An optical level is a tool is used for a range of measuring jobs including setting out, landscaping, profiling and general levelling tasks. The optical level is a tool used for measurement in the surveying and general construction industries. As such the optical level is a popular choice with surveyors of all disciplines, civil engineers, landscape gardeners, builders and general contractors. As well as being extremely user-friendly these optical level automatically self-level after a reading is taken saving time on laborious measurement jobs on site and elsewhere.
WHY USE OPTICAL LEVELS IN SURVEYING?
- These tools are, in essence, “leveling tools” which provide builders with the vital information they need to “level the ground” before construction begins. Of course, manufacturers long ago realized that optical levels could also be useful for small projects.
- Optical levels enable construction professionals to erect high-rise buildings, construct roads and highways and complete all sorts of huge projects. Optical levels used for these massive projects are often surprisingly small, compact and portable.
- They are also packed with the kind of technology that enables a builder to clearly and effectively determine contours in the land upon which construction will take place.
So it should come as no surprise that many optical levels have been designed as surveyors’ equipment that is best suited for smaller projects such as landscaping, fence building and pipe-laying.
Big or small project, surveyors, construction professionals and civil engineers all readily admit that the work they do is helped immensely by optical levels.
AUTOMATIC, DIGITAL AND PRECISE OPTICAL LEVELS
Automatic Levels
Professional automatic optical levels are built for the construction site and general survey tasks. They are quickly set up, for precise levelling . This covers all areas from general construction applications through to the precision levelling for deformation studies and industrial measuring tasks.
Digital Levels
Digital levels improve standards for levelling on construction sites and general surveying tasks. They are simple to use, take measurements quickly, and minimise human error, while the integrated programs enhance levelling work. With a digital level there is up to 50% time saving when compared with automatic levels. The main reasons are the fast data capture and safe means of data preparation, it saves measured data on internal storage devices.
Precise levels
A precise optical level makes use of a parallel plate micrometer which is placed in front of the lens allowing small alterations to the image of the bar-coded staff. This allows for extremely high levels of accuracy.
Precise levels can perform a huge number of surveying jobs including: -
- Levelling of all types
- Heighting for construction of roads, railways, pipelines, tunnels, etc.
- Setting out work
- Area levelling to high accuracy
- Deformation measurement and monitoring of bridges
OPTICAL LEVEL BUYING GUIDE
This tool is mostly preferred by builders, survey professionals and contractors because of the ease of use and quick setup feature. There is wide range of varieties of optical levels and one can easily get confused on which unit to select. There are certain factors that you can consider while buying an optical level and we are here to provide some guidelines on how to choose an optical level.
Applications for Optical Levels
The vital factor to be considered while buying a dumpy level is the purpose. Different models are manufactured for different work site. Basically, sites can be divided into four;
Daily leveling task for construction sites: The optical levels for this application are designed and manufactured for simple measuring and leveling tasks in any entry level construction site. Almost all the standard optical levels can easily perform this type of task.
Daily leveling with higher demands: The tools designed for this purpose are for fulfilling higher product demands of the construction site. Many high quality featured dumpy levels can be used at this type of work site.
Advanced leveling: This application needs a tool that has been manufactured to provide higher accuracy and performance demand. Only few high quality optical levels are meant for this type of job site.
Precision leveling: The optical levels for this purpose are specially designed only for this application and cannot be used for other less accuracy demanding tasks. This type of tool is used for jobs like monitoring and settlement and deformation measurement.
NOTE : Optical level must be selected according to the type of task and construction site.
BUYING AN OPTICAL LEVEL
So you have decided a optical level is the device for you. The next problem is which one? Features wise most auto levels offer pretty much the same. Auto levels come in a number of different magnifications; 20x, 24x, 26x, 28x, 32x and greater, but, what does this mean. The greater the magnification the bigger the image appears so the measurements on a staff a easier to read. But and its quite a big but, the greater the magnification the smaller the field of view. So you see a smaller area through the eyepiece, this can mean that finding the staff to read can become harder. Most magnifications sold are between the 24x and 28x, this seems to be the sweet spot.
The two main components in an optical level are the compensator and the optical lenses. Experience has shown that compensator on most modern optical levels can be of very similar quality, and alo that optical clarity can vary allot particularly on the very cheap units. Poor optical clarity means a milky image which can make focusing and reading measurements difficult. More expensive models are in general have better construction and materials.
Kindly click the link or image below to place your order
https://www.deluxe.com.ng/product-category/optical-level
www.deluxe.com.ng