THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AN AUTO LEVEL AND A DUMPY LEVEL
Auto levels and dumpy levels can both be valuable pieces of survey equipment, but there are some differences between the two. A dumpy level is a simple tool with a straightforward design. Because it has fewer moving parts, it’s easy to use and requires less adjusting. And because it has a great deal of optical power, it can take very accurate readings. It does, however, require more user precision and manipulation to take accurate readings. It also can’t be adjusted to measure all angles. And because there’s no compensator mechanism, it won’t do automatic error correction. An auto level is more accurate, because it not only has a high-tech design but also has an internal compensator that will correct human error. The problem with an automatic level is that it requires more training to operate, and more adjustments will need to be performed.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AN AUTO LEVEL AND A THEODOLITE
An auto level is an optical instrument that can be used to establish or verify points on the same horizontal plane, and it has an internal mechanism that eliminates variation and inaccuracy from measurements. A theodolite is an instrument that is used for measuring both horizontal and vertical angles, and it has a mounted telescope that can be moved horizontally or vertically. When the telescope is pointed at the object you want to measure, you can determine both the horizontal and vertical axes with great precision.