bubble tube

bull’s eye bubble

 bull’s eye bubble bubble tube
or round/circular bubble

2
Sensitivness of bubble tube:   =  
r mm 
Levelling the instrument – the prismatic reader

Prism

The levelling bubble is tilted The levelling bubble is horizontal

1. The round bubble must be adjusted to the ℓ0 ⊥ 𝑣
standing axis

The normal point: its tangent is

perpendicular to the standing axis.
1. The round bubble must be adjusted to the ℓ𝑂 ⊥ 𝑣
standing axis

- Position of the bubble - Position of the bubble

1 +  2
( 1 ) and ( 2 ) → n = The normal point: its tangent is
2 perpendicular to the standing axis.
1. The round bubble must be adjusted to the a ⊥ v
standing axis

The normal point: its tangent is

perpendicular to the standing axis.

After levelling the instrument with the levelling bubble (on the top of the
telescope) in two perpendicular direction, the round bubble can be
adjusted.
2. The horizontal crosshair (chh) must be perpendiculat to the 𝑐ℎℎ ⊥ 𝑣
standing axis (v)

3. The levelling bubble (llb) must be adjusted to the line-of-sight (J): ℓ𝑙𝑏 ||𝐽
the collimation error must be checked (two-peg test)
The two-peg test (part 1)

Δ𝑅𝐿𝐴𝐵 = 𝑙𝐵𝑆 − 𝑙𝐹𝑆

 The two-peg test (part 2)

Δ Δ𝑅𝐿 − Δ𝑅𝐿′
Δ= ℓ′𝐹𝑆+ Δ𝑅𝐿𝐴𝐵 − ℓ′𝐵𝑆 = Δ𝑅𝐿𝐴𝐵 − ℓ′𝐵𝑆 − ℓ′𝐹𝑆 tan 𝛾 = =
= Δ𝑅𝐿𝐴𝐵 − Δ𝑅𝐿′𝐴𝐵 𝑑 𝑑

Adjustment: ℓ′𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒 = ℓ′𝐹𝑆 − 𝛿 𝛿 = 𝑑𝑘 + 𝑑 tan 𝛾

Central ray
control
1. The round bubble must be adjusted to the standing a ⊥ v
axis
Using a bubble tube placed temporarily on the instrument

2. The horizontal crosshair must be perpendiculat to sz h ⊥ v

the standing axis

3. Collimation error

The collimation error is caused by the faulty

operation of the compensator. It is proportional
to the tilting angle of the standing axis. This
error occurs, when the standing axis is not
vertical. It can be tested by creating various
tilted standing axis and measuring the height
difference between points.
1. Eliminate the cause (e.g. adjustment of the instrument). Drawback: hatd to
mitigate the total effect.

2. Applying observation procedure that eliminates the effect of the systematic

error.

3. The quantification of the error and the correction of the raw observations.
Used in automatic instruments, when the built-in computer can do the
calculations automatically.
1. Which error accumulates when the observed rise/fall values are
added up?

2. How could the individual systematic error sources be mitigated

most effectively?

3. What kind of rules and procedures must be followed to minimize

the effects of systematic error in the results?
1. The effect of curvature is caused by the curvature of the level surface. It affects the
observed elevation difference when the instrument is not set up equidistantly from
the staves. When the station is equidistant from the staves, the error will not
accumulate.

2. The collimation error can be caused by Instrument

• Misalignment of the levelling bubble; is eliminated by observing equidistant

staves;

• Inaccurately levelled levelling bubble: the effect does not accumulate

• One-sided heat: can accumulate (sun shines from the same side of the levelling
line) -> the instrument should be protected by a surveying umbrella
3. The collimation error of automatic levels: this error can Instrument
accumulate in longer levelling lines. The instrument must be levelled
perfectly or the observations should be done twice (BFFB) with
relevelling the instrument between the BF and FB readings.
4. The offset of the trunnion axis: accumulates in the height differences. The Instrument
error is caused by a tilted standing axis. By turning the level toward the BS
and the FS staves, the level of the line-of-sight changes. A vertical standing
axis (accurately levelled instrument) minimize this effect.
 5. The index error of the staff means that the index (0 graduation) Staff
does not coincide with the bottom of the staff. The error is
eliminated using a single staff, or having an even number of
stations in case two staves are used.

01 Staff 1

Staff 2

Staff 1
DRL12 = [(lBS1)+d1]-[(lFS2)+d2)]=lBS-lFS+d1-d2
d DRL23 = [(lBS2)+d2]-[(lFS3)+d1)]=lBS-lFS+d2-d1
 Staff

6. The graduation error of the staff can

accumulate in case of large height differences. It
can not be eliminated by observation procedures.
The graduation must be standardized using an
etalon length.
7. The tilting of the staff can accumulate as well in case of large Staff
height differences when the round bubble of the staff is unadjusted.
The round bubble of the staff must be adjusted.

di
a
8. The subsidence of the instrument is caused by external effects. It accumulates in the External
observed elevation difference. The effect can be minimized by symmetric observation
technique (B-F-F-B) or double-run line levelling.
BS-FS FS-BS

dh dh
lbs A
lfs B lbs A lfs B

A B A
DRLAB=lBS A-lFS B-dh DRLAB=lBS A-lFS B+dh B
9. The subsidence of the staff accumulates in the observed DRL, too. The effect can be
minimized by applying fixed change points (change plates, pegs, HILTI nails) or doing
double-run line levelling.
10. The refraction has a random part, when the the mirage effect causes uncertain staff
reading. The near-ground refraction can cause a systematic error affecting the
observed height difference in case of large elevation differences. By following
appropriate procedures, both effect can be minimized.

During levelling one must avoid the mirage effect of the atmospheric layers.
Levellings are usually done in the 2-hour-period of either starting half an hour after
sunrise or ending half an hour before sunset.

Near-ground refraction is minimized by limiting the lowest staff reading (min. 30-
50cm) and the maximum instrument-staff distance (35-20 m) depending on the order
of the levelling.
1. The level must be set up equidistantly between the two staves.
2. The instrument must be protected from direct sunlight.
3. In case of a tilting level: the levelling bubble must be set before each staff
reading, and checked after the reading is taken!
4. Keep the staff firmly in a vertical position (use a round bubble)!
5. The graduation of the levelling staff must be standardized regularly!
6. Always do a double-run levelling using an even number of stations!
7. Do the levelling when the atmosphere is stable!
𝑅𝐿𝐵 = 𝑅𝐿𝐴 + 𝑙𝐵𝑆 − 𝑙𝐹𝑆
 The direction of levelling

Dh1

DH Dh2
Dh3
Dh4

change plates
 The direction of levelling

Dh1

DH Dh2
Dh3
Dh4

DH=Dh1+Dh2+Dh3+Dh4

DH=SlBS-SlFS
 d=20m d=15 d=13

A
1
HA HB=?
2 3
B
PID d BS FS Rise Fall H
A 12 14 103.455
1 20 08 33 14 58 0.244
2 19 14 74 13 99 0.566
3 15 08 69 09 13 0.561
B 13 11 25 0.256 102.950
31

0.561 1.066
DHAB=SRise-SFall=-0.505 m
PID d BS FS Rise Fall H

A 12 14 103.455
1 20 08 33 14 58 0.244
2 19 14 74 13 99 0.566
3 15 08 69 09 13 0.561
B 13 11 25 0.256

DHAB=SRise-SFall=-0.505 m

B 12 03
1 11 10 01 09 11 0.292
2 13 13 53 15 19 -0.518 Let’s compute the mean height difference:
3 18 15 22 09 41 0.412 DH AB - DH BA - 0.505 - 0.511
A 22 11 97 0.325 DH AB = = = -0.508m
2 2

DHBA=SRise-SFall=+0.511m H32B=103.455-
0.508=102.947m
The determination of the
reduced level of characteristic
points used for other
engineering tasks.
The levelling is done between
two benchmarks.

Detail point levelling

Detail Point Levelling

B
The elevation of the characteristic points of the
RLA ditch should be determined! RLB
Ordnance Datum

34
 The Height-of-Collimation method
Height of collimation: The elevation of the
horizontal line of sight. It can be computed by
adding the elevation of the backsight point and
AlBS the backsight reading.
A
Steps of Computation:

1. Compute the corrected elevation of the change

HoC=RLA+AlBS points!
RLA
2. Compute the Height of Collimation at each
station!

Ordnance Datum 3. Compute the elevation of the detail points

(HoC-lIS)!
35
 101 104

A I1
I2 I3 B 102
HA 103
Ordnance Datum HB
PID d Backsight Intersight Foresight Rise/Fall Height of Elevation
(BS) (IS) (FS) Collimation

A 1214 103.455
I1 0833 1458 -0.244 (-1) 104.043 103.210
101 1104 102.939
102 1421 102.622
103 1428 102.615
104 1067 102.976
I2 1474 1399 -0.566 (-1) 102.643
I3 0869 0913 +0.561 (-1) 103.203
B 1124 -0.255 (-1) 102.947
S= -0.504 S= -0.508
True - Observed D=-4mm
36