LEVELING - Leveling is the process of directly or indirectly measuring vertical distances to determine elevation of points or their

difference in elevation.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Level Surface - It is a curved surface which is at any point perpendicular to the direction of gravity or the plumb line. It is best
represented by the surface of a large body of still water.

Level line - a level line is a curved line in a level surface all points of which are normal to the direction of gravity and equidistant
from the center of the earth.

Horizontal Surface - it is a plane that is tangent to a level surface at a particular point. The horizontal surface is also perpendicular to
the line at the same point.

Horizontal line - a straight line in a horizontal plane which is tangent to a level line at one point. This line is perpendicular to
direction of gravity at the point of tangency. Since the mean radius of the earth is comparatively large, it is practical for most purposes
to assume that a level line and a horizontal line are the same for short distances.

Vertical Line - a vertical line at any point is a line parallel to the direction of gravity. It is exemplified by the direction taken by a
string supporting a suspended plum bomb passing through a point. For ordinary purposes it is convenient to assume that the earth is a
true sphere with a smooth surface, and that at plumb line held at any point on its surface is always directed toward the center of the
sphere.

Mean sea level - mean sea level is an imaginary surface of the sea which is midway between high and low tides. It is taken as the
reference surface to which most ground elevations are referred. This surface is determined by averaging the height of the sea's surface.

Datum - the term is an inconvenient level surface coincident or parallel with mean sea level to which elevations of a particular area
are referred. Any surface may be used as a datum when relative elevation over a limited area need to be established.

Elevation - For a particular point, it's elevation is the vertical distance above or below mean sea level or any other selected datum.

Difference in elevation - the difference in elevation between two points is the vertical distance between the two level surface in
which the points lie.

LEVELING METHODS

1. Direct or Split Leveling - It is commonly employed method of determining the elevation of points some distance apart by a series
of setups of a leveling instrument along a selected route. This method of leveling is also referred to as a spirit leveling since the device
used is a spirit level. Differential leveling, double-rodded leveling, three-wire leveling are forms of direct leveling. In direct leveling
vertical distances are measured above or below a level line and these values are used to compute the elevation of points or their
differences in elevation. Being the most precise method of leveling, it is used when a high degree of accuracy is required.

2. Reciprocal Leveling - reciprocal leveling is the process of accurately determining the difference in elevation between two inter
visible points located at a considerable distance apart and between which points leveling could not be performed in the usual manner.
This method is commonly employed when traveling across a wide river, a deep ravine, or across canyons and gullies where it would
be difficult or impossible to maintain a foresight and a backsight distance of nearly equal lengths.

3. Profile Leveling - Profile Leveling - This method of leveling is used to determine differences in elevation between points at
designated short measured intervals along an established line to provide data from which a vertical section of the ground surface can
be plotted. In the design of roads, railroads, canals, drainage systems, and transmission lines, it is necessary to first obtain a profile of
the existing ground surface.

4. Trigonometric Leveling - this method of leveling is employed in determining by trigonometric computations the difference in
elevation between two points from measurement of its horizontal or slope distance and the vertical angle between the points. The
required distances are usually obtained by stadia, triangulation or by direct taping.

5. Stadia Leveling - Stadia leveling combines features of direct leveling with those of trigonometric leveling. It can provide reasonable accuracy
for preliminary surveys, mapping, and rough leveling where quick measurements are needed. In stadia leveling, differences in elevation
between points are computed from observed vertical angles and the 3 intercepts on a rod held at each point backsighted or foresighted.

6. Barometric Leveling - Barometric leveling involves the determination of differences in elevation between points by means of a
barometer. This leveling method depends on the basic principle that differences in elevation are proportional to the differences in
atmospheric pressure. The readings of a barometer at different points on the earth surface provides a measure of the relative elevations
of these points. It is an accepted fact that the pressure caused by the weight of a column of air above the observer decreases as the
observer goes higher in altitude. The method is particularly useful for low precision leveling over rough terrain where extensive areas
need to be covered and differences in elevation are large.
7. Cross- Section Leveling - In highway or railroad construction it is often necessary to obtain a representation of the ground surface
on either side of the center line short profiles at right angles to the line of work are usually plotted at regular intervals for its purpose.
This type of data is obtained in the field by a process referred to as cross-sectional leveling.

8. Borrow-pit Leveling - Borrow pit leveling is a method of determining the relative elevations of points in borrow-pit excavations
for the purpose of calculating volumes of earthworks. This type of work is usually encountered in the construction of roads and rail
roads.

TYPES OF LEVEL

1. Dumpy Level - The dumpy level is the most widely used direct leveling instrument. It has a long telescope which is rigidly
attached to the level. The telescope, which can be rotated through 360 degrees, fixes the direction of the line of sight. Attached to the
level bar is a level vial which always remains in the same vertical plane as the telescope. A leveling head supports the telescope and
permits the bubble in the tube to be centered by means of the leveling screws. The whole instrument is in turn supported by means of
a tripod.

2. Wye Level - The wye level is very identical to the dumpy level. The only distinct differences between those two instruments is in
the manner by which their telescopes are attached to the supporting level bar. The wye level has a detachable telescope which rest in
supports called wye. It can be removed from the Y-shaped supports and turned end for end during adjustment by releasing the two
clamping collars which fit across the top of Y's. Curved clips are used to fasten the telescope in place.

3. Builder’s Level - This instrument is used primarily in the different phases of building construction where a high degree of
precision is not a primary requisite. Engineers, architects, and builders use it in the setting of concrete forms, better boards, and in
establishing grades for earthworks.

4. Automatic Level - Self-leveling features are incorporated in automatic levels. This type of level has become popular for
conventional leveling work because of the ease and speed of their operation. It does not use a level vial and its ability to level itself
depends upon the action of a complex pendulum-and-prism device

5. Tilting Levels - This type of levelling instrument can be tilted and rotated about its horizontal axis. A bull's eye level is employed
for its quick and approximate leveling. The tilting knob is used to rotate the telescope into a correct horizontal position. Tilting levels
are commonly employed for very precise leveling operations and in other general leveling work. It is also equipped with a horizontal
circle which makes it suitable for lay out and construction surveys.

6. Geodetic Level - The geodetic level is basically another type of tilting level. Most of its metal parts are made of inverter reduce
the effects of temperature. Geodetic levels are employed in first-order leveling work where extreme precision is an important
requirement. The equipment is equipped with stadia hairs in addition to the standard vertical and horizontal cross hairs to make it
suitable for three-wire leveling. When using the instrument to observer has to stand erect since it is designed with a high tripod to
bring the line of sight above any intervening ground surface. This was purposely done to lessen the effects of differential refraction of
extra-long lines of sight.

7. Transit as a Level - the engineer's transit has always been referred to as the "universal surveying instrument" because of its a
variety of uses. It can provide results which are fairly precise although not as good as those obtained with conventional levels. This is
because the transit has relatively shorter telescope and level vial.

DIFFERENTIAL LEVELING - Is a technique used to determine differences in elevation between points that are remote from each
other. Differential leveling requires the use of a surveyor's level together with graduated measuring rods. An elevation is a vertical
distance above or below a referenced datum.

- Bench Mark - a fixed point of reference whose elevation is either known or assumed.
- Backsight - a reading taken on a rod held on a point known or assumed elevation.
- Foresight - a reading taken on a rod held on a point whose elevation is to be determined.
- Backsight distance - measured from the center of the instrument to the rod on which a backsight is taken.
- Foresight Distance - the horizontal distance from the center of the instrument to the rod on which a foresight is taken. Its length is
usually made nearly equal to its corresponding backsight distance.
- Turning Point - an intervening point between two bench marks upon which point foresight and backsight rod readings are taken to
enable a leveling operation to continue from a new instrument position.
- Height of Instrument - the elevation of the line of sight of an instrument above or below a selected reference datum.

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS :
1. Determine the elevation of B.M. 2 from the following notes.
Check arithmetic by adding F.S.s and B.S.s

Station BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 1.21 51.21 50
TP1 6.20 52.76 4.65 46.56
TP2 4.82 54.47 3.11 49.65
TP3 3.03 52.28 5.22 49.25
BM2 3.16 49.12

HI = BM + BS
Elev = HI - FS

∑BS = 15.26
∑FS = 16.14

ARITHMETIC CHECK:
∑BS - ∑FS = 15.26-16.14 = 0.88
ElevBM2 - ElevBM1 = 49.12 - 50 = -0.88

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS:
2. Given the differential leveling notes, compute the following
A. Elevation at each turning points
B. Elevation at BM2
C. Difference in Elevation between the two Benchmarks
D. Difference in Elevation between TP3 and TP6

Station BS HI FS Elevation
BM1 1.285 101.285 100
TP1 2.314 101.254 2.345 98.94
TP2 1.562 101. 515 1.301 99.953
TP3 2.721 101.856 2.380 99.135
TP4 0.895 100.962 1.789 100.067
TP5 2.645 101. 151 2.456 98.506
TP6 3.125 103.512 0.764 100.387
TP7 0.865 103.480 0.897 102.615
BM2 2.987 100.493

HI = BM + BS
Elev = HI - FS

∑BS = 15.412
∑FS = 14.919

Arithmetic Check :

∑BS - ∑FS = 15.412 - 14.919 = 0.493

Elev TP6 - Elev TP3 = 100.387 - 99.135 = 1.252m