What Are Auto Levels?
Auto levels are a type of surveying instrument that are installed on a level ground and used to check the level of the ground or buildings and measure height differences by looking through the lens.
A level that does not have an automatic function must be installed perfectly in relation to the ground and must be visually checked for levelness at the time of installation. This function allows for easy installation in a wide range of locations and eliminates the need to check the level during installation.
Applications of Auto Levels
Auto Levels are widely used in civil engineering and construction. The most popular use is to check the difference in elevation between two points when surveying land or roads.
When constructing buildings, they are used to check if the ground is level and to level it if necessary. A level that automatically reads the scale is called an electronic level.
A laser level, a type of Auto Level with reduced accuracy, is used not only to ensure the level by taking advantage of the straightness of the laser, but also to set the gradient and operate construction equipment.
Principles of Auto Levels
The most common principle of maintaining the levelness of Auto Levels is based on the characteristics of a pendulum.
When a level is placed on an unlevel ground, the scale viewed through the lens will be tilted as well if no correction is made. The Auto Levels utilize the property of a pendulum to always point in the vertical direction, and the scale display is suspended from the pendulum, so that the level is always corrected in the vertical direction within a certain range. To stop and stabilize the pendulum, an air brake system using a piston or cylinder, or a magnetic brake system using a magnet are used. The display format of the scale is generally optical.
The principle of an electronic level is the same as that of Auto Levels, but the scale is assigned on a bar code and the reading of the scale is automated by analyzing the image.