Contouring

CONTOURING
Contouring in surveying is the determination of

elevation of various points on the ground and fixing
these points of same horizontal positions in the
contour map.
Thus relative position of points are represented both

horizontally as well as vertically
• A map showing contour lines is known as Contour map.
• Elevations and depressions of surface of ground are shown by contour lines on a Map
• A contour map gives an idea of the altitudes of the surface features as well as
their relative positions in plan serves the purpose of both, a plan and a
section.
• The process of tracing contour lines on the surface of the earth is called
Contouring.
Objective of Contouring
► It helps to study the nature of the terrain or ground of the
proposed site.
► It is essential for determining the profile along the section line
and working out the depth of cutting and filling during the road
alignment survey.
► To find the capacity of a reservoir and volume of earthwork
especially in a mountainous region.
► It is important for determining the location of bunds, dams and
identifying the flood level.
► It is inevitable for route survey of roads, canals etc., and also
for balancing the earthworks.
FACTORS ON WHICH CONTOUR INTERVAL
DEPENDS
The Nature of the Ground
In flat and uniformly sloping country, the contour interval is
small , but in broken and mountainous region the contour
interval should be large otherwise the contours will come
too close to each other.
The Purpose and extent of the survey.

Contour interval is small if the area to be surveyed is small
and the maps are required to be used for the design work
or for determining the quantities of earth work etc. while
wider interval shall have to be kept for large areas and
comparatively less important works.
FACTORS ON WHICH CONTOUR INTERVAL
DEPENDS Contd..
The Scale of the Map.

The contour interval should be in the inverse ratio
to the scale of the map i.e. the smaller the scale,
the greater is the contour interval.
Time and Expense of Field and Office work.

The smaller the interval, the greater is the amount
of field-work and plotting work.
PURPOSE CONTOUR
INTERVAL
Small scale maps of rough country 5m , 10m ,or 25m
Large scale maps of flat country 0.5m
Location surveys 2m
Building sites 0.5m
Reservoirs and town planning scheme 0.5m to 1m
For detailed design of works and 0.5m

computation of earthwork quantities
from contours
Contour interval once adopted is constant
throughout the survey
The contour interval is constant

between the consecutive contours while
the horizontal equivalent is variable and
depends upon the slope of the ground.
1. Index lines are the thickest contour lines and
are usually labeled with a number at one point
along the line. This tells you the elevation
above sea level.
2. Intermediate lines are the thinner, more
common, lines between the index lines. They
usually don't have a number label. Typically one
index line occurs for every five intermediate
lines.
3. Supplementary lines appear as dotted lines,
indicating flatter terrain.
Characteristics of Contours
► All points in a contour line have the same elevation.
► 2 contour lines of diff elevation cannot cross each other
► Contour lines close together indicate steep slope (top of hill) ,
far apart means gentle slope (foot of hill), equally spaced for
uniform slope
► A series of straight, parallel and equally spaced contours
represent plane surface
steep gentle Uniform Plane surface

► Contour passing through any point is perpendicular to the line of steepest
slope at that point. Thus, perpendicular dis b/w contour lines is the shortest
distance
► A series of closed contour lines on map represents a hill, if higher values
are inside
► A series of closed contour lines on map represents a
depression, if higher values are outside
► Each contour must close upon itself with within a map or

outside its borders – a contour line cannot end on a map
except at the edge
► They form U shape round it with concave side of curve

towards higher ground
► They form sharp curves of V shape across it with convex side of curve towards
higher ground
► Same contour appears on either side of a ridge or a valley
Locating Contours
i. Direct method
ii. Indirect method
iii. Direct Method:
 Most accurate method-
 used for contouring small areas
 Slow and tedious
 a lot of time is wasted in searching points of the
same elevation for a contour.
 Contours to be plotted are actually located on
ground (with level)
 These points are then surveyed and plotted on
plan.
50
B.M
48
46
DIRECT METHOD OF
CONTOURING
Procedure:
1. Level is set up in a commanding position
2. HI is determined by taking BS and RL of the BM
3. Required staff readings to fix points on the various
contour lines are obtained (HI-RL)
4. Staff is moved up or down the slope until desired
reading is obtained and the Point is marked
5. Several points are marked on each contour (one
contour at a time)
6. Level is set up in new position and the process
repeated
7. Points are plotted and contours drawn by joining
them by curved lines
 Method of Radial Lines
 Used when area is not extensive
 Radial lines are range out by theodolite or compass in
directions of greater utility

 BMs are first established at the centre and near the ends of
radial lines
 Contour points are located on the radial lines by suitable
survey methods ( working either inwards or outwards)

 Contour points are plotted and contours are drawn.
ii. Indirect methods
 Rapid ,cheaper and less tedious than direct

method and commonly used
 Also called Contouring by Spot Levels or Heights
 RL of a point on the surface of ground is called
the spot level or spot height
 Spot levels at various representative points are
observed, plotted and interpolated
Indirect methods of locating ground points

1. By cross sections
2. By squares
3. Tacheometric method
1. By Cross-Sections
• Most commonly used in route surveys

• Cross-sections are run transverse to the centre line of a
road, railway, or canals and points of change of slope
• Spacing of sections depends upon character of the
ground
Hilly country- 20m , flat country-100m
• Sections should be spaced more closely on spurs &
in ravines
• The C/S and points can then be plotted and the
elevation of each point is marked
• The contour lines are interpolated on the assumption that there is
uniform slope b/w 2 points on 2 adjacent contours
• In the fig, points marked with dots are points actually surveyed in the
field while points marked ‘x’ are points interpolated on contours
2. By squares
• Suitable if area is not very extensive
• Area is divided into squares and marked with
pegs
• Size of square can vary with nature of ground and contour
interval (5 m to 20m side)
• Elevations of ground at corners of square are
determined using level
• System of squares is plotted and elevations are
marked and contours drawn by interpolating
• Method known as spot levelling
SQUARE METHOD
3. Tacheometric method
• Suitable when contour map of hill is required
• A number of lines radiating at a given angle from each
traverse are set out
• Representative points are located on these lines by
observing – i) vertical angles &
ii) staff readings
• Elevation & distances of points are calculated, plotted
and contours are drawn
Interpolation of contours
 Process of spacing the contours proportionally
between the plotted ground points
 Contours may be interpolated by
i. Estimation
ii. Arithmetic calculation &
iii. Graphical methods
 It is assumed that slope of ground between any two
random points is uniform
i. By estimation
o Rough method –used on small scale maps
o The position of contour points between ground points are
estimated and contours are drawn through them
ii. By arithmetic calculation
o Used where great accuracy is required
iii. By graphical method
o Simple and accurate
o Contours can be interpolated from spot levels
iv. By software
Uses of contours:
1. To get the information regarding the land surface
2. To select the most economical or suitable site for
engineering works
3. To compute the quantities of earthwork
4. To determine the area of drainage basin and the
capacity of reservoir
5. To draw sections in a direction (L/S &C/S)
6. Intervisibility of two points can be ascertained
7. Route of a given grade line can be traced

Contouring

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CONTOURING

Contouring in surveying is the determination of

Thus relative position of points are represented both

The Purpose and extent of the survey.

The Scale of the Map.

Time and Expense of Field and Office work.

Large scale maps of flat country 0.5m

Building sites 0.5m

Reservoirs and town planning scheme 0.5m to 1m

For detailed design of works and 0.5m

The contour interval is constant

steep gentle Uniform Plane surface

► Each contour must close upon itself with within a map or

► They form U shape round it with concave side of curve

 Radial lines are range out by theodolite or compass in

directions of greater utility

survey methods ( working either inwards or outwards)

 Rapid ,cheaper and less tedious than direct

Indirect methods of locating ground points

• Most commonly used in route surveys

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