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Carrying out a level traverse
To determine the difference in level between points on the surface of the ground a ‘series’ of levels will need to be carried out; this is called a level traverse or level run.
There are two method of levelling:
- Rise & Fall method and
- Height of collimation (height of instrument) methods
Click the link to see the animated rise&fall methods then click next for the height of collimation method. Please note when the shifting of the staff or level can be done using the rise&fall method
Leveling or Field Procedures
The leveling or field procedure that should be followed is shown in Figure 1 below..
Figure 1
- Set up the leveling instrument at Level position 1.
- Hold the staff on the Datum (RL+50 m) and take a reading. This will be a backsight, because it is the first staff reading after the leveling instrument has been set up.
- Move the staff to A and take a reading. This will be an intermediate sight.
- Move the staff to B and take a reading. This also will be an intermediate sight.
- Move the staff to C and take a reading. This will be another intermediate sight.
- Move the staff to D and take a reading. This will be a foresight; because after this reading the level will be moved. (A changeplate should be placed on the ground to maintain the same level.)
- The distance between the stations should be measured and recorded in the field book (see Table 1)
- Set up the level at Level position 2 and leave the staff at D on the changeplate. Turn the staff so that it faces the level and take a reading. This will be a backsight.
- Move the staff to E and take a reading. This will be an intermediate sight.
- Move the staff to F and take a reading. This will be a foresight; because after taking this reading the level will be moved.
- Now move the level to Leveling position 3 and leave the staff at F on the changeplate.
Now repeat the steps describe 8 to 10 until you finished at point J.
Field procedures for leveling
All staff readings should be recorded in the field book. To eliminate errors resulting from any line of sight (or collimation) backsights and foresights should be equal in distance. Length of sight should be kept less than 100 metres. Always commence and finish a level run on a known datum or benchmark and close the level traverse; this enables the level run to be checked.
There are two main methods of booking levels:
- rise and fall method
- height of collimation method
Table 1 Rise & Fall Method
|
Back-
sight
|
Inter-
mediate
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Fore-
sight
|
Rise
|
Fall
|
Reduced
level
|
Distance
|
Remarks
|
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2.554
|
|
|
|
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50.00
|
0
|
Datum RL+50 m
|
|
|
1.783
|
|
0.771
|
|
50.771
|
14.990
|
A
|
|
|
0.926
|
|
0.857
|
|
51.628
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29.105
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B
|
|
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1.963
|
|
|
1.037
|
50591
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48.490
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C
|
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1.305
|
|
3.587
|
|
1.624
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48.967
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63.540
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D / change point 1
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|
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1.432
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|
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0.127
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48.840
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87.665
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E
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3.250
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0.573
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0.859
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|
49.699
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102.050
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F / change point 2
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|
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1.925
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1.325
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|
51.024
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113.285
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G
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3.015
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|
0.496
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1.429
|
|
52.453
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128.345
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H / change point 3
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|
|
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0.780
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2.235
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54.688
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150.460
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J
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10.124
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5.436
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7.476
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2.788
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54.688
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Sum of B-sight & F-sight,
Sum of Rise & Fall
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-5.436
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-2.788
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-50.000
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Take smaller from greater
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4.688
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|
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4.688
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|
4.688
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Difference should be equal
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The millimeter reading may be taken by estimation to an accuracy of 0.005 metres or even less.
- Backsight, intermediate sight and forsight readings are entered in the appropriate columns on different lines. However, as shown in the table above backsights and foresights are place on the same line if you change the level instrument.
- The first reduced level is the height of the datum, benchmark or R.L.
- If an intermediate sight or foresight is smaller than the immediately preceding staff reading then the difference between the two readings is place in the rise column.
- If an intermediate sight or foresight is larger than the immediately preceding staff reading then the difference between the two readings is place in the fall column.
- A rise is added to the preceding reduced level (RL) and a fall is subtracted from the preceding RL
While all arithmetic calculations can be checked there is no assurance that errors in the field procedure will be picked up. The arithmetic check proves only that the rise and fall is correctly recorded in the appropriate rise & fall columns. To check the field procedure for errors the level traverse must be closed. It is prudent to let another student check your reading to avoid a repetition of the level run.
If the arithmetic calculation are correct, the the difference between the sum of the backsights and the sum of the foresights will equal:
- the difference between the sum of the rises and the sum of the falls, and
- the difference between the first and the final R.L. or vice versa.
(there are no arithmetic checks made on the intermediate sight calculations. Make sure you read them carefully)
|
Back-
sight
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Inter-
mediate
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Fore-
sight
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Height of
collimation
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Reduced
level
|
Distance
|
Remarks
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2.554
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|
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52.554
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50.00
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0
|
Datum RL+50 m
|
|
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1.783
|
|
|
50.771
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14.990
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A
|
|
|
0.926
|
|
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51.628
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29.105
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B
|
|
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1.963
|
|
|
50591
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48.490
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C
|
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1.305
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3.587
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50.272
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48.967
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63.540
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D / change point 1
|
|
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1.432
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|
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48.840
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87.665
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E
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3.250
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0.573
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52.949
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49.699
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102.050
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F / change point 2
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|
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1.925
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|
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51.024
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113.285
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G
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3.015
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0.496
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55.468
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52.453
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128.345
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H / change point 3
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|
|
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0.780
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54.688
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150.460
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J
|
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10.124
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5.436
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54.688
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Sum of B-sight & F-sight,
Difference between RL’s
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-5.436
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|
|
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-50.000
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Take smaller from greater
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4.688
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|
|
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4.688
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Difference should be equal
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- Booking is the same as the rise and fall method for back-, intermediate- and foresights. There are no rise or fall columns, but instead a height of collimation column.
- The first backsight reading (staff on datum, benchmark or RL) is added to the first RL giving the height of collimation.
- The next staff reading is entered in the appropriate column but on a new line. The RL for the station is found by subtracting the staff reading from the height of collimation
- The height of collimation changes only when the level is moved to a new position. The new height of collimation is found by adding the backsight to the RL at the change point.
- Please note there is no check on the accuracy of intermediate RL’s and errors could go undetected.
The rise and fall method may take a bit longer to complete, but a check on entries in all columns is carried out. The RL’s are easier to calculate with the height of collimation method, but errors of intermediate RL’s can go undetected. For this reason students should use the rise and fall method for all leveling exercises.
Always commence and finish a level run on a datum, benchmark or known RL. This is what is known as a closed level traverse, and will enable you to check the level run.
Closed level traverse
Series of level runs from a known Datum or RL to a known Datum or RL.
Misclosure in millimeter
 24 x √km
Closed loop level traverse
Series of level runs from a known Datum or RL back to the known Datum or RL.
Misclosure in millimeter
24 x √km
Open level traverse
Series of level runs from a known Datum or RL. This must be avoided because there are no checks on misreading
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