What is profile leveling?

Profile leveling can be defined as determining the elevations of points in a series at measured intervals along a line, such as the centerline of a proposed road. Profile leveling is an extension of differential leveling, and a closure check is required if the line runs between bench marks.

Profile leveling is also defined as a surveying method carried out along a central line of a piece of land on which linear engineering work is to be conducted. The route of the profile can be a straight line such as a short sidewalk, a broken line such as a sewer or transmission line or a series of straight lines connected by curves such as a canal or railroad.