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Precise geometrical levelling

Course developer

Prior knowledge

BūvZD012, Geodesy and Geoinformatics

Course abstract

During the course, the doctoral students get acquainted with the historical development of precise geometric leveling and its necessity in various branches of the national economy, its application in solving various engineering and scientific tasks. Practical knowledge about instruments used in measurements, Class I and II leveling methodology. Gain in-depth knowledge of sources of leveling errors and their prevention/reduction capabilities, field data processing, accuracy estimation. Students learn the conditions of reconstruction and maintenance of the vertical support system, its application in the determination of the values of the vertical movements of the Earth's crust, the conformity of the types of geodetic signs with the exact leveling.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Knows the historical development of precise leveling, its application in various sectors of the national economy, in solving engineering and scientific tasks. Knows the methods of geometric leveling of class I and II and the tools used, possible sources of errors, processing of measurement results and assessment of accuracy. Understands the conditions of reconstruction and maintenance of the state height support system. Knowledge is assessed in seminars.
2. Can apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in tests of geometric leveling instruments, organization of class I and II leveling, evaluation of measurement accuracy. Demonstrate skills in drafting a leveling network reconstruction project. Skills should be assessed in the implementation of independent work.

3. Can organize precise geometric leveling works, taking into account various types of influencing factors. Demonstrates the application of accurate leveling data in the determination of the parameters of vertical movements of the Earth's crust, in the measurement of various types of deformations, in the determination of climate change processes. Competences should be assessed in the implementation of independent work.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Course content, requirements, literature, and normative basis. Problems and contents of precise geometric leveling. Influence of geodetic reference systems and their importance on the solutions of the tasks of precise geometric leveling. (8h)
2. Development of precise geometric leveling, preconditions, and requirements in the world. Cross - border cooperation. (8h)
3. Preconditions and requirements for the development of precise geometric leveling in Latvia. Performed precise geometric leveling in the national geodetic network. (8h)
4. Height systems in the Baltic Sea region and Latvia. Application of precise geometric leveling in reconstruction and maintenance of height support systems. (8h)
5. Tools and methods used in precise geometric leveling. Precision levelers. (8h)
6. Leveling bars, leveling pins and other geodetic support plates. (8h)
7. Methods of geodetic surveying equivalent to accurate geometric leveling. (8h)
8. Sources of precision leveling errors, possibilities of their reduction. (8h)
9. Geodetic signs and their construction, requirements for geodetic signs included in the precise geometrical leveling. (8h)
10. Geodetic signs installation site selection conditions, installation algorithm, application conditions. (8h)
11. Methods of precise geodetic measurements, geometric leveling, to obtain the highest possible measurement accuracy. (8h)
12. Application of precise geometric leveling in deformation observations. Deformation observation systems. Early warning systems. (8h)
13. Application of precision geometric leveling in the determination of vertical motion parameters of Earth's crust in climate change processes. (8h)
14. Application of precise geometric measurements in Geoid model development. (8h)
15. Application of precise geometric leveling in design and development of integrated geodetic networks (8h)

16. Future challenges of precision geometric leveling. (8h)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Written exam, expanding the discussions.
Written type of examination ending with a mark.
It is necessary to develop and defend independent works, to organize seminars in which present the topics related to precise geometric leveling.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. independent work Development of an integrated geodetic network reconstruction project for a given territory, including class I geometric leveling (volume at least 30 pages, submitted electronically, presented);
2. independent work Development of a construction deformation control project using precise geometric leveling and other geodetic systems (volume at least 30 pages, submitted electronically, presented).

3. independent work Application of precise geometric leveling results in the studies of vertical movements of the Earth's crust (volume at least 20 pages, submitted electronically, presented).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final evaluation of the study course depends on the evaluation of the theoretical questions and the solution of the tasks and the cumulative evaluation of the seminars organized within the study course.
Before passing the doctoral exam, the independent work must be completed and credited.

Compulsory reading

1. Helfriča B., Bīmane I., Kronbergs M., Zuments U. Ģeodēzija. Rīga, LĢIA, 2007, 262 lpp.
2. Urs Marti “Gravity, Geoid and Height Systems: Proceedings of the IAG Symposium GGHS, 2012, 319 p.
3. Teunissen P., Montenbruck O. - (Editors), Handbook of Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Springer International Publishing AG, 2017, 1335 p.

4. Muller J., Torge W., Geodesy 4th ed., University of Hannover, Germany, 2012, 444 p.

Further reading

1. Lu Z., Qiao S., Qu Y., Geodesy: Introduction to Geodetic Datum and Geodetic Systems, Springer, 2014, 398 p.
2. Nivelēšanas I, II un III klases nivelēšanas instrukcija, VZD, Rīga, 2001, 96 lpp.

3. Gravity, Geoid and Height Systems, Edited by Urs Marti, Proceedings of the IAG Symposium GGHS2012, October 9-12, 2012, Venice, Italy, 348 p.

Periodicals and other sources

https://geo-matching.com
https://gim-international.com
https://lgia.gov.lv
https://lmb.lv
https://leica.com
https://trimble.com
https://iugg.com
https://eurefcom

https://geoinformatics.com

Notes

The course is intended for the doctoral study program “Civil Engineering”, specialization “Geodesy and Geoinformatics”.