Using the Dumpy & Recording Levels

M. S. Martin

Aug – 2004

Revised Feb – 2006 & July 2009

M. S. Martin

Aug – 2004

Revised Feb – 2006 & July 2009

Automatic Level / Dumpy Level

Base Plate

Horizontal Circle

Eye PieceCircular Bubble Sighting Pointer

Objective Lens

Focusing Knob

Fine Adjustment

Foot Screw

Completed booking sheet exampleRise & Fall method

BS IS FS RISE FALL RL REMARK2250 47.195 BM

2825 575 46.620 A

2120 1976 849 47.469 B

1880 2400 280 47.189 C

486 1394 48.583 D

6250 4862 2243 855 1388

48621388

8551388

Leveling equipment & booking sheets

An automatic level or alternatively a laser level, are the most common instruments used by builders to establish RL’s on a building site. To do this and for future reference, the levels you take on site should be recorded formally, from which you can transfer given RL’s into contour plans, calculate required cut & fill etc.

Before we look at the level book, you should be aware and familiar with the following terms

View through telescope

Cross hairsUpper & lower stadia lines

Notes continued

Line of Site or Line of Collimation

The view through the telescope is referred to as “the line of site” or “the line of collimation”

Notes

• Terms:– BS – backsite– IS – intermediate site– FS – foresight– RISE – a change in height going up in level– FALL – a change in height going down in level– RL –reduced level– CP – change point– STN – station– BM – bench mark

Notes

• In reference to the use of instrument:– The first reading you take is always a B S

backsite– The last reading you take is always a F S

foresight– Readings in-between are I S intermediate sites

Using the Instrument