MEASUREMENT OF
VERTICAL DISTANCES
LEVELING
• Process of directly or indirectly measuring vertical distances to
determine the elevation of points or their differences in elevation.
LEVELING
Leveling results are used:
• To design highways, railroads,
canals, sewers, water supply
systems etc., having grade lines
that best conform the existing
topography;
• To lay out construction projects
according to planned elevations;
• To calculate volume of earthworks
and other materials;
• To investigate drainage
characteristics of an area;
• Production of topographic maps
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Horizontal Line
- A straight line which is tangent to a level line at one point.
- This line is perpendicular to the direction of gravity at the point of tangency.
• Vertical Line
- A line parallel to the direction of gravity.
• Mean Sea Level
- 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.
- Zero elevation.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Level Surface
- A curved surface which is at any point perpendicular to the direction
of gravity or the plumb line.
• Level Line
- 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
- A plane that is tangent to a level surface at a particular point. It is
also perpendicular to the plumb line at the same point.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Datum
- Any convenient level surface coincident or parallel with mean sea level to
which elevations of a particular area are referred.
• Elevation
- The vertical distance above or below mean sea level or any other selected
datum.
• Difference in Elevation
- The vertical distance between the two level surfaces in which the points
lie.
• Geoid
- Serves as datum for elevations and astronomical observations.
LEVELING METHODS
1. Direct or Spirit Leveling
2. Reciprocal Leveling
3. Profile Leveling
4. Trigonometric Leveling
5. Stadia Leveling
6. Barometric Leveling
7. Cross-Section Leveling
8. Borrow-Pit Leveling
1. DIRECT/SPIRIT LEVELING
• Commonly employed method of determining the elevation of points
some distance apart by a series of set ups of leveling instrument
along a selected route.
• 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
• Most precise method of leveling, used when a high degree of
accuracy is required.
1. DIRECT/SPIRIT LEVELING
Forms of direct leveling:
• Differential Leveling
• Double-Rodded Leveling
• Three-wire Leveling
1. DIRECT/SPIRIT LEVELING
2.RECIPROCAL LEVELING
• The process of accurately determining the difference in elevation
between two intervisible points located at a considerable distance
apart and between which points leveling could not be performed in
the usual manner”
2.RECIPROCAL LEVELING
3. PROFILE LEVELING
• 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.
• Best suits the requirements needed in the design of roads, railroads,
canals, drainage systems and transmission lines.
3. PROFILE LEVELING
4. TRIGONOMETRIC LEVELING
• Employed in determining the
difference in elevation between
two points by trigonometric
computations from
measurements of its horizontal
or slope distance and the
vertical angle between the
points.
5. STADIA LEVELING
• Combines features of direct
leveling with those of
trigonometric 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
• Involves the determination of differences in elevation between points
by measuring the variation in atmospheric pressure at each point by
means of a barometer.
• Depends on the basic principle that differences in elevation are
proportional to the differences in atmospheric pressure.
6. BAROMETRIC LEVELING
7. CROSS-SECTION LEVELING
• Method of leveling wherein
short profiles at right angles to
the line of work are usually
plotted at regular intervals for
the purpose of obtaining a
representation of the ground
surface which is necessary in
highway or railroad construction.
8. BORROW PIT LEVELING
• This is a method of determining
the relative elevations of points
in borrow-pit excavations for the
purpose of calculating volumes
of earthwork.
LEVELING MISTAKES
• Misreading the Rod
• Incorrect Recording
• Erroneous Computations
• Rod Not Fully Extended
• Moving Turning Points
