Leveling Using Dumpy Levels and Laser Levels

Today we commenced our TAFE for 2008 and started the day off with doing some research o different types of levels. As i progressed through my research i discovered i was doing the same level as Rhys so i changed to a different type of level called the Theodolite. As i read it became clear that this piece of equipment is very complicated and also very accurate, measuring within a second (a minute measurement of an angle).
The Theodolite consists of a telescope mounted on a vertical axis and also a horizontal axis. This means that the telescope can be moved not only a horizontal plane but also a vertical one so you can figure angles of rise and fall by simply reading the guages near the adjusting knobs. This gives it a significant advantage over other simpler dumpy levels.

Later on after we had presented what we had learned about each different type of level we had each researched we moved to the outside parking lot and began talking about and using the Dumpy levels and also the Laser Level. We learnt about setting the tripod rougly level, then proceeding to screw the actual level ontop of the tripod. Then we would adjust the three adjustment screws and by sighting the bull's eye spirit level, accurately make the level, level haha.
We then started staking in a few wooden poles. We made two of them level from a particular point by placing the staff ontop of the wooden pole, reading the height that was visible, then placing the staff ontop of the other pole and hammering the pole until the level showed the same height.
After we then moved the entire tripod and dumpy level to a different location, made it level again and then sighted the two poles again, with the staff ontop. The staff showed a different eight, but as long as the other pole showed the same height, then we knew that the dumpy level was accurate. It turned out though, that in our three different locations, we were coming up with different variations in height, proving that the dumpy level was most probably not accurate.