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Geodetic Levelling
  Geodetic Levelling by Mr. Alain Lee and Mr. Samondra Boodhoo


Alain and Samondra

Impression of Geodetic Levelling by Mr. Samondra Boodhoo

The Benchmarks that presently exist along the Coast were fixed in position over a decade ago. It was recommended by the facilitator, Mr.Geert Hendriks to run levels through all Benchmarks within the said locations as a check if any was disturbed. There are eighteen(18) trainees in this Module; namely from the University of Guyana, Lands and Surveys Commission and the remaining from Guyana Sea and River Defence. At least two trainees were present each day-resulting in every trainee being present a minimum of once a week. This exercise usually commenced between 6:30 to 7:00am and concluded between 10:00 to 11:30am daily; pending on the condition of the weather.

Two leveling instruments were used each day. Each instrument i.e. level, Staff and measuring tape was supervised by the Survey personnel. Trainees were given the opportunity to participate in every activity i.e. chaining, holding staff, setting up levels, focusing the telescope and eye piece, reading the level and booking field notes. These activities and the reason for each was carefully explained by the experienced personnel’s, for example the distance of the back sight and foresight should be equal. This tends to cancell out any error which may exist since the instrument will read, equally inclined or declined. The methods adapted for booking field notes were also explained.
 

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Benchmark

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Levelling stave

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Levelling instrument

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Levelling
 
The Benchmarks in which the levels had to be tied into was of permanent nature with the datum at Lighthouse at Kingston, Georgetown. However, since, the distance between some of the adjacent marks was in excess of 4 km, additional Benchmarks had to be established. The choice of nature, position and location was also explained. The location of permanent marks was provided by Lands and Surveys Commission. These marks were usually located after the completion of a days work.

This was necessary to preplan the following day work. Some day’s persons had to travel very long distances. For me (University student), I had to travel as much as 30km. Imagine traveling 30 km to reach work site before 7:00am with the present traffic situation in Guyana. Obviously I had to be out of bed no later than 5:00am. This was definitely a disaster. Leaving home with sneakers in my hands was a huge surprised. But fortunately, I got acquainted with the world of work in relate to time. I am now prepared to be out of bed before 5:00am for the next section of leveling which would be done on the West Coast of Demerara and anxiously awaiting the commencement date.
 

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Levelling Stave
 

  
Lighthouse at Kingston

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Levelling

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GPS
 
Impression of Geodetic Levelling by Mr. Alain Lee


Working with sworn land surveyors in the field is quite an interesting experience. Being accustomed to third order Geodetic Surveying and experience with first order Geodetic Leveling was quite a new experience for me. Having been taught geodetic surveying at the University of Guyana and having a basic idea of the various techniques involved to ensure accuracy. I was quite amazed at the speed with which the surveyors worked while employing these measures. While working along with the surveyors, I learned a pretty useful skill that Interpolating between points on a metric staff is quite necessary for this type of geodetic surveying. Reading a metric staff was quite confusing at first since I was accustomed to an “imperial world”, in which one only reads an imperial staff. Overall the experience was good since it is not everyday that a survey of this order is carried out and since being an Engineer a chance to witness such a survey was truly quite a rare event.

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