7.
Trigonometric levelling
7.1 Introduction
• Trigonometric levelling is the branch of the levelling in which the
difference of elevations is determined by the observation of vertical
angles and measurement of horizontal distance.
Instruments used:
• Theodolite for vertical angle measurement
• Tape or EDM or Tacheometer for the measurement of distances.
Trigonometric leveling may be classified under two ways:
1. Problem of height and distances( plane survey)
2. Geodetic observations
In the first case, principles of plane survey are applied. In this
case, distance between the points are not so large , effect of
refraction and curvature may be neglected. The correction may be
applied directly to the calculated elevation.
In second case, the distance between two points are very large and
correction to curvature and refraction is applied directly to angle.
Problems of height and distances
• There are two types of problems in height and distances,
which are given below:
7.2 Base of the object accessible
7.3 Base of object inaccessible
– Instrument stations and elevated objects are in the same
vertical plane
– Instrument stations and elevated objects are not in the same
vertical plane
7.2 BASE OF OBJECT ACCESSIBLE
• In this case the horizontal distance between instrument station and base of
the elevated object can be measured accurately.
• Let P be the instrument station and QQ’ be the object whose height and RL
of Q to be determined.
Here,
α = vertical angle for sighting at top Q
h’= Height of instrument at P
S = Middle staff reading at BM with
horizontal line of sight
D = Horizontal distance between
instrument and object(known)
V = vertical distance
Then,
V = D x tanα
RL of Q = RL of BM + S + V
If RL of P is known,
RL of Q = RL of P + h’+ V
7.3 BASE OF OBJECT INACCESSIBLE
Instrument stations and elevated objects are in
same vertical plane
Here,
S= middle Staff reading at BM with horizontal line of sight
d= distance between instrument A & B
D = Distance between B and object
θ₁ = vertical angle at 01 to F
θ₂ = vertical angle at 02 to F
h = vertical distance
Then,
h = D tan θ1 = (D +d) tan θ2 With same level of instrument axis(Hypothetical)
Find value of D and that of V
RL of F = RL of BM +S +h
Instrument axis at station 0₁ is higher than 0₂
Here,
d= distance between 0₁ and 0₂
D = distance between 01 and object
S ₁ = staff reading at BM from 0₁
S ₂ = staff reading at BM from 0₂
θ ₁ = vertical angle at 0₁
θ ₂ = vertical angle at 0₂
While observing on the Bench Mark, the vertical
circle reading should make zero.
Then,
h₁ = D*tanθ₁
h₂ = (D + d)* tan θ₂
From figure, So, RL of F = RL of BM +S₁ + h1
h₂ -h₁ = S₁- S₂ RL of F = RL of BM +S₂ + h2
(D + d)* tan θ₂ - D*tanθ₁ = S
D(tan θ₂ - tan θ₁) +d tan θ₂ =S
D =( S- d tan θ₂ )/(tan θ₂ - tan θ₁)
Instrument axis at station 02 is higher than 01
• Do yourself
Instrument stations and elevated objects are not in the same
vertical plane
In this case of trigonometric leveling, the elevated object and the two instrument
stations are not in the same vertical plane and they form a triangle. Then the Reduced
Level of the elevated object can be calculated by solving this triangle.
Let, H1 = the horizontal distance between instrument station A and the elevated object P.
H2 = the horizontal distance between instrument station B and the elevated object P.
α1, α2 = angles of elevation to the object P from instrument stations A and B respectively.
S1, S2 = the staff readings on B.M. from instrument stations A and B respectively.
h1, h2 = vertical distance from station A and B
b = distance between instrument stations A and B which can be measured accurately.
θ = horizontal angle between AB and AP
α = horizontal angle between BA and BP
• While observing on the Bench Mark, the vertical circle reading can make zero. Then,
• The horizontal angles and can be measured in field with the help of theodolite and the
distance between stations A and B can also be measured in the field. Then,
<APB = 180-(θ+α)
By using sine law in ΔABP
sinθ sin α sin<APB
= =
H2 H1 b
From above equation find the value of H1 and H2
Then,
h1= H1tan α1
h2 = H2tan α2
Thus,
R.L. of P = R.L. of BM + S1 + h1
R.L. of P = R.L. of BM + S2 + h2
7.2 Correction for curvature and refraction in PLANE SURVEY
• Correction for curvature = d²/2R
• Correction for refraction = 1/7(d²/2R)
• Combined correction for curvature and refraction= 0.06728d²m
Where d is in km
This correction is applied when distance(d) > 500m
For line of sight upward, correction is positive
For line of sight downward, correction is negative
Correction for curvature and refraction in GEODETIC SURVEY
• Curvature correction = θ/2 = d/2Rsin1”
Correction is positive for angle of elevation &
negative for angle of depression
• Refraction correction = mθ = m(d/Rsin1”)
where m varies from 0.06 to 0.08 but generally taken as 0.07
Correction is negative for angle of elevation &
positive for angle of depression
Q. 1 Find the R.L of the top of the chimney (T) from the following data.
Reduced level of B.M is 1362.5m and the horizontal distance between
A & B is 40.5m. Find the R.L of the top of the chimney.
Inst. Station Sighted to Bearing Zenithal angle Staff reading
& H.I
A, 1.52m T 185˚30’ 77˚45’
A B.M 88˚30’ 2.5, 1.75, 0.6
B, 1.48m T 185˚30’ 80˚40’
B B.M 86˚20’ 2.7, 1.6, 0.5
Q.2 To find the elevation of top (Q) of the signal on a hill,
observations were made from two instrument stations P and R at
horizontal distance 100m apart, the stations P and R being in line
with Q. The angle of elevation of Q at P and R were 28˚42’ and
18˚06’ respectively. The staff reading on the BM of elevation
287.28m were respectively 2.87m and 3.75m when instrument
was at P and R with telescope horizontal. Determine the
elevation of foot of the signal if the height of signal is 3m.
Q.2 To find the elevation of top (Q) of the signal on a hill,
observations were made from two instrument stations P and R at
horizontal distance 100m apart, the stations P and R being in line
with Q. The angle of elevation of Q at P and R were 28˚42’ and
18˚06’ respectively. The staff reading on the BM of elevation
287.28m were respectively 2.87m and 3.75m when instrument
was at P and R with telescope horizontal. Determine the
elevation of foot of the signal if the height of signal is 3m.
To find the elevation of top of tower(Q), observations were made from
two stations P and R 60m apart, The horizontal angle QPR was
60⁰30’and QRP was 68⁰18’. The angle of elevation of Q from P was
10⁰12’ and from R was 10⁰48’ . Staff reading on BM from P was 1.965
and from R was2.055. Calculate the RL of top of tower if the RL of BM
was 435.065m.
To find the elevation of top of tower(Q), observations were made from
two stations P and R 60m apart, The horizontal angle QPR was
60⁰30’and QRP was 68⁰18’. The angle of elevation of Q from P was
10⁰12’ and from R was 10⁰48’ . Staff reading on BM from P was 1.965
and from R was2.055. Calculate the RL of top of tower if the RL of BM
was 435.065m.
