| What is a Dumpy or Automatic Level | | | | A laser level is a fairly recent invention, and has |
| Let us look at the history of surveying levels. | | | | changed the way surveying is being done. With a |
| Since the Dumpy level was invented in early | | | | self leveling laser level you can be assured that |
| 1700's it has been considered the standard, that | | | | your measurement will be as accurate as humanly |
| was up until around the 1830's when the transit | | | | possible. A laser level is a level that uses a laser |
| level was invented. Recently the level has changed | | | | light to project a line. Most surveying laser levels |
| faster than you can keep up with it, but through | | | | us a rotating mirror so that they can project a |
| all this the Dumpy level has remained a reliable | | | | horizontal plane around in a circle. A laser level is |
| back up just in case the modern levels | | | | more accurate then a Dumpy level but can break |
| breakdown. | | | | down from time to time. |
| A dumpy level, builder's auto level, leveling | | | | As its name suggests, a laser level is a leveler |
| instrument or automatic level is an optical | | | | that illuminates a horizontal plane using a laser. It |
| instrument used in surveying and building to | | | | was originally developed by an inventor named |
| transfer, measure, or set horizontal levels. | | | | Steve Orosz. The laser level works by being |
| The level instrument is set up on a tripod and, | | | | stationed on a tripod. This projector also has a |
| depending on the type, either roughly or | | | | rotatable head with a mirror, so that the laser |
| accurately set to a leveled condition using | | | | beam can also sweep across the vertical axis. It is |
| footscrews (levelling screws). The operator looks | | | | adjusted through the many visually interpretable |
| through the eyepiece of the telescope while an | | | | level vials and the numerous screws that must be |
| assistant holds a tape measure or graduated staff | | | | manually adjusted by a human for correction |
| vertical at the point under measurement. The | | | | projection. |
| instrument and staff are used to gather and/or | | | | Then, a staff with an operator equipped to it with |
| transfer elevations (levels) during site surveys or | | | | a moveable sensor, detects the laser beam and |
| building construction. Measurement generally starts | | | | makes an audible signal every time the line is in |
| from a benchmark with known height determined | | | | accordance with the beam. The key behind the |
| by a previous survey, or an arbitrary point with | | | | laser level is the position of the sensor on the |
| an assumed height. | | | | graduated staff, as it interprets the elevation |
| The Dumpy level was a simple device that was | | | | differences between various points on a certain |
| nothing more then a small telescope with a bubble | | | | terrain. |
| level attached to it. The newer Dumpy levels | | | | There is also a tower mounted laser level. This is |
| have a few more bell and whistles but are still the | | | | often used together with the wheel |
| same basic design. Some of the drawbacks of a | | | | tractor-scraper, which has a sensor attached to it. |
| Dumpy level are the time it takes to set up and | | | | This is commonly used during land laser leveling |
| get level, the slightest mistake in setting it up can | | | | process (such as agricultural lands and when |
| result in an inaccurate reading, and taking more | | | | building the foundations of skyscrapers) to flatten |
| then one measurement from different directions | | | | the land at a certain degree for a functional |
| can be off if not set up perfectly. | | | | drainage system. |
| A Laser Level And How It Works | | | | |