Project Report on

“ Ground Survey Using Dumpy Level ”

Submitted to,
Department of Biotechnology,
Government of India.
under
DBT Star College Scheme
Submitted By

Miss. ZineYogita Anil

Miss. Kalhapure Monika Vitthal
Miss.ChangulpaiManishaMacchindra
Miss.Shakade Jaya Popat
Miss. Vane YogeshGorakhanath
Miss. DhokaneKirtiMachindra
Miss. PawarShrutiRavsaheb
Miss. GhameVishakhaGopinath
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
Mr. Auti SharadKarnasaheb
(M.A. NET, M.B.A)
Assistant Professor of Geography
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
Mula Education Society’s,
Arts, Commerce and Science College,
Sonai Tal-Newasa Dist. –Ahmednagar.
Year: 2020-21
1
2
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I feel great pleasure to be grateful to my project guide Mr. SharadK.

Auti(Assistant Professor of Geography) for their inspiring guidance, positive
criticism, encouragement, helping nature and showing the right path throughout
my project work.
I am also thankful to Dr. Rajesh V. Wagh, Head Department of Geography,
for permitting and providing all the laboratory condition and equipment required
for completing this project work.
I am grateful toMr. ShoukatZ.Fakir, Mr. MaheshV.Takeforthe help extended
me to get the project work completed in time.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to my friends and also non-teaching staff
for their kind suggestion, stimulating discussion and co-operation in completing
the project successfully.
I deep heartedly wish to thank my parents for their love and blessings.

Project Students,

Miss. ZineYogita Anil

Miss. Kalhapure Monika Vitthal
Miss. ChangulpaiManishaMacchindra
Miss. Shakade Jaya Popat
Mr. Vane YogeshGorakhanath
Miss. DhokaneKirti Mahindra
Miss. PawarShrutiRavsaheb
Miss. GhameVishakhaGopinath.

3
4
 “ GROUND SURVEY USING DUMPY LEVEL ”

INTRODUCTION: The continuous land body is known as the ground. Earth

surface is not continius. It has up and down condition. It's a ground physically (and
electrically) connected to earth via a conductive material such as copper,
aluminum, or an aluminum alloy. A true earth ground, as defined by the National
Electrical Code (NEC), consists of a conductive pipe, or rod, physically driven into
the earth to a minimum depth of 8 feet. It is the mark of an instructed mind to rest
satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject permits, and
not to seek an exactness where only an approximation of the truth is possible.

—Aristotle

Ground water is an important natural resource throughout the world. In the United
States, approximately 50 percent of the population and more than 90 percent of
rural residents use ground water as their source of domestic drinking water (USGS
1990). Ground water is the source of about 34 percent of the irrigation waters in
the United States. Other uses of ground water have grown dramatically; total use of
ground water for 1985 was an estimated 73 billion gallons a day (USGS 1990),
more than double the usage in 1950. In addition, ground water is the principal
source of surface water during low flow periods. About 30 percent of river and
stream flow comes from ground water, where it contributes to important ecological
habitat as well as surface drinking water supplies (USEPA 1991a).

The importance of ground water has long been recognized, but the potential for
ground water to become contaminated as a result of human activities at or near the
land surface has only been recognized in recent years. Before about 1980 it was
thought that soils served as filters, preventing harmful substances deposited at the
5
surface from migrating downward into ground water. Today it is known that soils
and other intervening layers have a finite capacity to filter and retard, and so
protect ground water.

Over the past two decades, a large number of chemicals and wastes from human
activities have been found in ground water throughout the United States. Ground
water can be contaminated by localized releases from sources such as hazardous
waste disposal sites, municipal landfills, surface impoundments, underground
storage tanks, gas and oil pipelines,

back-siphoning of agricultural chemicals into wells, and injection wells. Ground

water can also become contaminated by substances released at or near the soil
surface in a more dispersed manner including pesticides, fertilizers, septic tank
leachate, and contamination from other nonpoint sources.

Nitrates from fertilizers and animal wastes are the most pervasive type of ground
water contamination. An estimated 20.5 million tons of fertilizers were applied to
crops during 1988-1989 (USDA 1989). Between 1960 and 1985, agricultural use
of nitrogen quadrupled, to 12 million tons (USDA 1987). Nitrate levels in ground
water have increased concurrently with these rises in fertilizer application.

Pesticides also contribute significantly to ground water pollution. Each year about
661 million pounds of active pesticide ingredients are used in agriculture (OTA
1990, USEPA 1987). The first reported instances of ground water contamination
by pesticides occurred in 1979 when dibromochloropropane (DBCP) was detected
in California and aldicarb in New York. Subsequently, DBCP was detected in
ground water in four additional states. By 1983, ethylene dibromide (EDB) had
been found in wells in 16 counties of California, Florida, Georgia, and Hawaii
(USEPA 1987). These findings prompted the suspension of EDB use in the United
6
States. By 1988, pesticides had been detected in the ground water of more than 26
states (USEPA 1988). The largest monitoring study conducted in the United States,
EPA's National Pesticide Survey (USEPA 1990), concluded that about 10.4
percent of wells in community water systems and 4.2 percent of rural domestic
well water had detectable residues of one or more pesticides; fewer than 1 percent
of all wells, however, were estimated to contain at least one pesticide in excess of
established levels of health concern.

Once contaminated, ground water is very expensive to clean up; in many

cases, cleanup may not be possible within a reasonable time (Mackay and Cherry
1989, Haley et al. 1991). In addition, ground water is the only source of drinking
water for many rural areas (USGS 1990). The cost of replacing contaminated
sources with bottled water or other alternatives is high relative to that of existing
ground water resources (Abdalla 1990).

Situations are relatively obvious. For example, ground water contamination

is likely to occur in areas having shallow water tables and sandy soils with high
recharge rates. Such relatively obvious situations, however, are found on land that
comprises only a small fraction of the area of the United States. Efforts to protect
against future contamination must focus on the much larger areas where relative
vulnerability to contamination is more difficult to distinguish. Given this
understanding, resource managers have sought to identify areas where
contamination is more likely to occur than in other areas. Thus the concept of
ground water vulnerability to contamination was developed.

SURVEY : A survey is a research method used for collecting data from a

predefined group of respondents to gain information and insights into various
topics of interest. They can have multiple purposes, and researchers can conduct it
in many ways depending on the methodology chosen and the study’s goal. In the
7
year 2020, research is of extreme importance, and hence it’s essential for us to
understand the benefits of social research for a target population using the right
survey tool.

The data is usually obtained through the use of standardized procedures to ensure
that each respondent can answer the questions at a level playing field to avoid
biased opinions that could influence the outcome of the research or study. The
process involves asking people for information through a questionnaire, which can
be either online or offline. However, with the arrival of new technologies, it is
common to distribute them using digital media such as social networks, email, QR
codes, or URLs.

It’s a simple question: What is a survey? It seems like a simple question, but as
with many things, the answer is more complex than many people appreciate.
Surveys can take multiple forms but are most common in the form of a
questionnaire, either written or online. It’s easy to create a survey with digital
software and Qualtrics offers free survey templates. Plus, digital software can
save your company time and money because they have lower setup and
administrative costs. It’s more convenient for the customer or respondent
because they can take the survey on whichever digital device is most
convenient for them (tablet, computer, phone, etc). It’s also more convenient
for you because you just need to send the survey link via email and you’ll have
the data in your survey management software as soon as responses come in.
Survey of India, The National Mapping Agency of the country under the
Department of Science & Technology, is the oldest scientific department of the
govt. of india.

8
Survey of India as the National Mapping Agency of India is into survey and
map preparation for more than two and the half centuries and has gone through
various phases from paper maps to digital maps and now advancing to
enterprise GIS systems.

National Map Policy – 2005 has given Survey of India a revised mandate of
producing, maintaining and disseminating the National Topographic Data Base
(NTDB) of the whole country, which is the foundation of all spatial data
consisting of National Spatial Reference Frame, National Digital Elevation
Model, National Topographic Template, Administrative Boundaries and
Toponomy (place names).

National Spatial Reference Frame includes the framework of precise

coordinates and heights, tidal observations and prediction of tides, gravity
surveys and geo-magnetic observations. National Topographic Template
includes topographic maps on all scales, aeronautical charts, special purpose
maps for Airports/Airfields and other maps for special purposes.
Administrative Boundaries include International and Inter-State boundaries.
Besides mapping, the mandate also includes capacity building within and
outside the Department.

At present SoI is undergoing a transformation phase for providing products and

services in tune with the advancements in technology, mapping techniques and
Standards according to user requirements.

As part of the modernization effort the National Spatial Reference Frame

(NSRF) is being modernised by establishing Continuously Operating
Reference Stations (CORS) Network across the country and by developing the
Geoid Model for the entire country to enable accurate and speedy positioning
services.
9
 With the idea of providing digital data as per user requirement, SOI is using
the latest technology for generation of high resolution National Topographic
Data Base (HR-NTDB). Currently the source data for generation of HR-NTDB
is being acquired through High Resolution Satellite Imagery (HRSI),
UAV/Drones, LiDAR etc. Apart from mapping on standard scales i.e.
1:50,000, 1:250.000 etc., SoI is also generating geo-spatial data on scales
varying from 1:500 to 1:10000 based on the user requirements.

SoI is also implementing various National and State Level Projects to meet the
requirements of various Central and State Govt agencies – SVAMITVA
Scheme for MoPR, National Hydrology Project and National Mission for
Clean Ganga for MoJS, Drone based large scale mapping for various States.

With the mammoth Surveying and mapping task with latest technology in hand,
SoI is geared up for fulfilling the mandate and requirements of projects to meet the
objectives of National development with best of the efforts. A single survey is
made of at least a sample (or full population in the case of a census), a method of
data collection (e.g., a questionnaire) and individual questions or items that
become data that can be analyzed statistically. A single survey may focus on
different types of topics such as preferences (e.g., for a presidential candidate),
opinions (e.g., should abortion be legal?), behavior (smoking and alcohol use), or
factual information (e.g., income), depending on its purpose. Since survey
research is almost always based on a sample of the population, the success of the
research is dependent on the representativeness of the sample with respect to a
target population of interest to the researcher. That target population can range
from the general population of a given country to specific groups of people within
that country, to a membership list of a professional organization, or list of students
enrolled in a school system (see also sampling (statistics) and survey sampling).

10
The persons replying to a survey are called respondents, and depending on the
questions asked their answers may represent themselves as individuals, their
households, employers, or other organization they represent.

Survey methodology as a scientific field seeks to identify principles about the

sample design, data collection instruments, statistical adjustment of data, and data
processing, and final data analysis that can create systematic and random survey
errors. Survey errors are sometimes analyzed in connection with survey cost. Cost
constraints are sometimes framed as improving quality within cost constraints, or
alternatively, reducing costs for a fixed level of quality. Survey methodology is
both a scientific field and a profession, meaning that some professionals in the
field focus on survey errors empirically and others design surveys to reduce them.
For survey designers, the task involves making a large set of decisions about
thousands of individual features of a survey in order to improve it.

The most important methodological challenges of a survey methodologist include

making decisions on how to:

• Identify and select potential sample members.

• Contact sampled individuals and collect data from those who are hard
• to reach (or reluctant to respond)
• Evaluate and test questions.
• Select the mode for posing questions and collecting responses.
• Train and supervise interviewers (if they are involved).
• Check data files for accuracy and internal consistency.
• Adjust survey estimates to correct for identified errors.

Survey Instrument: for the purpose of systematic survey, there are the following
survey instrument as the listed below-

11
Instruments used in surveying include:

• Alidade.
• Alidade table.
• Cosmolabe.
• Dioptra.
• Dumpy level.
• Engineer's chain.
• Geodimeter.
• Graphometer.
There are other types of surveyors, but these are the most common. Surveyors must
stand by their work, and they’re required to make accurate calculations. That’s
why Engineering Supply offers the best surveying instruments on the market.
Some of the products that we sell include but may not be limited to:

• Surveying tripods
• Surveying bipods
• Fiberglass grade rods
• Aluminum grade rods
• Builder’s grade rods
• Story poles
• Laser levels
• Auto-levels
• Transit levels
• Hand levels
• Abney levels
• Surveyor’s brush axes

12
• Land surveying markers
• Land surveying rods
• Marking paint
• At the end of the course the students will posses knowledge about
survey field techniques
• 1) CHAIN SURVEYING
• 1. Study of Chains and its accessories
• 2. Aligning, Ranging and Chaining
• 3. Chain Traversing
• 2) COMPASS SURVEYING
• 1. Compass Traversing
• 3) PLANE TABLE SURVEYING
• 1. Plane table Surveying: Radiation
• 2. Plane table Surveying: Intersection
• 3. Plane table Surveying: Traversing
• 4. Plane table Surveying: Resection – Two point problem
• 4) LEVELLING
• 1. Study of levels and levelling staff
• 2. Fly leveling using Dumpy level
• 3. Fly leveling using Tilting level
• 4. Check leveling
• 5) LONGITUDINAL & CROSS SECTIONING
• 1. LS and CS
• 6) CONTOURING
• 1. Contouring
• THEODOLITES
• 7) Study of Theodolites

13
The dumpy level is an optical instrument used for surveying and levelling
operations. It comprises of a telescope tube, firmly held between two collars and
adjusting screws. The complete instrument is staged by the vertical spindle. The
telescope placed on the dumpy level can be rotated amongst the horizontal plane
The dumpy level is an optical instrument used for surveying and levelling
operations. It comprises of a telescope tube, firmly held between two collars and
adjusting screws. The complete instrument is staged by the vertical spindle.

The telescope placed on the dumpy level can be rotated amongst the horizontal
plane. Relative elevation of survey points on the land can be determined through
the dumpy level.

The dumpy level was invented by Willian Gravatt, in 1832. Being a civil engineer,
he invented the dumpy level while using Y (Wye) level instrument. The dumpy
level is an optical surveying leveling instrument consisting a telescope tube firmly
secured in two collars fixed by adjusting screws to the stage by the vertical spindle.

The telescope of dumpy level can rotate only in a horizontal plane. Relative
elevation of different points of a surveying land is determined with dumpy level.

English civil engineer William Gravatt is considered as the inventor of the dumpy
level. He invented dumpy level in 1832 while using the conventional Y level.

A dumpy level is also called a builder's level, an automatic level. A level is

an optical instrument used to establish or verify points in the same horizontal
plane in a process known as levelling, and is used in conjunction with a levelling
staff to establish the relative heights levels of objects or marks. It is widely used
in surveying and construction to measure height differences and to transfer,
measure, and set heights of known objects or marks.
14
It is also known as a Surveyor's level, Builder's level, Dumpy level or the historic
"Y" level. It operates on the principle of establishing a visual level relationship
between two or more points, for which an inbuilt telescope and a highly
accurate bubble level are used to achieve the necessary accuracy. Traditionally the
instrument was completely adjusted manually to ensure a level line of sight, but
modern automatic versions self-compensate for slight errors in the coarse levelling
of the instrument, and are thereby quicker to use.

The optical level should not be confused with a theodolite, which can also measure
angles in the vertical plane.

Instruments used in surveying include:

• Alidade
• Alidade table
• Cosmolabe
• Dioptra
• Dumpy level
• Engineer's chain
• Geodimeter
• Graphometer
• Groma (surveying)
• Laser scanning
• Level
• Level staff
• Measuring tape
• Plane table
• Pole (surveying)
• Prism (surveying) (corner cube retroreflector)
15
• Prismatic compass (angle measurement)
• Ramsden surveying instruments
• Ranging rod
• Surveyor's chain
• Surveyor's compass
• Tachymeter (surveying)
• Tape (surveying)
• Tellurometer
• Theodolite
o Half theodolite
o Plain theodolite
o Simple theodolite
o Great theodolite
o Non-transit theodolite
o Transit theodolite
o Seconds theodolite
o Electronic theodolite
o Mining theodolite
o Suspension theodolite
o Traveling theodolite
o Pibal theodolite
o Registering theodolite
o Gyro-theodolite
o Construction theodolite
o Photo-theodolite
o Robotic theodolite

16
 o Vernier theodolite
• Total station
• Transit (surveying)
• Tripod (surveying)
• Universal instrument (surveying)

English civil engineer William Gravatt is considered as the inventor of the dumpy
level. He invented dumpy level in 1832 while using the conventional Y level. A
dumpy level is also called a builder's level, an automatic level.
The dumpy level is a widely used surveying instrument in surveying. The
advantages which have made the dumpy level so popular is given below.

• Simple construction with fewer movable parts.

• Fewer adjustments to be made.
• Due to the rigidity of dumpy levels, it retains its two adjustment for a long
time.

17
 • High optical power.
• E. G. Fischer and his colleagues in the Instrument Division of the U. S.
Coast and Geodetic Survey designed this precise level in 1900. C. L. Berger
& Sons began making levels of this sort around 1912, noting that they
"follow absolutely" the Survey's specifications, "using 'invar' where
specified, thus insuring a rigid maintenance of the adjustment of instrument
under marked changes of temperature." This example is marked "C. L.
Berger & Sons. Boston USA 17475.” It dates from 1930, and belonged to
the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
• Ref: E. G. Fischer, "Description of Precise Levels Nos. 7 and 8," Report of
the Director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (1900),
Appendix 6.
• C. L. Berger & Sons, Inc., Catalog of Engineering, Surveying & Mining
Instruments (Boston, 1927), pp. 43-44.
A dumpy level (also known as a Builder's Level) is an optical instrument used to
establish or check points in the same horizontal plane. It is used in archaeological
surveying to measure horizontal levels, for example to demonstrate the difference
in height at the top and base of a slope such as an excavated pit or a surviving
earthwork. Equipment The level 'kit' consists of a level head (in box), staff and
tripod. The level head comprises an eyepiece, bullseye spirit level, three levelling
screws and a focus for the telescope lens; the base also incorporates a 360 degree
compass. The 5m staff is in sections. Each ‘block’ represents one centimetre, and
each 'E' represents 5 centimetres. The 10 cm sections alternate back and forth and
between black and white, and the colour alternates between black and red for each
metre. The tripod is composed of aluminum and plastic, with three
extendable/lockable legs and a base plate with screw fitting with which to attach
the level head. There is a canvas carrying strap and a belt to secure the legs

18
together. Benchmarks and Temporary Bench Marks (BM/TBM) Find the nearest
OS Bench Mark (BM), which is part of the national height system for mainland
Great Britain and forms the reference frame for heights above mean sea level.
Bench Marks are no longer maintained by the Ordnance Survey (although
Fundamental (F)BMs are), but they should be marked on most maps. If the height
value is not shown on the map, Ordnance Datums can be obtained from Bench
Mark databases: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/benchmarks/; or
http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/search Bench Marks can usually be found on
churches, but also on other notable buildings, houses, bridges etc. The database
describes where it is and what type of benchmark symbol is used (usually carved
into stone, the centre of the horizontal groove is the height reference). It is worth
finding the nearest BM to your survey site as soon as possible so that you can
establish the best way to transfer the height from the BM to your site. In Swavesey
we were able to use a BM on the north side of the church. The value of this was
found in the database: 8.5222m OD – we used 8.52m, to two decimal points.
• The staff can be difficult to steady in high winds; you do need to keep it vertical
and still. Do not use fully-extended near overhead power cables. • Always pull out
(and return) the sections one at a time, and put the staff back in its sleeve after use.
Keep mud and grit off it as much as possible, as this will scratch the painted
markings. After a survey, dampen the microfibre cloth supplied and wipe off each
section of the staff as you close it up. • The level head is a precision instrument,
and should be handled carefully. When not in use it should always be kept in its
box. If it is raining please make sure that you cover it with a bag or rain hood, or
preferably unscrew the head and place it in its box. If the level head does become
wet, make sure that it dries out somewhere inside/out of the rain before being
returned to its box. If you don't dry it out properly, moisture may seep inside which
will result in the telescope 'fogging up' and possible damage to the internal parts. •

19
When your survey is complete, carefully unscrew the level head and place it in its
correct position within the box, close the lid and make sure the catch is secure. •
PLEASE TAKE CARE NOT TO DROP THE BOX: If the level head or box
containing the level head is kicked or dropped you must report this to the Jigsaw
team as soon as possible as it may require calibration or repair. • Undo the catches
on the tripod legs and carefully move the retract the legs and clamp the catches
back and fasten the belt. Please ensure that the tripod does not get dented or
damaged, as this may make it unusable.
The dumpy level is an optical instrument used for surveying and levelling
operations. It comprises of a telescope tube, firmly held between two collars and
adjusting screws. The complete instrument is staged by the vertical spindle.

The telescope placed on the dumpy level can be rotated amongst the horizontal
plane. Relative elevation of survey points on the land can be determined through
the dumpy level.

The dumpy level was invented by Willian Gravatt, in 1832. Being a civil engineer,
he invented the dumpy level while using Y (Wye) level instrument.
Dumpy level holds significant importance in the surveying of a construction site.
The level of accuracy and handiness of dumpy level has made it a prominent
choice amongst surveyors.

• The prime reason for performing levelling on a construction site is to make

the field level and even.
• To determine the differences in height between two points.
• To measure the height and distance of different locations of surveying land
through the principle of relativity.
• To measure following distance amongst various point on the surveying land.
• Setting out levels and inclined surfaces for construction.
20
 • To draw contours on land.

We have gained expertise in providing our customers with Land Surveying

Instruments that are sourced from the reliable manufacturers of the market. These
products are widely acknowledged by the clients due to their longer functional life,
corrosion resistance, dimensional accuracy and wear & tear resistance. In addition
to this, all our products are available in various sizes, dimensions, designs and
shapes at most competitive prices to fulfill their exact requirements in a better way.
STUDY AND USE OF SURVEYING AND LEVELING INSTRUMENTS
Surveying is defines as the art of determining the relative positions of various
points above, on or below the surface of the earth. The ultimate object of survey is
to prepare a map or plant using the data obtained through the survey. The
collection of data by linear and angular measurements and elevation difference is
called the field work. The processing of data plotting and computation of area and
volume are called office work. Use of agricultural survey Surveying is primarily
divided into two types. (1) Plane surveying (2) Geodetic surveying Agricultural
surveying is the simplest form of plane surveying. With the use of survey, the
boundaries of fields can be correctly located and area can be accurately computed.
Land leveling and grading may be perfectly done if the differences in elevations
are known. Alignments of canals for irrigation and drainage can be effectively
done by proper surveying. Surveying plays a vital role in soil conservation
measures like contour bunding, graded bunding, bench terracing construction of
farm ponds and percolation ponds etc. In addition to this, surveying plays a key
role in laying underground pipe line system, alignment of irrigation channels,
drainage systems, farm roads and farm stead construction etc. For linear and
angular measurements in the plains, chain, compass and plane table surveys are
used with necessary instruments. To determine the difference in elevation a dumpy
level is used. The details of instruments used in each survey are given below: 1.
21
Chain survey 1. Chain and Tape 2. Cross Staff 3. Ranging rods 4. Offset Rods 5.
Arrows 2. Compass Survey 1. Prismatic Compass 2. Chain 3. Ranging Rods 4.
Offset Rods 3. Plane Table Survey 1. Plane Table with Tripod Stand 2. Alidade 3.
Trough Compass 4. ‘U’ frame with plumb bob 5. Spirit Level 6. Chain 7. Ranging
Rods 4. Leveling 1. Dumpy Level 2. Tripod Stand 3. Telescopic Metric Staf

Hand Levels can be a great tool for use by professionals and consumers. They are a
very practical and low cost tool with a wide variety of uses. They were first created
when someone thought of attaching a spirit level to a telescope. Once the
instrument is level, the user looks through the telescope to compare different points
against the same reference point. It is used for rough leveling and not designed for
precision work. Sometimes Professional Land Surveyors or Grading Contractors
will use a Hand Level to get an idea or estimation of level instead of taking the
time to set up a tripod with a leveling instrument. EngineerSupply sells Hand
Levels. Internal stadia markings assist the user in determining the distances. Land
Surveyors and Land Development Professionals use Hand Levels and Sight Levels
as they are ideal for preliminary survey and simple distance estimation. Hand

22
levels are ideal for laying lawns, paving, brick-laying, creating retaining walls,
grading and excavation work, shed and pergola construction, fencing and
numerous other home DIY projects.

Abney Levels
An Abney Level is similar to a Hand Level in that it is a telescope with a spirit
level attached. The main distinction is that the spirit level on an Abney level is not
set in a static horizontal position. An Abney Level features a graduated arc.
EngineerSupply sells Abney Levels. Once the arc is set at a specific degree it will
cause the spirit level to show level at that specific angle. Many Abney levels will
feature items such as stadia and will have a feature to focus items at different
distances. Some even have a magnification feature. Abney levels are easier to use
and inexpensive. They are used to measure degrees, percent of grade and
topographic elevation. The user can then determine height, volume and grade
through manipulating the readings with trigonometry.

23
 Land Surveyors, Builders, Contractors, Agriculture Professionals, Foresters, and
many other Professionals use Abney levels. One unique use of an Abney level is to
indirectly measure the height of a tree.

Dumpy Levels
Dumpy Levels are more like a Builders' Level than a Hand Level. It is not a hand-
held tool, but instead needs to be mounted on a tripod. It has largely been replaced
by Auto Levels and a Builders' Level. It needs to be perfectly level on all 4
leveling screws because it has no self leveling features like most Auto Levels
today. Any slight variation will cause measurements to be inaccurate. Auto Levels
allow the user to set the instrument close to level and the instrument will adjust the
fine level using its internal compensator. This decreases setup time and improves
accuracy of measurements. Although dumpy levels are not typically used anymore

24
 many people will refer to Auto Levels and Builders' Levels as “dumpy levels”
despite the vast differences in the instruments.

Uses of the dumpy level Instrument: Dumpy level is commonly used leveling
instrument to locate the points in same horizontal plane. It is also called as
automatic level or builder's level. Elevations of different points and distance
between the points of same elevation can be determined by dumpy level
A dumpy level, also known as an automatic level or builder’s level, is a tool
designed to find the height of land masses. Though these devices may look
intimidating or confusing, dumpy levels are fairly easy to use once you know how
to set them up and what kinds of measurements they provide.

The important parts of telescope are as follows

• Eye piece

• Objective lens

• Diaphragm

• Focusing screw

• Ray shade
Eye piece Eye piece is used by the observer’s eye to view the distant object. It
contains magnifying glass which magnify the observing image and also the cross
hairs of diaphragm. So, accurate reading can be obtained. Erecting eyepiece is used
to view the normal image which is generally inverted by objective lens. Objective
lens Objective lens are provided at the other end of the telescope. The objective
lens consists of two parts, the front part consists convex type lens and the back part
consists concave lens. So, the image obtained from the objective lens is always
inverted. Diaphragm Diaphragm is provided in front of the eye piece. It contains
cross hairs made of dark metal which are arranged in perfect perpendicular

25
positions. These cross hairs are used by the eye piece to bisect the objective

through objective lens.

Focusing screw Focusing screw is used to adjust the focus if cross hairs and the
image clarity. The magnification of eye piece is managed by this focusing
screw. Ray shade Ray shade is used to prevent the objective lens from sunlight or
any other light rays which may cause disturbance to the line of sight.

Bubble tubes
Bubble tubes are provided to check the level of the instrument. Two bubble tubes
are provided in a dumpy level which are arranged perpendicular to each other on
the top of the telescope. One tube is called as longitudinal bubble tube and another
is called as cross bubble tube. The instrument is said to be in perfect position when
both the bubbles of the tubes are at center or middle of the tube.

Compass
Compass is used to determine the magnetic bearing of line. In case of dumpy level,
circular compass is provided just under the telescope. The compass contains a
pointer in it and readings are marked inside it. The pointer is set to zero when it
faces the north line from which the magnetic bearings are measured.

26
Vertical spindle
Vertical spindle is located at the center of the whole instrument. The telescope can
be rotated in horizontal direction with respect to vertical spindle. The instrument is
connected to the tripod stand using vertical spindle.

Tribrach
Tribrach plate is parallel to the leveling head or trivet. It is connected to trivet by
leveling screws or foot screws which can adjust the tribrach plate. The horizontal
level of the instrument can be achieved by adjusting this tribrach plate.

Foot screws
Foot screws are provided to regulate the tribrach position and hence the instrument
can be leveled which is known by observing the bubble tube. The tribrach plates
can be lowered or raised using foot screws. The position of tribrach is said to be
correct when the bubble in bubble tube is at center.

Leveling head

27
Leveling head is also called as trivet. It contains two triangular shaped plates
which are arranged parallel to each other. Three groves are provided at the three
corners of the plates in which foot screws are supported.

Tripod
Tripod is used to support the whole leveling instrument on its top. It consists three
legs which can be adjustable to required position. The legs are of same height and
they may be solid or hollow. Steel shoes are provided at the bottom of each leg to

hold the ground in a fixed position.

Procedure of Dumpy Level Surveying

The procedure of dumpy level surveying starts with some temporary adjustments
which are:

• Setting up of instrument

• Leveling up

• Focusing
Setting up of Dumpy Level
28
The instrument is fixed to the tripod stand using clamp screws. Spread the tripod
legs and position the instrument at convenient height. Firstly fix the two legs in the
ground at a point and centering of bubble in the bubble tubes is done by adjusting
third leg.

Leveling up
The leveling up of an instrument is done using foot screws or leveling screws. In
this case, the telescope is arranged parallel to the any two leveling screws and the
bubble in the tube is centered by turning both the screws either inwards or
outwards. When it is centered, then the telescope is turned 90o and the third screw
is turned until the bubble come to center. Repeat the process until the bubble in the
tube always stays at the middle in any position of telescope.

Focusing
Focusing is done by adjusting eye piece and focusing screw. Eye piece is adjusted
until the cross hairs of diaphragm are clearly visible. To eliminate the parallax
error, a white paper is used to obtain sharp vision of cross hairs. Focusing screw is
adjusted to view the clear image of the objective or staff. Focusing is said to be
done when the cross hairs bisect the objective or staff with clear vision. After
completion the above temporary adjustments, now it’s time to take levels of
required positions or points. The telescope is rotated towards the line of objective
or staff and bisect it. The levels are noted at different points which values are
decided from a known bench mark point in that area. The details are tabulated as
below.

29
 HCR LCR
Distance
(higher (lower (HCR-
Position Level of point Remarks
cross cross LCR)
observed reading from / Error
hair hair x 100
instrument
reading) reading)

1 - - - - - -

2 - - - - - -

3 - - - - - -

Benefits of Dumpy Level Surveying

• Dumpy level is easy to use.

• Adjustments can be made as per the requirement on any type of ground.

• Level readings are very accurate in case of dumpy level.

• Optical power is high for dumpy level.

• Price of dumpy level is cheap when compared to other instruments.

Drawbacks of Dumpy Level Surveying

• It is limited to only horizontal angle measurement.

• The angles obtained by dumpy are not that accurate.

30
References :

1. Dumpy Level Work : Jams Vose, 1956

2. Surveying and Levelling – S.S. Bhavikatti, 2010
3. Notes on the Adjustments of the Dumpy
4. Surveying and Leveling - N.N. Basak
5. Building Construction – B.C. Punmia
6. Fundamental of Sureying – Roy S.K
7. Landforms of the Earth = Mateo Gutierrez
8. Rocks and Minerals – Roald Bonewitz
9. Rock Weathering - Dorothy Carroll, 1970
10. Erosion and Weathering – Willa Dee, 2013

*****************

31