Bench Mark
A Bench Mark (BM) is a relatively permanent object, natural or artificial, bearing a marked point whose elevation is known. BMs are established over an area to serve as (1) starting points for leveling operations so the topographic parties can determine other unknown elevation points and (2) reference marks during later construction work. BMs are classified as Permanent or Temporary. Generally, BM indicates a permanent bench mark, and TBM a temporary bench mark. TBMs are established for a particular job and retained for the duration of that job. Throughout the United States, a series of BMs has been established by various government agencies. These identification markers are set in stone, iron pipe, or concrete, and are generally marked to show the elevation above sea level. When the elevation is not marked, you can find out what it is by contacting the government agency that originally set the BM. Be sure you give them the identification number on the marker.
Bench Marks may be constructed in several ways. Figure 1 shows brass shaft stocks in the tops of permanent horizontal control points, also known as monuments. Monuments of this type are sometimes also used for vertical control BMs. Original BMs may be constructed in the same manner. When regular BM disks are not available, brass, not steel, 50-caliber empty shell casings may be used. The shank of the empty shell casings should be drilled crosswise and a nail inserted to prevent its being pulled out or forced out by either expansion or contraction.
A spike may be driven into the root of a tree or placed higher up on the trunk of the tree when the limb clearance allows higher rod readings. Figure 3 shows the recommended way to do this. Hold the rod on the highest edge of the spike, and mark the elevation on the blazed portion of the tree.
Figure 4 shows a spike driven on a pole or post that also represents a BM. Drive the spike in horizontally on the face of the post in line with the direction of the level line. For the reading, hold the rod on the uppermost edge of the spike. After figuring the elevation, mark it on the pole or post for future reference.
Stakes driven into the ground can also be used as TBMs, especially if no frost is expected before they are needed. A detailed description of these points is just as important as one for a monument station.
In most permanent military installations, monument BMs are established in a grid system approximately one-half mile apart throughout the base to have a ready reference for elevations of later construction in the station. These BMs are generally fenced to mark their locations. The fence also serves to protect them from being accidentally disturbed.
BM systems or level nets consist of a series of BMs established within a prescribed order of accuracy along closed circuits and tied to a datum. These nets are adjusted by computations that minimize the effects of accidental errors and are identified as being of a specific order of accuracy.
In certain areas, Tidal Bench Marks must be established to obtain the starting datum plane or to check previously established elevations. Tidal bench marks are permanent BMs set on high ground and are tied to the tide station near the water surface.
Tide stations are classified as primary and secondary. Primary stations require observations for periods of nineteen years or more to derive basic tidal data for a locality. Secondary stations are operated over a limited period, usually less than one year, and for a specific purpose, such as checking elevations. The secondary station observations are always compared to, and computed from, data obtained by primary stations.
A tide station is set up, and observations are made for a period that is determined by a desired accuracy. These observations are compared with a primary tide station in the area then furnished with a mean value of sea level in the area.
A closed loop of spirit levels is run from the tide station over the tidal BMs and is tied back to the tide station. The accuracy of this level line must be the same as or higher than the accuracy required for the BMs.
For permanency, tidal BMs usually are set in sets of three and away from the shoreline where natural activity or future construction will not disturb or destroy them.