*(0.03/4)

Adjusting the misclose

Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

0.000 0.008 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.023 0.023

50.000 47.332 48.635 46.235 49.215 50.117

=3*(0.03/4)

51.157

Adjusting the misclose

Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

0.000 0.008 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.023 0.023 0.030

50.000 47.332 48.635 46.235 49.215

=4*(0.03/4)

50.000

Adjusting the misclose

Measured RL Point Adjustment Adjusted RL

50.00 47.34 48.65 46.25 49.23 50.14 51.18 50.03

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

0.000 0.008 0.015 0.015 0.015 0.023 0.023 0.030

50.000 47.332 48.635 46.235 49.215 50.117 51.157 50.000

Errors in levelling

Collimation Parallax Change point instability Instrument instability Staff instability Benchmark instability Refraction

Errors in levelling

Staff reading and interpolation errors Staff verticality Instrument shading Temperature on staff Booking errors (e.g. using just 1 benchmark) Earth curvature

Applications of levelling
Point heights (relative to a datum) Height differences (independent of datum) Longitudinal sections and cross sections Data for volume calculations Contouring Setting out

Establishing a new point

New point

Benchmark RLBM Datum

RLNEW

Measuring height differences

H3 H2 Benchmark RLBM Datum H1

Profiles and cross-sections

Benchmark RLBM Datum

Plotting contours
B 2.510 C 2.905

The RLs for points A, B and C have been determined by levelling. We are now required to determine the location of the contours using a 0.5 m contour interval.

1.100

Plotting contours
B 2.510
LINE AB HAB = 2.51 - 1.10 = 1.410 DAB = 10 m For the 1.5 m contour: D = 10*(1.5 1.1)/1.41 = 2.84 For the 2.0 m contour : D = 10*(2.0 - 1.1)/1.41 = 6.38 For the 2.5 m contour : D = 10*(2.5 - 1.1)/1.41 = 9.93 1.4 0.9

B 1.41

A 1.100 A

0.4 2.84

6.38

9.93

10 m

Plotting contours
B 2.510 C 2.905

LINE AC HAC = 2.905 - 1.100 = 1.805 DAC = 14.14 m For the 1.5 m contour : D = 14.14*(1.5 - 1.1)/1.805 = 3.13 For the 2.0 m contour : D = 14.14*(2.0 - 1.1)/1.805 = 7.05

1.100

For the 2.5 m contour : D = 14.14*(2.5 - 1.1)/1.805 = 10.97

Plotting contours
B 2.510 C 2.905

LINE BC DHBC = 2.905 - 2.510 = 0.395 DBC = 10 m no contours cross this line

1.100

Plotting contours
B 2.510 C 2.905

1.100