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ESci 121 – Fundamentals of Surveying

Profile Leveling

Name: Yzhyl Marie Ynalbis Date Performed: May 8, 2024

Course and Year: BSCE-2 Date Submitted: May 16, 2024

I. Introduction
Establishing road networks is an important utility/infrastructure that offers access to different
places. In road networks, one essential criterion would be the data on elevation in creating a suitable and
appropriate design. In determining the elevations of points, especially for a proposed roadway, a leveling
operation is necessary. Such a technique is commonly known as profile leveling. In a general sense, profile
leveling determines the elevations of ground points along the centerline of a road or a proposed roadway
with designated short, measured intervals (La Putt, 1987). The technique determines the configuration of
the ground surface (Ghilani and Wolf) and is considered an extension of differential leveling in which
possible linear engineering work is to be carried out (Reference, 2020). Such engineering works include
but are not limited to establishing sewer or transmission lines and curves for canals and railroads. The
main difference would be that differential leveling requires only one foresight reading on a station. In
contrast, in profile leveling, many foresights can be taken, referred to as the intermediate foresights (IFS).

II. Learning Outcomes

To demonstrate the process of profile leveling;
To determine the elevations of ground points along the centerline of a proposed roadway; and
To plot the profile of the centerline along a proposed roadway.

III. Materials
Theodolite/transit or automatic level, measuring tape, stadia rod/leveling rods, pegs/hubs or crayon
markers or chalks.

IV. Procedure
1. Select an area where a roadway will be proposed. Measure a total length of 500.00 meters
using the measuring tape and mark the beginning and endpoints with hubs/pegs or marking
chalk/crayons.
2. Decide for the centerline of the proposed roadway and establish stakes for every full station
with an interval of 100.00 meters. Correspondingly,
the stationing is reflected based on the full station intervals such as 0+00 at the beginning of the
road, 1+00, 2+00, and 5+00 at the terminal point of the proposed road.
3. Establish stakes for all plus stations having a regular interval of 20.00 meters. Plus stations
are likewise established on areas having a sudden change in elevation or at points where
vital infrastructures are to be placed, such as culverts, etc. The stationing reflects the
horizontal distances of the plus stations, say 0+20, 1+20, 2+40.
4. Establish a benchmark (BM) near the station 0+00 and call it BM-1.
5. Select a convenient location near the station 0+00 and BM-1 on one side of the proposed
roadway, and set up and level the instrument.
6. Take a backsight reading (BS) on the rod held on BM-1 with an assumed elevation of 50.00
meters above mean sea level (MSL) to determine the height of the instrument (HI). Record
the data in the profile level notes (Table 1).
7. Take and record intermediate foresight (IFS) to the already established full and plus-
stations as many as possible within the practical limits of the sighting. Record the data
accordingly.
8. When further readings on the ground points cannot be observed anymore, establish a
turning point (say TP-1) to continue the leveling operation. Take a foresight reading to the
rod held in TP-1 and record the data in the profile level notes.
9. Select a convenient area in the direction of the road going to station 5+00. Transfer and
set up the instrument, and take a backsight reading to TP-1. Continue taking rod readings
(IFS) on the ground points along the centerline. Repeat the process, reaching the endpoint
of the proposed roadway (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Example profile leveling scheme.

 a. Tabulate the observed and computed values accordingly. Refer to Table 1.

Table 1. Example profile level notes

Station BS HI IFS FS Elevation
BM-1
0+00
0+20
TP-1
0+40
5+00

b. Plot both the observed and computed data, showing the stations and their
corresponding elevations on a special paper with horizontal and vertical lines
printed on it (graphing paper) to represent distances horizontally and vertically
(Figure 2).
c. Connect the plotted points representing the elevations of the profile by a smooth
curved line drawn freehand.
d. Label the plot of the profile accordingly. The stationings and elevations must be
indicated.

Profile of a Proposed Roadway

16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
0+00 1+00 2+00 3+00 4+00 5+00
Stationing

Computations:

1. Computing Height of Instrument (HI) and Elevation.

 In profile levelling, the following three equations are repeatedly used

a) HI = Elevation + BS b) Elevation = HI − FS c) Elevation = HI − IFS

Where:
HI - height of instrument above a reference datum
BS - backsight reading on the rod (or plus sight)
FS - a foresight reading on the rod (or minus sight)
IFS - intermediate foresights taken on the full and plus-stations
Elevation - elevation above a reference datum of a point sighted

Guide Questions

1. How profile leveling differs from the conventional differential leveling?

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

2. Based on the results, what is your recommendation for the proposed

roadway with reference to the elevations computed?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

V. Results and Discussion

Profile levelling is essential for engineering and construction projects like designing
roads, pipelines, and railways, where knowing the land's shape is crucial for planning and
building. Profile leveling maps the land's elevation, helping to identify changes, slopes, and
obstacles that could affect the project. It is used to find the center line of a land track where a
linear engineering project is to be constructed or installed. The course of a profile can be one
straight line, like a little sidewalk; several straight lines with curves, like a railroad, highway, or
canal; or a broken line, like a transmission line or sewer. Meanwhile, differential leveling is
used to determine the elevation of a point that is far from the benchmark. However, the
unknown height of a point cannot be measured with a single instrument setup. Therefore, in
this process, the instrument is set up multiple times to take readings along the route between
the observed points

For this laboratory exercise, we used profile leveling to find elevation points along a line
for a proposed road. Thus, to determine the elevation for each station, the following data
were gathered:
 Table 1. Profile level notes
Station BS HI IFS FS Elevation (m)
BM-1 0.284 30.074 29.79
0+000 2.7745 27.2995
0+005 2.341 27.733
0+010 2.178 27.869
0+015 1.869 28.205
0+020 1.599 28.475
0+025 1.275 28.799
0+030 0.925 29.149
0+035 0.12 29.954
TP-1 2.5499 32.4729 0.151 29.923
TP-2 2.395 32.2399 0.628 31.8449
TP-3 1.64 35.0719 0.808 33.4319
0+050 0.115 34.9569
0+055 1.229 33.8429
0+060 0.736 34.3359
0+065 0.519 34.5529
0+070 0.436 34.5359
0+073 0.461 34.6109

A benchmark (BM-1) near the 0+00 station was established with an elevation of 29.79
meters above sea level. The instrument was set up, and BM-1 was given a backsight of 0.284
meters, making the instrument height 30.074 meters. After the height of instrument was
known, the elevation for station 0+000 to station 0+035 was calculated.

The first turning point (TP-1) was used when further ground points couldn't be
observed. A foresight of 0.151 meters from TP-1 gave an elevation of 49.72 meters. Then, the
elevation of TP-2 and TP-3 was also calculated to be 31.8449 and 33.4319, respectively.
Finally, the third and final turning point (TP-3) was used to complete the leveling from
station 0+050 to 0+073. Intermediate foresights for stations 0+050 to 0+070 were 0.115, 1.229,
0.736, 0.519, 0.436, and 0.461 meters, resulting in elevations 34.9569, 33.8429, 34.3359,
34.5529, and 34.5359. meters. The foresight for the end station was 0.461 meters, giving a
final elevation of 34.6109 meters.

The proposed roadway’s profile is represented in the diagram below:

 The curve represents the roadway's profile, with the distance from each station to the
starting point on the x-axis and the height of each station on the y-axis. Based on the profile
leveling data as shown above, inconsistent elevation was observed in the proposed roadway,
indicating sudden changes at specific points. Given these findings, it would be necessary to
undertake excavation and soil filling to establish a roadway with a relatively even surface.

VI. Conclusion

Profile leveling in the field of surveying refers to the process of measuring

and analyzing the elevation and coordinates of a specific area or object. It
is commonly used in transportation, water conservancy, and electric power
engineering construction projects.
After this exercise, it was discovered that profile leveling routes may be run
as a single straight line or as a series of straight lines connected by curves.
Intermediate foresights are taken where necessary to portray accurately the
existing ground surface along the route surveyed.
Profile leveling is important for understanding the terrain and elevation changes
on a planned route. It helps identify sudden changes in elevation, indicating the need
for earthwork like digging and filling to make the road surface even. With profile
leveling data, engineers can plan road construction more effectively, making travel safer
and more efficient.
References

Ghilani, C.D., and Wolf, P.R. (2012). Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics. Thirteenth
Edition. Pearson. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-255434-3.

La Putt, J.P. (1985). Elementary Surveying Lab Manual. Baguio Research and Publishing Center.
Baguio City, Philippines.

La Putt, J.P. (2008). Elementary Surveying. 3rd Edition. National Book Store. Philippines. Reprint. ISBN
971-08-5581-6.

Reference (2020). What is profile leveling? https://www.reference.com/worldview/profile-leveling-

5456316f2d51934f. Accessed on 10 March 2021.

Schofield, W. and Breach, M. (2007). Engineering Surveying. 6th Edition. Elsevier Ltd. ISBN–13: 978-0-
7506-6949-8.