UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

Case-I: Base of object Accessible

If the distance between instrument station and object can be measured directly.
(a). R.L. of top of vertical object

Staff

θ
E
s O
A
B.M. D

Let AF be any vertical object

D = horizontal distance between object and instrument
s = staff reading held at B.M.
h = height FE
θ = angle of elevation of top of object
B.M. = bench mark
In ∆EOF, EF = CE tan θ
h = D tan θ
R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s + h
R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s + D tan θ

(b). R.L. of top of inclined object

Let AF be any inclined object.
x = distance between foor of object and projection F’ of the top,
O1 and O2 are the instrument stations such that O1, O2 and A are in the same vertical plane,

NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.

UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

D1 and D2 are horizontal distance between the foot of the object from instrument stations O1 and O2
respectively,
s1 and s2 are staff readings held at B.M from instrument stations O1 and O2 respectively, and
θ1 and θ2 are angle of elevations of top of object from instrument stations O1 and O2 respectively.

h1 h2

Staff

θ1
θ2
s2 s1

B.M. A
O1 F’ x O2

D1 D2

R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s1 + h1

= R.L. of B.M. + s1 + (D1-x) tan θ1 …(1)
R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s2 + h2
= R.L. of B.M. + s2 + (D2+x) tan θ2 …(2)
s1 + (D1-x) tan θ1 = s2 + (D2+x) tan θ2
x(tan θ1 + tan θ2) = (s1 – s2) + D2 tan2 – D1 tan θ1
x = (s1 – s2) + D2 tan2 – D1 tan θ1
Case II: Base of object Inaccessible
If the distance between instrument station and object cannot be measured directly.
(a). When instrument stations are at same level
Let
h = vertical distance, FA’
s = staff reading on bench mark (B.M.)
θ1 & θ2 are the angles of elevation at stations O1 & O2 respectively
D = horizontal distance between object and instrument station O1
d = horizontal distance between two stations
NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.
UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

Staff

θ2 θ1
s A’

B.M. A
O2
O1
d D

In ∆O1A’F, h = D tan θ1 …(1)

In ∆O2A’F, h = (D+d) tan θ2 …(2)
fron eqns. (1) & (2)
D tan θ1 = (D+d) tan θ2
D (tan θ1 - tan θ2) = d tan θ2

R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s + h

NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.

UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

(b). When instrument station at O2 is higher than that at O1

F

h2 h1

Staff

θ2
θ1 A’’
s2 A’
s1

B.M. A
O2
O1
d D

(h1 – h2) = A’A’’ = (s2 – s1) = s …(1)

In ∆O1A’F, h1 = D tan θ1 …(2)
In ∆O2A’’F, h2 = (D+d) tan θ2 …(3)
(1) – (2) → (h1 – h2) = D tan θ1 - (D+d) tan θ2 …(4)
from eqn. (1) & (4) s = D (tan θ1 - tan θ2) - d tan θ2

[ ]

R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s1 + h1

(c). When instrument station at O1 is higher than that at O2

(h2 – h1) = A’A’’ = (s1 – s2) = s …(1)
In ∆O1A’F, h1 = D tan θ1 …(2)
In ∆O2A’’F, h2 = (D+d) tan θ2 …(3)
(1) – (2) → (h2 – h1) = (D+d) tan θ2 - D tan θ1 …(4)
from eqn. (1) & (4) s = D (tan θ2 - tan θ1) + d tan θ2

NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.

UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

h1 h2

Staff

θ1
A’
s1
θ2 A
A’’
s2
O1
B.M.

O2 d D

[ ]

R.L. of top of F = R.L. of B.M. + s1 + h1

(d). When instrument stations at very different level (i.e. O1 is much higher than O2)
When the difference in elevation (s2 – s1) between the two instruments is too large and cannot be measured on a
staff at B.M., the following procedure is adopted.
Step.1. Set up instrument at O1 and measure the angle at point F.
Step.2. Transit the telescope and establish a point at O2 at a distance d from O1.
Step.3. Shift the instrument to O2 and measure the angle at F.
Step.4. Observe the staff reading ‘r’ with respect to horizontal cross wire on the staff at O1.
Let s be the difference in level between two axes at O1 and O2 (i.e. s = h2 – h1)
We know,

NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.

UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

[ ]

Staff

r
h

O1 F
(h-r)
θ

h1 h2

d
O2

θ1
A’
H.I.1
A
Staff
s

(h-r) O1
θ2
A’’
s2
H.I.2
B.M.

O2 d D

Now, h = d tan θ
Height of station at O1 above axis at O2 = (h-r) = (d tan θ – r)
s = (d tan θ – r + H.I.1)
R.L. of F = R.L. of B.M. + s2 + s + h1
NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.
UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

[ ]

(e). When instrument stations and object are in different vertical plane

O2 θ2 h2 h1

O2 A’’
Staff
β A’

θ1 γ
A
s2 O1
s1
α
B.M.
O1

Step.1. Set up instrument at O1 and measure horizontal angle ‘α’ and vertical angle ‘θ1’.
Step.2. Observe staff reading s1 at B.M.
Step.3. Shift instrument to O2, set it up and measure horizontal angle ‘β’ and vertical angle ‘θ2’.
Step.4. Observe staff reading s2 at B.M.
Step 5. Measure horizontal distance ‘d’ between stations O1 and O2.
In ∆O1O2A, <O1AO2 = γ = 180º - (α + β)

( )

( )

R.L. of F = R.L. of B.M. + s1 + h1

R.L. of F = R.L. of B.M. + s2 + h2
NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.
UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

Exercises:

1. The theodolite was set up at O and angle of elevation of top of building at A was 8º26’. The horizontal
distance between the instrument station and building is 200 m. If R.L. of instrument axis is 200 m,
determine the R.L. of top of building. [Ans. 1554.65 m]
2. A vane 3 m above the foot of a staff was sighted at a point 3000 m. The observed angle of elevation was
2º30’. The reduced level of trunion axis being 200 m. Find R.L. of staff station. [Ans. 328.5857 m]
3. In order to determine the angle of elevation of top of signal on a hill, observations made from two stations
O1 and O2 (all in same vertical plane). If the angles of elevation of top of signal from O1 and O2 were 25º35’
and 15º5’ respectively. Determine the elevation of foot of signal if height of signal above its base was 4 m.
The staff readings on B.M. from O1 and O2 were 2.755 m and 3.855 m respectively. Given that, R.L. of
B.M. = 105.42 m and distance between O1 and O2 = 120 m. [Ans. 180.686 m]
4. The following observations were made on a hilltop to ascertain its elevation. The height of target F was 5 m.
Staff reading
Instrument Vertical angle on
on B.M. Remarks
station target at hilltop
(m)
O1 2.55 18º6’ R.L. of B.M. = 345.58 m
Distance between instrument
O2 1.67 28º42’
stations, d = 100 m

Determine R.L. of top of hilltop. [Ans. 425.539 m]

5. Find the reduced level of the top of a church spire from the following data, considering that the church and
the instruments stations all in same vertical plane. [Ans. 566.628 m]
Staff reading
Instrument Vertical angle on
on B.M. Remarks
station target at hilltop
(m)
A 1.578 10º12’ R.L. of B.M. = 543.075 m
Distance between instrument
B 1.269 8º20’
stations, AB = 30 m

NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.

UNIT-II Trigonometrical Levelling

6. To determine the elevations of top of lighthouse the following observations were made. Given that the
stations O1, O2 and the lighthouse are in same vertical plane. Find the R.L. of top of lighthouse. [Ans.
64.283 m]
Staff reading
Instrument Vertical angle on
on B.M. Remarks
station target at hilltop
(m)
O1 1.377 11º53’ R.L. of B.M. = 50.15 m
Distance between instrument
O2 1.263 8º05’
stations, O1O2 = 30 m

7. The top of a vertical cliff was sighted from two stations P and Q, which are 125 m apart and were in same
vertical plane with the top of cliff. The angle of elevation of top of cliff observed from stations P and Q
were 30º25’ and 22º28’. The angle of elevation from Q to a vane 1.75 m above the foot of staff held at
station P is 16º15’. The heights of instrument at P and Q were 1.856 m and 1.565 m respectively. The R.L.
of station Q is 100 m. Find out the R.L. of top of vertical cliff. [Ans. 189.375 m]
8. The top of Mount Everest was sighted from two stations A and B, which are 180 m apart and were in same
vertical plane with the top of mountain. The angle of elevation of top of Everest observed from stations A
and B were 35º30’ and 23º50’. The angle of elevation from B to a flag 3.00 m above the instrument station
A is 19º30’. The heights of instrument at A and B were 1.35 m and 1.50 m respectively. The R.L. of station
B is 8738.64 m. Find out the elevation of Mount Everest. [Ans. 8848 m]
9. The following observations were made from stations O1 and O2 (being 50 m apart) in order to find the
elevation of chimney.
Horizontal angle at station O1, between chimney and O2 = 60º
Horizontal angle at station O2, between chimney and O1 = 50º
Angle of elevation from O1 to the top of chimney = 30º
Angle of elevation from O2 to the top of chimney = 29º
R.L. of line of collimation at O1 = 22.5 m
R.L. of line of collimation at O2 = 20.5 m
Determine the R.L. of top of chimney. [Ans. 46.038 m]
10. It was required to obtain the elevation of top of a mobile tower located on the roof of a building since direct
measurement was not possible, the following data was obtained. A line AB = 135 m long was staked out
and the horizontal angles to the tower were observed at A as 58º30’ and at B as 30º00’. At point B a back
sight of 2.00 m was taken on B.M. of elevation 100 m and vertical angle to the top of tower was found to be
54º00’. Calculate the R.L. of top of tower. [Ans. 256.284 m]

NOTE: For classroom teaching only. Not to be published.