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PROFILE LEVELING
Profile leveling - is the process in obtaining elevation of a points at short measured intervals
along a fixed line in order to plot the profile of the ground for the design of highways,
pipelines,canals, sewers and other long narrow projects.

Profile leveling determines the elevations of points at known distances along a line. When these
points are plotted, a vertical section through the earth’s surface is shown. Elevations are taken at
full stations (100 ft or 20m) or closer in irregular terrain, at breaks in the ground surface, and at critical
points such as bridge abutments and road crossings. Profiles are generally plotted on special paper
with an exaggeration of from 5:1 up to 20:1, or even more, so that elevation differentials will show up
better. Profiles are needed for route surveys, to select grades and find earthwork quantities.
Elevations are usually taken to 0.01 ft on bench marks and 0.1 ft on the ground.

Profile is the section view of the surface along a center line of work.

Intermediated Foresight (IFS) or rod shot (rod) is a rod reading taken at the desired
point from a known H.I. whose location is defined.
In practice , the interval between points along the line of survey is staked and
marked with its station and plus. For English system, usually the distance is 100 ft., 50 ft. or 25 ft.
while for metric , it is 30 m., 20 m. or 10 m.

Full station is the term used which identify the station which is 100 ft. points or
1000 mtrs. points from the beginning.
e.g. Sta 7+00, (English system) Sta. 2+ 000 (Metric Sytem)

Plus station is the stationing in between the two full stations which is less than
100ft. or less than 1000 mtrs. points from a preceeding full station.
e.g. Sta 7+30, (English system) Sta. 2+ 513 (Metric Sytem)

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 19

Associate . Professor
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Profile levels for

Target Range Village Propose Drainage System

sta B.S H.I I F.S FS Elev. Remarks

(rod)
BM. 1 0.48 150.48 150 DPWH B.M 29
1+000 0.21 150.27
1+020 0.88 149.60 Date:
1+040 1.07 149.41 Weather:
1+060 2.04 148.44 Level:
1+080 3.63 146.85 Rod;
T.P 1 0.13 147.06 3.55 146.93 Big stone
1+092 0.93 146.13
1+100 2.62 144.44
1+107 2.74 144.32
1+110 3.72 143.34
1+115 2.84 144.22
1+120 2.56 144.50
1+140 2.16 144.90
1+160 2.56 144.50
1+180 2.13 144.93
1+200 1.25 145.81

T.P 2 2.45 148.68 0.83 146.23

1+220 2.96 145.72

1+227 1.92 146.76

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 20

Associate . Professor
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Practice Problem:

Target Range Village Propose Concrete Pavement

sta B.S H.I F.S IFS Elev. Remarks
(ROD)
BM. 1 3.6 30.5 m Date:
0+000 1.62 Weather:
0+030 1.59 Level:
0+060 1.25 Rod;
0+090 0.92
T.P. 1 1.62 0.60

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 21

Associate . Professor
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0+120 2.41
0+130 2.04
0+150 1.71
0+170 1.37
T.P. 2 0.64 2.28
BM. 1

OTHER PROFILE LEVEL WORKS

Reciprocal leveling is used to cross streams, lakes, canyons, and other

topographic barriers that prevent balancing of backsights and foresights. On
each side of the obstruction to be crossed, a plus sight is taken on the near rod and
several minus sights on the far rod. The resulting differences in elevation are
averaged to eliminate the effects of curvature and refraction, and inadjustment of the
instrument. Even though a number of minus sights are taken for averaging, their
length may reduce the accuracy of results.

Borrow-pit or cross-section leveling produces elevations at the corners of

squares or rectangles whose sides are dependent on the area to be covered,
type of terrain, and accuracy desired. For example, sides may be 10, 20, 40, 50, or
100 ft. Contours can be located readily, topographic features not so well. Quantities
of material to be excavated or filled are computed, in cubic yards, by selecting a
grade elevation, or final ground elevation, computing elevation differences for the
corners, and substituting in

where n = number of times a particular corner enters as part of a division block

x = difference in ground and grade elevation for each corner, ft
A = area of each block, ft2
Cross-section leveling also is the term applied to the procedure for locating
contours or taking elevations on lines at right angles to the center line in a route
survey.

Three-wire leveling is a type of differential leveling with three horizontal sighting

wires in the level. Upper, middle, and lower wires are read to obtain an average
value for the sight, check the precision of reading the individual wires, and secure
stadia distances for checking lengths of backsights and foresights. The height of
instrument is not needed or computed. The National Geodetic Survey has long used
three-wire leveling for its control work, but more general use is now being made of
the method.

Grade designates the elevation of the finished surface of an engineering project and
also the rise or fall in 100 ft of horizontal distance, for example, a 4% grade (also
called gradient). Note that since the common stadia interval factor is 100, the

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 22

Associate . Professor
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difference in readings between the middle and upper (or lower) wire represents ½ ft
in 100 ft, or a ½% grade.

12.8 Vertical Control

The National Geodetic Survey provides vertical control for all types of surveys. NGS
furnishes descriptions and elevations of bench marks on request. As given in
“Standards and Specifications for Geodetic Control Networks,” Federal Geodetic
Control Committee, the relative accuracy C, mm, required between directly
connected bench marks for the three orders of leveling is:

PROFILE LEVELING Porblems:

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 23

Associate . Professor
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1. Below is a plan and data for a profile leveling conducted on a portion of the
proposed extension of JBP expressway . Construct the level notes, indicate
elevations of all the sta
tions.

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 24

Associate . Professor
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STATION B.S. H.I. I.F.S. F.S. ELEV.

1. . A line level 9.36 Kms. Is run to check the elevation of BM. No. 2 which has
been found to be 31.338 meter, with No. 1 of elevation at the sea level (reference
datum). If the back sight and foresight distances are consistently 110 m and 70
m, respectively determined the corrected elevation of Bm. No. 2 considering the
combined effects of curvature and refraction of the earth.

2. TP1 has an elevation of 115.15m. and the foresight taken at the point is 0.30m. If
the BS taken at BM is 1.42m. The elevation of BM is

More Problems:
1. Point A is in between points B and C the distance of B and C from the points A
are 1000m and 2000m respectively. Measured from the points A, the angle of
elevation of point B is 18030’. While that of C is . The difference in the elevations
of B and C is 44.4m considering the effects of the curvature and refraction. What
is the value of ?

2. The following notes were taken during a differential leveling. What is the
difference in elevation between BM1 and BM2?

STA B.S F.S. ELEV.

BM1 7.11 751.05
1 8.83 1.24
2 11.72 1.11
BM2 10.21
3. Using the following notes, what is the
elevation of BM14.

STA. B.S. F.S. ELEV.

BM12 4.64 209.65

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 25

Associate . Professor
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1 5.80 5.06
2 2.25 5.02
BM13 6.02 5.85
3 8.96 4.34
4 8.06 3.22
5 9.45 3.71
6 12.32 2.02
BM14 1.98
a) 225.45 c) 245.02
b) 225.05 d) 235.95

4. CE Board May 97. From the given differential leveling notes, find the
elevation of BM2.
STA B.S F.S. ELEV.
BM1 2.565 33.971
TP1 10.875 5.821
TP2 7.035 1.946
BM2 5.741

5.. Below is a fieldnotes of a profile survey, fill up the missing data and draw the profile . (25 pts.)
Sta B.S. H.I IFS FS ELEV.
BM. 1.56
3+000 .70
3+050 2.90 562.37
3+100 3.50
3+150 6.70
3+200 11.90
TP1 554.65 554.24
3+250 3.20
3+300 8.60
3+350 9.00
3+400 542.45
3+450 9.30
3+500 8.40
3+550 7.10
3+600 547.65
3+650 4.10
TP2 8.02 559.94
3+700 550.24
3+750 553.64

FIELDWORK NUMBER 2 . Date :

Location:
Name: Time:
Group No. ________________

TITLE : PROFILE LEVELING

OBJECTIVE : a.To determine the elevation of the points at short measured

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 26

Associate . Professor
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Interval along the center line a proposed road.
b. To be able to plot the profile of the surveyed points.
c. To be able to practice the use of surveying instruments.

INSTRUMENTS & ACCESSORIES:

a. Transit/ theodolite , engineer’s level
b. Surveyor’s Tape
c. Markers (Paint, chalk, or stakes)
d. Leveling Rod

PROCEDURE:
a. Stake out the points(stations) on the ground of the centerline of the
proposed road.
b. Set up the transit/level in some convenient location not necessarily on
the line , such that a rod reading can be obtained when the leveling
rod is held in bench mark . Be sure also that several staked out point
on the ground is visible from the instrument.
c. The rodman held the leveling rod on benchmark and the leveler will
take a backsight reading and record it to profile leveling note under
the column B.S. of row B.M.
d. The rodman will transfer to the staked out points with the leveling rod
one by one and the leveler will take foresight readings on each
points and record it to profile leveling note under the column I.F.S
in the row of each points (stations)
(NOTE: THE LEVELER WILL ONLY ROTATE THE INSTRUMENT
HORIZONTALLY AND MUST NOT MOVE THE INSTRUMENT FROM
ITS POSITION)
e. When the leveling rod has been advance to a point beyond to which
further readings to ground points (station) cannot be observe, a turning
point, T.P., is selected, and a foresight is taken and record it to
profile leveling note under the column F.S. of row TP.
f. The transit/ level is set up in an advance position and a backsight is
taken on the turning point (TP) just established.
g. Rod readings on ground points (stations) are then continued as
before.
h. The rodman must observe where changes of slope occurs , and
reading are taken to this intermediate points (stations)
i. The “plus” or distance from the proceeding full station to the
intermediate point, is measured by tape or rod according to the
precision required.

Remarks / Precaution
The care exercise in taking observation on turning points depends upon the
distance between bench marks, the elevations of which have been determines
previously ,and upon required precision of the Profile. For a ground profile the
backsights and the foresights are usually read to mm. And no particular attention is
paid to balance bvacksight and foresight distances;

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 27

Associate . Professor
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Computation:
1. Computing the H.I of the instrument on the first set up.
H.I = elevation of BM + B.S. of BM.

2. Computing the Elevations of the ground points ( stations)

Elevation = H.I of the instrument – I.F.S. of the ground points
( stations)

3. Computing the Elevations of the turning points ( T.P)

Elevation = H.I of the instrument – F.S. of the Turning Point (TP)

Profile leveling notes

Sta. B.S H.I F.S I.F.S. Elev. Remarks

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 28

Associate . Professor
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Profile leveling notes

Sta. B.S H.I F.S I.F.S. Elev. Remarks

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 29

Associate . Professor
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Profile leveling notes

Sta. B.S H.I F.S I.F.S. Elev. Remarks

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 30

Associate . Professor
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PLAN

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 31

Associate . Professor
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PLAN

ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 32

Associate . Professor
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ENGR. JOSELITO B. PADAYHAG , MOE 33

Associate . Professor