Laser level

In surveying and construction, the laser level is a control tool consisting of a rotating laser beam projector that can be affixed to a tripod. The tool is leveled according to the accuracy of the device and projects a fixed red or green beam in a plane about the horizontal and/or vertical axis.[1]

Not to be confused with Laser line level.
A rotary laser level set up and used to level sand fill in trenches. The graduated staff is leaning on the pile of sand.

Development

The concept of a laser level has been around since at least the early 1970s,[2] the original spinning-mirror design laser plane and line level was patented by the late 1980s,[3] and the compact lens-based laser line level (as produced by many tool manufacturers today) was patented in the late 1990s.[4]

Rotary laser level

A rotary laser level is a more advanced laser level in that it spins the beam of light fast enough to give the effect of a complete 360 degree horizontal or vertical plane, thus illuminating not just a fixed line, but a horizontal plane.[5] The laser beam projector employs a rotating head with a mirror for sweeping the laser beam about a vertical axis. If the mirror is not self-leveling, it is provided with visually readable level vials and manually adjustable screws for orienting the projector. A staff carried by the operator is equipped with a movable sensor, which can detect the laser beam and gives a signal when the sensor is in line with the beam (usually an audible beep). The position of the sensor on the graduated staff, also known as a grade rod, or story pole, allows comparison of elevations between different points on the terrain. Most laser levels are used in the construction industry.

Tower-mounted laser level

A tower-mounted laser level is used in combination with a sensor on a wheel tractor-scraper in the process of land laser leveling to bring land (for example, an agricultural field) to near-flatness with a slight grade for drainage.

Benefits[6]
  • For better distribution of water
  • For water savings (reduces the amount of water required for irrigation)
  • For Improvement in nutrient use efficiencies
  • Option for Precision Farming
  • Higher crop productivity
  • Reduces weed problems[7]
  • Energy saving[8]

See also

References
  1. Blake, L. S. (22 October 2013). Civil Engineer's Reference Book. Elsevier. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4831-0233-7.
  2. US patent 3897637
  3. US patent 4973158
  4. US patent 5836081, Steven J. Orosz, Jr., "Light beam leveling means and method", issued 1998-11-17, assigned to Schroeder, Charles F.
  5. J. Uren; W.F. Price (17 March 2010). Surveying for Engineers. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 543–. ISBN 978-1-137-05279-7.
  6. "LASER LEVELING". dswcpunjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  7. "Laser Leveling". www.dswcpunjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  8. "LASER LEVELING". dswcpunjab.gov.in. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
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