~ 376

(iv) Alf/uslmenl
by foot screws and half by raising-
SURVEYING

or lowering
[a
(I) Bring tbe bubble halfway back which join the base of lhe wye to
one wye relative to tbe otber by means of screws
lhe stage.
(2) Repeat lhe test and adjustment
till correct. Precise Levelling
CASE B
t : Same as for case A.
(I) Adjustment of Line of Sigb and Level Tube
(if) Adjustment for tbe Perp
endicularity of tbe Vertio:al Axb
A. but the error
The test is done in lhe same
way as adjusbnent (iit) fur case 17.1. INTRODUCTION
and half by means of capstan
screws of !he at widely
sted .half by means of foot screws ng bench marks with great accuracy
is adju Precise levelling is used fur establishi lling in the following
bubble rube lling differs from the ordinary leve
Level Tube distributed points. The precise leve
(iii) Adjustmeot for .l'araDell
sm of Line of Sigbt to tbe Axb of tbe points : .
(1) Test
(1) Higb grade levels and stad
ia rods are used in precise levelling
paraUel to two foot icrews.
(I) Level the instrume nt carefully by keeping the telescope to 100 m in length.
axis. (it) Lenglh of sigbl is limited
Clamp the motion about vertical of lhe diaphragm.
of sigbt and 'take !he reading. (iii) Rod readings are taken
against tbe lhree borizontal haJrs
(2) Keep a level rod in the line sigbt tbe staff. nces are precisely kept equal, the
distances being
end in tbe wyes and again (iv) Backsigbt and furesigbl dista
(3) Reverse tbe telescope end fur nt. If not, it requires calculated from stadia haJr readings
. ·
(4) If the reading is the same, the
instrument is in adjusbne take n in quick succession.
backsigbt and foresigbt are
adjusnnent. (v) Two rodmen are employed and ection applied
(iJ) Adjustment (VI) The adjusbDeniS of the prec
ise level are tested daily and the corr
the staff by means of adjusting standardized frequently.
of sigbt to the mean reading on to the rod readings. The rod is
Bring tbe line s, depending
screws under one wye. ified under the following three head
The precise levelling can be class

-I~.
upon the permissible errors :
l First order : permissible error = 4 mm
-.fK or 0.017 ft ,fM
I mm -.fK or 0.005 ft ..fM
Seco"'! order : permissible error = 8.4
-./x:or 0.05 ft ..fi.i.
I Third order : permissible error = 12 mm
For most of the e~rlng surv
eys, pennissible error of closure
construction engineer, therefore, is
of a level circuit
accustomed to refer
is 0.1 ,JM or 24 mm -.JK. The
to any of the three higber orde
rs as precise levelling.
17.2. THE PRECISE LEVEL nilying power
generally, a telescope of greater mag
The precise levelling instrument bas, very sensitive bubble
lhree parallel plate screws and a
(40 to 50 D). It is provided with placed under !he
each reading by a fine tilting drum
which is brougbt to the centre for n the instrument as
can be made borizontal even whe
eyepiece. Thus, the line of sigbl
a whole is not exactly level. reflection in
eyepiece end of the telescope by
The bubble can be seen from lhe for cent ring the bubble,
the small prism above the bubble
rube. Coincidence system is used
(377)
 379
PRE0SE LEVELLING
m

-u. . mn,~. l1==~- 1=:

being equal to I in 50,000. The extent
as shown in Fig. 17.I. An adjustable mirror placed im-
mediately below the bubble rube illuminates the bubble. of calibration is twenty revolutions, cor-
One-half of each extremity of the bubble i.i reflected
by the prism in lhe long rectangular casing inunediately reticule has vertical line, stadia lines, hori-
zontal line and nticrometer setting V. The
= ~~
above the bubble tube imo the small prism box. When
the bubble is not perfectly central, the reflections of
........... _ . ,... 7 63
the two halves appear as shown in Fig. 17.1 (a). When The manufacturers claim an accuracy of · 1 · .
± o:oz inch/mile or ± 0.3 mmf1cm of single
,-,HI r.so
the bubble is central, the reflection of the two halves
(a)
=
makes one curve. as shown in Fig. 17.l(b). The bubble
tilbe generallyli11s sensitiveness of 10 seconds of arc
per 2 mm graduation.
fiG. 17.1
levelling.
For taking accurate staff reading, the
nticronteter screw is turned till the particular
= 7
staff division line is brought in coincidence fiG. 1 .5
17-3. WILD N-3 PRECISION LEVEL with the V of the reticule. This is accomplished by a parallel plate nticrometer (Fig. 17.5)
Fig. 17.2 shows the photograph of Wild N-3 precision level for geodetic levelling which measures the imerval between the reticule line al¥1 the nearest division on the staff
!f: of highest precision, construction of bridges, measurements of deformation and deflection, to an accuracy of 0.001 ft.
j, determination of the sinking of dams, mounting of large machinery etc. Apart from the The device consists of parallel plate of glass which may be fitted to displace the
main ieiescope, the level contains two optical inicrometers ~ljlcied to the left of the eyepiece-<>ne rays of light entering the objective. The displacement is controlled by a nticrometer screw
is meant for viewing the coincidence level and the other is for taking the nticrometer (6) calibrated to give directly the amount of the interval.
reading (Both the auxiliary telescopes are nat visible in the pbotograph since right-hand
17.5. ENGINEER'S PRECISE LEVEL (FENNEL)
view has been shown). The tilting screw (2) has fine pitch and is placed below the eyepiece
:-r Fig. 17.6 shows the photograph of Fennel's A 0026 precise Engineer's level with
.!1 and for fine movement in azimuth, it also contains a horizontal tangent screw (4). The
micrometer knob (6) is used for bringing _the image of the particular staff division line optical nticrometer. It is equipped with a tilting screw and a horizontal glass circle. The
(i. coincidence of the bubble ends can be directly seen in the field of view of telescope.
'!.· accurately between the V-line of the graticule plate.
;: This assures exact centering of the bubble, when the rod is read. Fig. 17.7 (a) shows
1
The centring of the bubble is done by means of prism-system in which the bubble-ends
I"• the telescope field of view when spirit level is not horizontal. Fig. 17.7 (b) shows the
are brought to coincidence (Fig. 17.1). The optical nticrometer is used for reading the
telescope field of view when the spirit level is horizontal. The sensitivity of tubular spirit
'"I"
I" staff. Fig. 17.3 shows the field of view through all three eyepieces. The graticule has level is 2" per 2 mm. The optical nticrometer is used for fine reading of ·staff. Fig.
[, a horizontal hair to the right half and has two inclined hairs, fornting V-sbape, to the
17.7 (c) shows the field of view of optical nticrometer for fine reading of the staff. The
left hair. After having focused the objective, the approximate reading of the staff may
telescope has magnification of 32 dia. The horizontal glass circle--<eading 10 minutes, estimation
be seen. The optical· nticrometer is used for fine reading of staff. By turning the Iaiob
I minute-renders the instrument excellent for levelling tacheometry when used in conjuction
(6) for micrometer, the plane parallel glass plate mounted in front of the objective is tilted
and the image of the particular staff division line is thus brought accurately between the with the Reichenback stadia hairs.
V-lines of the graticule plate. This displacement of the ·line of sight, to amaximum of 17.6. FENNEL'S FINE PRECISION LEVEL
~ Fig. 17.8 shows Fennel's 0036 fine precision level with optical micrometer. The length
10 mm, is read on· a bright scale in the measuring eyepiece to 1 mm. Thus, the staff
reading (Fig. 17.3) is 148 + 0.653 = 148.653 em. An invar rod (Fig. 17.6) is used with of the telescope, including optical micrometer is 15 inches, with 2{- inch apenure of object
this level. The manufacturers claim an accuracy of ± 0.001 inch in a mile of single levelling. glass and a magnifying power of 50 x. The sensitivity of circular spirit level is 6' while
17.4. 'l'HE COOKE S-550 PRECISE LEVEL that of the tubular spirit level I 0' per 2 mm.
The bubble ends of the main spirit level are kinematically supported in the field
Fig. 17.4 shows the photograph of the Cooke S-550 precise level manufactured by
of view, where they are read in coincidence (Fig. 17.8). A scale, arranged in the field
M/s Vickers Instruments Ltd. used for geodetic levelling, deterntination of darn settlement
of view, provides the reading of differences of variation of the bubble. The instrument
and ground subsidence, machinery installation, and large scale meteorology. The telescope is provided with wooden precision rod as well as invar tape rod, 3 m long with half
spirit vial is illuminated by a light diffusing window. The vial is read through the telescope centimetre graduated. Centimetre reading is directly read in the field of view of the telescope.
eyepiece by an optical coincidence system. The telescope is fitted with a calibrated fine Fine reading of the staff is read through separate nticroscope mounted adjacent the eyepiece.
levelling screw, one revolution tilting the telescope through a vertical angle corresponding A scale pennits direct readings of J/10 of the rod interval and estimations of 11100. Thus.
to I .: 1000. The nticrometer head is sub.<Jivided into fifty parts,' one division, therefore.
 381
: :DDGf" '\':G LEVEWNG
380
A
in Fig. 17.9, the rod reading is = . distances are approximately equal. For esch s A s A

244 + 0.395 = 244.395. A mean

.
ing, all the three wires are read. When
instrument is Jll(>ved, the B rod is s.M.
0
• T.P.
•T.P.
• T.P.
D
S.M.
error of ± 0.3 to ± 0.5 mm per kil- and the A
left at the first turning point
ometre of double levelling is well
. rod is moved to the second turning point.
obtainable with this instrument, if all .. At the second set up the level man reads
precautions of precise levelling work rod A (foresight) first and then the 'roo s A A
A s A
are complied with.
17.7. PRECISE LEVELLING
B (backsight). When the instrument is moved D • • T.P.
•T.P.
•
T.P.
D
S.M.
. again, the A rod is held where it is and
S.M. T.P.
STAFF the B rod is moved. At third set up FIG. 17.11
For levelling of the highest pre- · of the level, the level man reads rod A
cision, an lnvar rod is used. Fig. ·. (backsighl) first and the rod B (foresight)
is reod /Jefore the backsight and a1 every
17.10 shows invar rod by Mls. Wild next. '1'/wJ, a1 allemate set up the foresight
The procedure neutra/keB the effect of
Heerbrugg Ltd. An invar band bearing set up the A rod is reod first and B rod next.
or changing refraction. If it should happen
the graduation is fitted to a wooden , changing conditions like sinking of the level is not
,- ' that the B rod normally comes to the
B.M. at the end of ·a section of levels, it
staff, tightly fastened at the lower ment position
used. Instead, the A rod is moved to the
B. M. 'J'hwJ, both sights at this instru
end and by a spring at the upper .';
co"ection of
aJes OlfJ' difference in index
end. Thus any extension of the staff are taken on the A rod. This procedure elimin
has no influence on the invar band. the rod.
The thermal expansion of the invar In order to eliminate serious systematic
errors due to the variatiOns in temperatuse
he
is practically nil. The graduations are and refraction, each section is to be check
ed by a forward and a backward running-t
backward in the afternoon. The difference
of I .em. Two graduations mutually forward running may be in the morning and
are displaced against each other to ed by these two runs shoul d be checked within the limits ·of accuracy
in elevation obtain
afford a check against gross errors. be more than 1200 metres.
desired. The length of a section. should not
The length of graduations is 3 m. no sudden change in temperatuse occurS,
If the work proceeds without interruption and
For measuring, the rod is always. es at the beginning and ·end of the section.
it is sufficient to record the two rod temperatur
A rod level must be used to plumb the

.
set up on an iron base plate. Detachable The level should be protected from the sun.
stays are provided for accurately and rod at all readings.
securely mounting the invar levelling
17.9. FIELD NOTES
staff. Once the rod is approximately ar to that of ordinary levelling, except
vertical, the ends of stays are clamped The arrangement of level notes is almost simil
::·~

I
and recorded. A line is drawn after tlriee
tight. By means of the slow motion that all the tlriee cross-wire readings are taken at
ge gives the backsight or foresight reading
screw, the spherical level of the rod readings and average is found. This avera central-wi re !ri
central-wire and between bottom and lirJ
can be centred accurately. the point. The intervals between the top and be
en these two interval readings should not
..
betwe ''I
readings are computed. The difference
·~
17.8. FIELD PROCEDURE FOR difference betwe en the
gs must be taken. The
more than 0.005 ft or another set of readin 'tl
PRECISE LEVELLING ngs (or the sum of the above calculated intervals) is a measure ~-:~
top and bottom-wire readi
Two rod men are used ; they is called the distance reading. Starting with
of the distance from the level to the rod and
may be designated rod man A and ROD
FIG. 17.10 INVAR PRECISION' LEVELLINGG LTD.) each successive backsight is added. Similarly,
the first backsight, the distance reading of ,
The rod A is called COUR TESY OF MIS. WILD liEERBRUG ight is also added. Thus, at any turning point :r
rod man B.
the distance reading of each successive fores
(BY
ces of backsights or fores ights, as the case
the B.M. rod. The rod A is held the sum thus formed gives the total of distan ~~]
g point. After setting the level, micrometer musi approximately be equal to the sum
on the benchmark and the B rod on the turnin may be. The sum of total backs ight distsn ces :J
.bubble is brought to its centre by micrometer . The table below shows a page from preci
se
is set at the reversing pollll. The longitudinal d of total foresight distance at any turning point
reading is taken on A iod and the secon
screw before tsking any reading. The first ight and foresight level book. ;jl
g point such that the backs
reading is taken on B rod placed at the turnin
!)jl
i::,l
ilil
 383
SURVEYING PRECISE LBVI!LUNG
382

A PAGE FROM PRECISE LEVEL BOOK (il) Adjustment · or the prism mirror
With the right eye in position at the eyepiece, sight the prism mirror with the left
J.Jisllmtt
eye. Swing the ttrlrror until the bubble appears to be evenly siruated to the centre line.
li/,, B.S. F.S. ReiiUJiis (iii) Adjustmeilt for the size of the bubble· tube
Stmion B.S. H. I. F.S.
This adjusbnent can be made only if the level vial has an adjustable air chamber.
2.623 If it has afr cbamber, the length of the bubble can be changed by tilting the chamber.
3.346 0.723 Thus, to enlarge the bubble, tilt the eyepiece and upward and to decrease it, rum the
B.M.
4.070 0.724 eyepiece end downward.
t
(iv) Adjustment for the line of sight
~ 528.125' 524.719' 1.447
~ 3.346 The test of the parallelism of the line of sight and the axis of the bubble tube
i: 3.825 3.986 is of prime importance and sball be made daily. It may not be necessary to make the
I
i: 4.506 4.706 0.681 0.720 adjuslment daily. However, the error is determined and correction is applied to the observed
T.P.I readings. .
5.189 5.428 0.683 0.722
!I 4.507 521.92.5' 4.707 523.418' 2.811 1.444 ~----------~ ~
!i,.'·I 4.685 3.628 ~------------------------------------
i'l
5.610 4.280 0.925 0.652 ~-----------------------------~-~
lj T.P. 2
0.650
iI1
1
6.534 4.930 0.924
2.746
5.610 529.256' 4.279 523.646' 4.660
D , - - - - - -... 6
t
I
4.960
5.890 0.930
A, ... d;··-

B.M. FIG. 17.12

~
I 6.822 0.932
!• To test the 3djusonent, two points A and B are selected ahout 120 m apan. The
I~II 5.891 523.365' 4.608 level is first set at P, near to A, at a distance d 1 from A and D 1 from B. Let the reading
obtained at A be R., and that at B be R1 , , the suffix n and f being used to denote
~~ 13.463 14.877 524.779
~ the readings on near and far points. The instrullleDI is then moved to a point Q. near
( Check
Fall
13.463
1.414
523.365
1.414 Fall
to B, at distance d, from B and D2 from A. Let. the teading obtained· at A ·be RJ, and'
at B be R.,. Let c = slope of the line of sight = tan a .
l
17.10. DAILY ADJU&'TMENTS OF PRECISE LEVEL When the instrument is o1 P
The adjuslments of a precise level should be rested daily. If the adjusonents are
True difference in elevation between A and B = (Rfl - cD,) - (R., - cd,) ... (!)
out by permissible amount, corrections are applied to the observations of the day's work. When Ow instrurMnt is ol· Q
If, however, the adjusbnents are out by appreciable amount, they are adjusted. The following The difference in elevation between A and B = (R.a- cd,)- (ly,- cD,) ... (2)
adjustments' are made : Equating these two and solving for c, we get

I (I)
(iz)
Adjusbnent
Adjusbnent
for
for
circular bubble,
prism mirror,
c=
(R.,+ R,) - (R/1 + RJ,) Sum of near rod readings - Sum of far rod readings
(D, + D2) - (d1 + d,) - Sum of far distances- Sum of near distances
j (iii) Adjusbnent for the size of the bubble rube,
Knowing c, the correction to any rod reading can be calculated.
(iv) Adjusbnent for the line sight, and
(v) Adjusbnent for the reversing point. The line of sight will be inclined downwards if c has plus sign and will be inclined
i (I) Adjustment for circular ·bubble
upwards if c bas minus sign. If the value of c comes out to be more than 0.00005
(i.e. 0.005 m in 100 m), adjusonents should be made by calculating the correction for
I Centre the circular bubble by means of foot screws. Reverse the telescope. If the
a staff kept at 90 m distance from the instrument.
! bubble moves from the centre, bring it half way hack by means of the adjusting screws.

I
 I

~
384 I
[
g polDt
{v) Adjustment of the revers1u f
screw at wbich .,
t is a part icul ar reading on the micrometer
The reve rsin g poin of the level is rruJy vertical.·
eenttal reversal, when the vertical axiS
bubble tu)le is centred ~tly
!lite r
bub ble will rem ain and the micrometer reading '
To find the reversing point, the olite
PermanentAdjustments of Theod
rometer reading \"
reve rsed , the bubbl!: agl!in ceotre<1 an<J the mic j-

half-way between ~ two Jllic

is noted. The tele scop e is then rometer readings. The , fo
is noted. The reve rsing poin t is then
tring of the bubble \ III·!
nlio l but is merely necesstJry for quick cen
adjustment is not esse micrometer screw should be ~ii
Whenever the
at all times.reve instrument is being levelled, the· ~

set at the rsion point. ~

18.1. GENERAL
transit are as follows ~I
I
The fundamenlol lines . of a t.!
(1) The vertical axis ~;,

(2) The horizontal axis

sight)
r·I
line of collimation (or line of
(3) The
Axis of plate level
;;
(4) N
(5) Axis of altitude level lj;
1!'1

l, if . provided. ~
(6\ Axis of the striding leve lines : ~
s should exist between these ~
The following desired .relotWn e perp end icular to the vertical
The axis of the ploJ e leve l mw t lie in a plan
(I)
axis. when the bubble is

the
If
.
this
cen lre
con
of
ditio
its
n exis
run.
ts, the vert ical axis will be ttuly vertical ·
axis at its intersection
r
in
(2) The line of coll ima tion mWJ t be perperidiculor to the horizontal
type. the optical axis,
'~
vert ical axis . Also , if the telescope is external focwing "
I'
widt the mWJt coincide.
and the line of colUIWiion
the axis of the objective slide vertical plane ·when the
If this condition exists, the
_line of sight will generate a I

telescope is rotated· about the

(3) The horizontal axis
horizontal axis ..
7/lllSI be perpendicular to the
vertical axis.
a vertical plane when the
I
the line of sight will gen erate
If this con ditio n exis ts,
telescope is phmged. parallel to the line
l (or telescope ievel) 7/lllSI be
(4) The axis. of the altitude leve
~.11

of collimation. x error due to lack

the con ditio n exis ts, the vert ical angles will be free from inde
If
of parallelism. imaJion is horizontal.
The ven ical drc le vern ier mWJ t read zero when the line of coll
(5) x error due to
ditio n exis ts, the vert ical angles will be free from inde
If this con
_
displacement of the vernier. ) mWJt be parallel to the hori
zontal
level (if provided
(6) The axis of the striding
axis. (385)