Western Mindanao State University

College of Engineering and Technology

Civil Engineering Department

Elementary Surveying
CE 131

Chapter 3
Measurement of Vertical
Distances

Lecture 14
First Semester 2015-2016
WMSU Copyright 2015
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ENGR. ULMEN RIFF L CIRCULADO, MSCE
14.1 SETTING UP THE LEVEL
 The leveling instrument may be set up at any
suitable or desired location. When starting a
leveling operation the instrumentman should first
consider where he intends to position the
instrument. The level is then pulled out from the
box by holding the level bar or base plate and
screwed securely onto the tripod head.
 Solid ground should be selected when setting up
the instrument. Muddy and wet areas should be
avoided as these are unstable to stand on and may
only cause serious errors in leveling work.
 Tripods legs are spread so that the foot plate will
be approximately horizontal. The legs should far
enough apart for a rigid set up, and they should be
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firmly into the ground to make it stand stable. The
instrumentman should see to it that the telescope
is at a convenient height for sighting and he must
be able to stand comfortably between the tripod
legs.
14.2 LEVELING THE INSTRUMENT
A considerable amount of practice in leveling
the instrument will be needed by a beginner. It is
only by constant practice that one would really be
able to feel and experience the proper turning of
leveling screws to bring the bubble in a level vial to
its center.
Outlined below are the procedures in leveling
each type of instrument.
1. Instrument with Four Leveling Screws. The bubble is
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leveling screws. The telescope is next turned 90
degrees (either clockwise or counterclockwise) and
positioned over the two other opposite leveling
screws. The bubble is again centered approximately.
This procedure is repeated about three or more times
with increasing care until the bubble finally remains
centered in any direction the telescope is pointed.
FIG. 14.1 Centering bubble with four leveling screws

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The thumb and the index finger of each hand are
used to turn he screws. Screws are turned always in
opposite directions; that is, the thumbs should move
either away from each other or toward each other. It
is only during final centering when just one screw
needs to be turned to move the bubble thru a small
graduation on the level vial.
It will be important to remember that when the
leveling screws are turned, the bubble moves in the
direction of motion of the left thumb.
2. Instruments with Three Leveling Screws. For
instruments with only three leveling screws, the
telescope is turned until the bubble tube is
positioned parallel to the line through any two of
the screws. 5
FIG. 14.2 Centering bubble with three leveling screws.
The bubble is then centered on the level vial by turning
these two screws in opposite directions.
The telescope is next rotated about the vertical axis of
the instrument so that the bubble tube is brought
perpendicular to a line through the two screws turned
earlier.
The bubble is again brought carefully to center 6by
14.3 HOLDING THE LEVELING ROD
• The leveling rod is held on a point by a rodman
when a sight is to be taken on it. To obtain the
correct distance from the line of sight to the point on
which the rod is placed, it is extremely important that
the rod be held plumb when the reading is made.
• The instrumentman checks the rod by observing
through the telescope and noting if it is held parallel
to the vertical cross hair. If the rod is not correctly
plumbed, the instrumentman gives out a signal to
plumb the rod.
• The accuracy of a leveling operation is significantly
improved if the rod is always held correctly, and it
also increases the speed with which the work may be 7
• In high precision surveys the leveling rods used are
equipped with a rod level. Although this device is not
generally used in ordinary leveling work, it is
advisable to use one when inexperienced rodmen are
employed.
14.4 TAKING A ROD READING
• Before readings are taken on a
rod, it is important to first examine
how the graduations are indicated
on it. The metric rod in Fig. 14.3 is
graduated in centimeters and
numerals are indicated for every
full meter and decimeter mark.
•The single dot in each numeral
indicates that readings taken on it
are in the 1-m range. FIG. 14.3 Rod graduations.
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• Since most rods extend
to lengths of either 3 or 4 2.235 m

meters, three or four dots 2.200 m

are used to
correspondingly identify 2.165 m
each meter and decimeter
2.130 m
graduation.
• Each blackened
graduation and each space
between graduation is one 2.050 m

centimeter high.
2.000 m
• The decimeter marks are
identified by smaller black-
painted numerals FIG. 14.4 Reading a Leveling 9
Once the instrument is set up and leveled, the
following steps are performed in taking a rod
reading:
1. Position the Rod. The leveling is held by the
rodman on the designated point whose
elevation is to be determined. He stands beside
or behind the rod, faces it toward the
instrumentman, and holds it as nearly plumb as
possible.
2. Focus on the Rod. The instrumentman aims and
focuses the telescope on the rod at the same
time seeing to it that the bubble continues to
remain in the center of the level vial. He makes
use of the vertical hair to check if the rod is held
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3. Read the Rod. If the self-reading rod is used, the
instrumentman observes directly from the
telescope and records the reading indicated by
the line of sight.
14.5 DETERMINING DIFFERENCE IN ELEVATION
The sequence of steps involved are as follows:
1. The instrument is set up and leveled at a point
about halfway between A and B.
2. Sight on the rod held vertically at point A and
record the rod reading
3. Rotate the telescope carefully about the vertical
axis and sight on a rod held vertically at B.
Record the rod reading at B. 11
FIG. 14.5 Determining Difference in
Elevation

2.000 m 3.500 m

Difference in Elevation = 3.500 – 2.000 = 1.500m

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To avoid instrumental errors only one rod should be used
during the measurement.
4. The difference in elevation between points A and
B is determined by noting the difference in their
respective rod readings. The computed value
corresponds to the vertical distance between the
two imaginary level surfaces passing through
points A and B.
14.6 LENGTHS OF SIGHT
It is always best to take sights at moderate lengths to
attain speed and accuracy in leveling work. However,
very short or extremely long sights should be
avoided.
The most suitable sight lengths will depend upon (a)
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(c) the type of instrument used, and (d) upon the
distance at which the rod remains readable to the
instrument man.
Under ordinary conditions the length of the sight
should not exceed about 90 meters where elevations
to the nearest 0.001 m are desired.
14.7 WAVING THE ROD
By aligning the rod with the vertical cross hair the
instrumentman can determine if a rod is held in a
vertical plane passing through the instrument. He
cannot, however, tell if the rod is tipped forward or
backward in this plane. This can only be
accomplished by waving the rod.
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FIG. 14.6 Waving the Rod

Waving the rod is used to determine whether the

rod is plumb when a reading is taken on it. It is
accomplished by slowly waving or tilting the top of
the rod through an arc, first toward the instrument
and then away from it. To the instrumentman, it will
appear that the cross hair is moving up and down
the rod. 15
As the rod is waved, the instrumentman takes note
of the rod readings which will alternately increase
and decrease. The minimum reading observed is
considered as the correct rod reading at the
particular point sighted.
If target rod is used, it must be raised or lowered
until there is found just one position when the
target rises as high as the line of sight while the rod
is being waved.

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14.8 CARRYING THE INSTRUMENT
The level should always be kept in a box when it is not
used. It should remain in its carrying case when
transported to the work site or when it has to be
moved to another distant set up or over rough
terrain.
The level does not have to be detached from the
tripod when transferring to another nearby station,
provided that it is securely fastened to the tripod and
is carried properly.
In open spaces, the level may be carried on the
shoulder in preferably a near-vertical position. The
spindle is clamped slightly so that the telescope does
not rotate when carried. 17
14.9 ARM AND HAND SIGNALS
An arm and hand signal is any gesture or motion that
conveys information or gives a command, direction
or warning. The use of signals is essential in
surveying since it is usually difficult or impossible at
times to communicate verbally in the field due to
distance, wind conditions and surrounding noise.
In many instances it is necessary or practical to use
signals rather than call out directions. Since much of
the work involves long sights where calling out to
one another is impractical. It is in such instances
that arm and hand signals allow the survey party
members to better communicate with each other.
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Listed below are the suggested arm and hand
signals for use in leveling work in transmitting
commands .
1. Move Right or Left. The instrumentman uses this
signal to direct the roman to move either to the
left or to the right. The desired direction of
movement is pointed out by the forefinger.
2. Give a Sight. The right or left hand is raised up and
is held for a moment in a vertical position.
3. All Right. The levelman extends both arms
horizontally and moves them up or down. When
both arms are brought still and horizontal it is
meant to transmit a command to “hold steady”.
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4. This is a Point. The rodman raises the rod and
holds it in a horizontal position over his head. It
could also be taken to mean, “Give me a Line”.
5. Move Back. The instrumentman uses this signal
to direct the rodman to move back farther. He
transmit the command by raising his right hand
with the palm facing toward the rodman and
then moving it into a horizontal position with his
palm faced down.
6. Pick Up Instruments. When a new set up of the
level is desired, the chief of party signals the
instrumentman by first extending both arms
downward then raising them up quickly as
though an object is being lifted. 20
7. Raise (or Lower) Target. The instrumentman
motions to the rodman by either raising his arm
above his shoulder to raise the rod, or by
dropping his arm below his waist to lower the
target. When the raised or lowered target
approaches the desired setting, the arm is
brought back to a horizontal position.
8. Come in. The chief of party or the instrumentman
uses this signal to direct any member of the
survey party to come in or assemble. It is executed
by moving the arm into a circular motion starting
from below the waist to the front of his face.
9. Plumb the Rod. The hand is extended vertically
above the head and moved slowly in the direction
it is desired to plumb the rod. 21
10. Establishing a Turning Point. To establish a turning
point, the arm is swung slowly in a circle above
the head.
11. This is a Turning Point. To identify a turning point,
the leveling rod (or range pole) is raised overhead
in a horizontal position. It is then lowered into a
vertical position and held on the point.
12. Wave the Rod. The instrumentman holds his arm
above his head and continuously waves it back
and forth.
13. Face the Rod. This is a signal given out by the
instrumentman to direct the rodman to face the
rod towards the line of sight. It is executed by
raising both arms above the head and twisting
both hands back and forth. 22
14. Reverse the Rod. The command to reverse the
rod is transmitted to the rodman by extending
the arms above the head and slowly rotating
both arms in a circular motion towards one side
of the body.
15. Move Forward. From a position where both arms
are extended horizontally, the arms are slowly
bent on the elbows and the hands raised into a
vertical position. This signal is used to direct the
rodman to move forward.
16. Use the Long Rod. To give the signal to use the
long rod, the instrumentman extends both arms
downward then slowly raises it over his head.
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FIG. 14.7 Arm and Hand Signals used in Leveling Work

1
2

3
7
6
8

4 24
FIG. 14.7 Arm and Hand Signals used in Leveling Work

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9 14
13

11
15 16
12

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