Leveling
Height of Collimation Method
This method is used more day to day by builders. It is more convenient for “Area Levelling” but it can
become cumbersome on long traverses. It can also lead to errors as levels may be anticipated.
It is also an easier method for “On the Fly Levelling”
A closed traverse to measure heights at 5.0m intervals is to be taken through the center of a large
residential block. There are two existing structures on site that will obscure the view to some of the
positions.
STEP 1
Set up the instrument where the benchmark can be viewed within correct parameters and a
reasonable number of sights can be viewed. This location is identified as L1
STEP 2
Read a backsight to the benchmark that is on the kerb and gutter (1.575) and book this your field notes.
This is recorded as a backsight and establishes the height of the instrument above the benchmark.
The actual Reduced Level of the Bench Mark is also recorded
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195
STEP 3
Sight and Book all intermediate sights that can be viewed from station S1 to S4
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
Step 4
The sight to S5 will be a change point so it will be recorded as a foresight. Note when moving
the instrument the change point at S5 will become a backsight for the new set up
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
1.450 48.770 S5
STEP 5
Move instrument to position L2 and read backsight to changepoint S5
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
2.550 1.450 49.870 47.320 S5
STEP 6
Sight and Book all intermediate sights that can be viewed from station L6 to L10. At this point
all required observations required for the task have been taken. This is called an open traverse,
we need to close the survey to check for errors.
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
2.550 1.450 49.870 47.320 S5
1.980 47.890 S6
1.760 48.110 S7
1.710 48.160 S8
1.840 48.030 S9
1.920 47.950 S10
STEP 7
Take sight to S11 this will be a change point so it will be recorded as a foresight. Note when moving the
instrument the change point at S11 will become a Backsight for the new set up.
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
2.550 1.450 49.870 47.320 S5
1.980 47.890 S6
1.760 48.110 S7
1.710 48.160 S8
1.840 48.030 S9
1.920 47.950 S10
3.250 46.620 S11 (CP)
STEP 8
Take Backsight to Sll than close traverse with foresight to B.M.
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
2.550 1.450 49.870 47.320 S5
1.980 47.890 S6
1.760 48.110 S7
1.710 48.160 S8
1.840 48.030 S9
1.920 47.950 S10
1.831 3.250 48.451 46.620 S11 (CP)
1.258 47.193 BM
STEP 9
Total Backsights column and Tally Foresight column
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
2.550 1.450 49.870 47.320 S5
1.980 47.890 S6
1.760 48.110 S7
1.710 48.160 S8
1.840 48.030 S9
1.920 47.950 S10
1.831 3.250 48.451 46.620 S11 (CP)
1.258 47.193 BM
5.956 5.958
5.958
-0.002 Misclose
As the survey is a closed the Backsights should equal the foresights. Due to errors and limitations of the
instruments there may be a discrepancy this is called a misclose. To determine misclose
Backsight 5.956 –
Foresight 5.958
-0.002mm Note always remember to take foresight from backsight and note negatives
In this case as there is only a -2mm misclose(Foresight is Larger than Backsight. The allowable misclose
12 x SQRT (0.194)= +/- 5.2mm therefore results are OK
STEP 10
The next step is to compare start benchmark with the calculated end benchmark.
Booking Sheet
Surveyor______________________ Chainmen_________________________________
Instrument No___________________ Date__________________
Intermediate Height of Reduced
Backsight Sight Fore sight Collimation Level Top Bottom Dist Remarks
1.575 48.770 47.195 BM
1.250 47.520 S1
0.850 47.920 S2
1.330 47.440 S3
1.580 47.190 S4
2.550 1.450 49.870 47.320 S5
1.980 47.890 S6
1.760 48.110 S7
1.710 48.160 S8
1.840 48.030 S9
1.920 47.950 S10
1.831 3.250 48.451 46.620 S11 (CP)
1.258 47.193 BM
5.956 5.958
5.958
-0.002 Misclose
End RL 47.193
Start BM 47.195
Misclose -0.002
