COURSE SUMMARY: LEVELLING SURVEY

Levelling Survey is a fundamental unit in building and civil engineering that focuses on determining height differences between points on the earth’s surface. The course equips learners with the knowledge and practical skills required to set up and use levelling instruments, take accurate staff readings, compute reduced levels, and produce levelling reports used in construction works.

The course covers the principles and purposes of levelling, including establishing datums, bench marks, and reference points for engineering projects. Learners are introduced to various levelling instruments such as the dumpy level, automatic level, laser level, and levelling staff, together with their care, handling, and field adjustments.

Practical modules guide students through different types of levelling—simple, differential, profile, cross-section, and fly levelling. Learners practice booking field notes, performing arithmetic checks, and calculating reduced levels using the Height of Instrument (HI) method and the Rise and Fall method. The course also explores common sources of errors and techniques for minimizing and correcting them.

Fieldwork forms a major component of the course, allowing learners to conduct levelling exercises on varying terrain, prepare longitudinal and cross-sectional profiles, and compile a complete levelling project report.

By the end of the course, learners gain competence in instrument setup, field measurements, data computation, error detection, and preparation of professional levelling survey documentation—skills essential for construction layout, infrastructure design, and site supervision.