How to Find Distance by Leveling Machine For Non Survey Engineer-DIY

Preparing to measure
Setting up the total station over a ground point

1.Place the tripod approximately over the ground point. 

2.Inspect the tripod from various sides and correct its position so that the tripod plate is roughly horizontal and above the ground point (illustration, top left). 

3.Push the tripod legs firmly into the ground and use the central fixing screw to secure the instrument on the tripod. 

4.Switch on the laser plummet (or, for older instruments, look through the optical plummet) and turn the foot screws so that the laser dot or the optical plummet is centered on the ground point (illustration, top right). 

5. Center the bull’s-eye bubble by adjusting the lengths of the tripod legs (illustration below). 

6.After accurately leveling up the instrument, release the central fixing screw so that you can displace it on the tripod plate until the laser dot is centered precisely over the ground point. 

7.Tighten the central fixing screw again.

Measuring with the level

Measuring distances optically with the level

The reticle carries two stadia lines arranged symmetrically to the cross hair. Their spacing is such that the distance can be derived by multiplying the corresponding staff section by 100.

Line levelling

If the points A and B are widely separated, the height difference between them is determined by line levelling with target distances generally between 30 and 50 metres. Pace out the distances between the instrument and the two staffs; they need to be about the same. 

1. Set up the instrument at S1. 
2. Set up the staff precisely vertically at point B; read off and record the height (backsight R). 
3. Set up the staff at the turning point 1 (ground plate or prominent ground point); read off and record the height (foresight V). 
4. Set up the instrument at S2 (the staff remains at the turning point 1). 
5. Carefully rotate the staff at the turning point 1 so that it faces the instrument. 
6. Read off the backsight and continue.

Staking out point heights

In an excavation, a point B is to be set out at a height 
∆H = 1.00 metre below street level (Point A). 

1.Set up the level so that the sighting distances to A and B are about the same. 2.Set up the staff at A and read off the backsight R = 1.305. 
3.Set up the staff at B and read off the foresight V = 2.520. The difference h from the required height at B is calculated as: h = V – R - ∆H = 2.520 – 1.305 – 1.00 = +0.215m 
4.Drive in a post at B and mark the required height (0.215m above ground level).

It is a simple but useful way to calculate the distance by using machines. By viewing this vlog one can easily learn the technique and calculation. Hope this can help you in your DIY to find the distance in your project.