Nivellieren

Nivellieren refers to the process of establishing or verifying a horizontal reference plane or determining height differences between points. It is a core technique in surveying, construction, and carpentry, used to ensure surfaces, foundations, and alignments are level and consistent with a chosen datum.

Common methods include spirit leveling, which uses a leveling instrument and a graduated staff to measure vertical differences, and laser or optical leveling, which can project a level line over a distance. Instruments range from traditional dumpy levels and automatic or digital levels to laser levels and rotating lasers. Height differences are expressed in units such as meters or millimeters.

Procedure typically involves setting up an instrument on a stable tripod, precisely leveling it, and taking readings at reference points with a leveling staff. The measured differences are combined to produce a height profile or to adjust the workpiece or terrain. In precise leveling, a closed loop is used to check internal consistency, minimizing cumulative errors.

Applications include the layout of buildings and roads, excavation and foundation work, drainage design, rail and road alignment, and geodetic surveys. In carpentry, nivellieren also describes adjusting components to achieve true horizontal alignment.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from the concept of a level (niveau) and appears in several languages in engineering and surveying contexts.