The Automatic Level or Optical Level is a workhorse in the construction industry.
There are many different models of automatic level over a huge price range, so how do you select the one that’s best suited to your needs? We will present to you a selection from the available automatic level offerings manufactured by the leading supplier of surveying equipment Leica Geosystems which cover a range of tasks.
The Leica Jogger Series of Automatic Levels
The Jogger series of automatic levels are ideally suited to the general constructions industry. This robust level is ideal for use in the construction site environment. It is a very economical and versatile automatic level.
The Leica Runner Series of Automatic Builders Levels
The Runner 20 and 24 are designed to be site tough and well priced automatic builders levels.
Quick and very easy to set up and use they become an essential part of your every day on site kit.
The NA700 Series of Automatic Levels
the most robust and job site tough levels on the market.
The Leica LA700 series of automatic levels can withstand on site knocks, vibrations from machinery and exposure to the wettest site environments. No need for checking or adjustment just keep on working day after day.
The NA2 Series of Automatic Levels
These top of the range universal levels meet all expectations regarding accuracy, reliability and ease of use.
Designed by surveyors for surveyors. The NA2 series levels are a must where high precision is required.
The Automatic Level
Automatic levels are typically used on construction sites to measure heights relative to a horizontal plane. This is obviously an essential requirement for all construction work. Whether it be setting foundations or landscaping.
An optical level is effectively a telescope mounted on a base plate. The base plate allows the telescope to be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the base plate. The base plate has adjustment to allow it to be set level (horizontal). Thus the view through the telescope will describe a horizontal plane.
The original Dumpy or Wye optical levels were able to produce accurate measurements but required greater precision in setting. The automatic level brought with it a significant improvement in productivity and possibly overall accuracy.
The automatic level utilises a swinging prism mechanism which provides an automatic optical compensation for small setting errors. Typically Leica automatic levels will compensate for misalignments of +-15′ (+-0.25 degrees) with an accuracy of better than 0.5″. The accuracy improves as the quality of the level improves.
The compensator has a settling time (it is a damped mechanical device). In quality Leica levels this time is minimal.
The best automatic levels are designed for easy set up and transport. They have to be durable and efficient to allow accurate measurements to be quickly taken. Telescope magnification is another variable that has to be considered before you make your selection. You need to consider the physical size of the sites you are working on. Automatic levels come with different telescope magnification. This is often denoted in the model number. The Leica Jogger 20 Automatic Level has a 20 times magnification whereas the NA724 Automatic Level has a 24 times magnification. In some cases as in the top of the range NA2 Automatic Level additional eye pieces are available to provide a range of magnification.
In addition to the above one needs to ensure that the Automatic Level you choose is robust enough to handle the site environment. Levels should be dust and waterproof to known standards.
A word of caution, please make sure you know what is included for the price. Some automatic levels are supplied with a tripod and staff as a complete package bundle.
Just remember if you have a question call the supplier. Any good supplier of surveying equipment will be able to provide sound advice and technical knowledge on all aspects of the equipment they have on offer.
The correctly selected automatic level will last a long time and as it is an optical/mechanical device will always be ready for action. No need to keep a battery on charge for these devices!
