The obvert elevation of a pipe is the elevation of the inner top surface of the pipe (as opposed to "invert" which is the inner bottom surface of the pipe). Invert (and obvert) is usually used in reference to pipe and not manholes, since the invert elevation is where the water flow calculations begin. Based on this interpretation, the obvert (at a manhole) can be measured as the distance from the manhole rim to the inside top of the pipe(s).