KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING SURVEY II

Chapter: 4 Contouring

Raju Bhele
Department of Civil Engineering
Kathmandu University
 Contents:

❑ Introduction,
❑ Definition of contour interval, horizontal equivalent
❑ Factor affecting contour interval, characteristics of contour interval
❑ Methods of locating contours
❑ Methods of interpolation of contours
❑ Use of contour maps

Chapter 4: Contouring 2
Chapter 4: Contouring 3
 Contour map

Chapter 4: Contouring Contour line showing ground features 4

Chapter 4: Contouring 5
Chapter 4: Contouring 6
Chapter 4: Contouring 7
 1. Contour Contour

❑ An Imaginary line on the ground surface

joining the points of equal elevation is known
as contour.
❑ In other words, Contour is a line in which the
ground surface is intersected by a level surface
obtained by joining points of equal elevation
❑ The line representing the contour on map is
called contour line
❑ A map showing Contour Lines is known as
Contour Map

Chapter 4: Contouring 8
 Sectional view

❑ A numerical value placed upon a contour line to

denote its elevation relative to a given datum,
usually mean sea level is called Contour Value.
❑ The process of tracing contour lines on the surface of
the earth is called contouring
❑ A contour map therefore, gives an ides of the
altitudes of the surface feature as well as their
relative positions in plan. Thus a contour map serves
the purpose of both, a plan and a section.

Plan view
Chapter 4: Contouring 9
 2. Characteristics of contour
 Two contours of different values never intersect each other.

 Two contours of different values will intersect each other in special cases only such as
cave, overhanging cliff etc.
 Contour lines of different elevation can unite to form one line in case of vertical cliff

Chapter 4: Contouring 10
❑ If the contours are closed (ring contours) and inner contour is of higher value,
then this represents hill and inner contour is of smaller value then this
represents valley/ pond/ ditch.

❑ Two contours cannot unite to form one or one contour cannot split into
two.
Chapter 4: Contouring 11
 ❑ Any contour must close on itself, but not necessarily within the limit of map.
❑ Close contours indicate steep hill/ ground and well-separated contours
indicate flat or plain ground

Chapter 4: Contouring 12
 ❑ Contour inside the valley or drain or watershed or river passes is V-shape
with convex side of the curve towards the higher ground.
❑ Contour lines cross the ridge line at right angles. They form sharp curve of U-
shapes with the concave side of the curve towards the higher ground.

Chapter 4: Contouring 13
 3. Contour interval
The constant vertical distance on a map between any two consecutive
contours is called Contour Interval.

Chapter 4: Contouring 14
Contour Interval Based on Scale and Terrain

15
Contour Interval Based on Purpose of Survey

16
 The factors affecting contour interval

1. 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.

2. Scale of the map

The contour interval should be kept inversely proportional to the scale of the
map. Smaller the scale of the map, larger the contour interval is required.
Chapter 4: Contouring 17
 3. Time and expense of field and office work
For the smaller contour interval, more time is consumed and greater amount of
money is required. Considering the work to be completed the time and the available
fund for this work, the contour interval should be selected.

4. Purpose and extent of the survey

Contour interval depends on the purpose and extent of the survey work. If the
survey is done for detail design work or accurate earthwork, small contour interval
should be chosen. If the survey is done for preliminary work, the extent of work is
high but accuracy requirement is small, so large contour interval should be taken.

Chapter 4: Contouring 18
 4. Horizontal equivalent

❑ The least horizontal distance between the consecutive contours is

called horizontal equivalent.
❑ It depends on the slope of the ground surface.
Horizontal equivalent

Chapter 4: Contouring 19
 5. Methods of locating contours
1. Direct Method
2. Indirect Method
❑By squares method

❑By cross section method

❑By tacheometric method

Chapter 4: Contouring 20
 Direct method

❑ In direct method, the contour to be plotted is actually traced on the ground.

❑ Only those points are surveyed which happen to be plotted.
❑ This operation of locating contour is also sometime called tracing out contours.
❑ The field work of the direct method is divided into two part, one is vertical and
other is horizontal control.
i) location of points on contour (vertical control)
ii) survey of points (horizontal control)
❑ The method is slow and tedious and used for small areas where the accuracy
requirement is high.
Chapter 4: Contouring 21
 Field work for direct method
Vertical control
❑ Establish a permanent bench mark of known elevation
above mean sea level, in the area of the project or accept
any suitable point as datum level with an arbitrary value
say 500 metres.
❑ Set up the level on any commanding position A from
where a reading on the staff placed on the bench mark can
be made easily.
❑ Read the level staff held on the bench mark. Assume that
its middle wire reading is 1.523 m.
❑ Calculate the height of the line of collimation of the level
i.e., 500 + 1.523 = 501.523 m. Refer to Fig. (7.7 a) 22
Chapter 4: Contouring
 Fig. 7.7 (a). Contouring with a level.
Chapter 4: Contouring 23
❑ To locate the 500 metre contour on the ground, direct the staff man to the points where staff reading is
501.523 − 500.00 = 1.523 m, and locate their positions by inserting wooden pegs.
❑ For locating the 501 metre contour, the staff man should be directed to the points where the staff reading
is 501.523–501.0 = 0.523 m.
❑ It may be noted that from this setting of the level, 502 metre contour can not be located as the elevation
of the line of collimation is only 501.523 m as shown in the Fig. (7.7 b) but the lower value contours i.e.
499 m, 498 m, etc. can be located depending upon the length of the levelling staff i.e. whether it is 4 m,
4.5 m or 5 m the contour.

Chapter 4: Contouring 24
 ❑ It is necessary that the line of collimation should intersect some portion of
the staff for locating
❑ Establish a forward station F on a pakka mark and read the levelling staff
held on it. Let its value be 3.426 m. The reduced level of F is 501.523 –
3.426 = 498.097 m.

Chapter 4: Contouring 25
Chapter 4: Contouring 26
❑ Shift the level to another commanding station say B and read the back staff on the point F. Let the
reading be 0.852 m.
❑ Calculate the height of the line of collimation of the level at B i.e. 498.097 + 0.852 = 498.949 m.
❑ The points on the contours of lower values i.e., 497, 496, 495 m, etc. can be further located from
this setting of the level.
❑ Proceed in a similar manner till entire area is contoured.

Chapter 4: Contouring 27
 Horizontal control
❑ After having located the points on various contour, they are to be surveyed
with suitable control system.
❑ The system to be adopted mainly depends on the type and extent of the
area.
❑ The horizontal position of the points may be located by any one of survey
method.

Chapter 4: Contouring 28
 Indirect method

❑ In the indirect method, some suitable points are selected and surveyed.
❑ The guide points need not necessarily be on the contour.
❑ These guide point having been plotted serve as basis for the interpolation of
contours
❑ Some methods of indirect contouring are
1 By squares method
2. By cross section method
3. By tacheometric method

Chapter 4: Contouring 29
 Square method
❑ In this method the area to be contoured is divided
into a series of squares and level of the corners are
determined.
❑ The sides of squares may vary from 5m to 25m,
depending upon the nature of the ground, the
contour interval and the scale of the map
❑ For plotting the contour, the squares are plotted on
the desired scale of the map and the reduced level
of each corner as well as that of salient features are
entered.
❑ Then the contours of desired values are
interpolated Chapter 4: Contouring 30
 BM

Chapter 4: Contouring 31
 Cross section method

❑ In this method, cross sections perpendicular to the

centre line of the area are set out.
❑ The spacing of the cross-section depends upon the
contour interval, scale of the plan and the
characteristics of the ground.
❑ In general, spacing of cross-sections at 20 m in
hilly country and 100 m in flat country are
adopted.
❑ Points of salient features along the centre line and
on cross-sections are also located.
❑ The layout of the cross-sections need not
necessarily be at right angles to the centre line.

Chapter 4: Contouring 32
 ❑ These may be inclined at suitable angles to the centre if found necessary.
❑ First plot the centre line and cross-sections on the desired scale and enter their
reduced levels.
❑ The contours are then interpolated with respect to these reduced levels

BM

Chapter 4: Contouring 33
 Tacheometric method
❑ In this method, a number of radial lines are set by
making different angles with respect to any
reference line.
❑ On each radial line, tacheometric readings may be
taken on leveling staff kept at different points.
❑ The horizontal distance from the station and the
elevation of each point are calculated by
tacheometric formulae.
❑ Then all points can be plotted along their radial
lines with their spot height.
❑ Then the needed contours can be interpolated.
❑ This method is also known as radial line method

Chapter 4: Contouring 34
Chapter 4: Contouring 35
 6. Interpolation of contour
❑ The process of drawing contours proportionately between the plotted ground
points or in between plotted contours is known as interpolation of contours.
❑ It is done on the assumption that the slope of the ground between any two
adjacent points is uniform.
❑ It may be done by one of the following methods:
Estimation method
Arithmetical calculation method
Graphical method

Chapter 4: Contouring 36
 1. Estimation method
❑ This is the rough method to interpolate the contours. So it is used for small-
scale work.
❑ In this method, the position of contour points between the guide points are
located by estimation.
105

100 110
2. Arithmetical calculation method
 In this method distances between the points of known elevation is measured
accurately and the position of contour points between the guide points are
located by arithmetic calculation.
 This method is very accurate and time-consuming method.
Chapter 4: Contouring 37
 Arithmetical calculation method
❑ Suppose A and B are two points at a distance of 30m and the reduced levels A
and B are 24.32m and 26.90m respectively. Taking the contour interval as 1m,
25m and 26m contours may be interpolated in between A and B. The
difference of level between A and B is 2.58m. The difference of level between
A and 25 and A and 26m contours is 0.68m and 1.68m respectively.
❑ Therefore the horizontal distance between A and 25 m contour =0.68*30/2.58
and that between A and 26 m contour= 1.68*30/2.58
❑ These distances are then plotted to scale on the map.
B

Chapter 4: Contouring 38
 3. Graphical method
❑ In this method, the interpolation is done with the help of a tracing paper. There
are two methods:
❏ Parallel line method
❏ Radial line method

Chapter 4: Contouring 39
 Parallel line method

❑ Suppose the contour interval is 5m, then on tracing

paper, a number of parallel lines spaced at 0.5m
(usually one tenth of contour interval) are drawn
every tenth line being made thick.
❑ Suppose it is required to interpolate contours
between two points A and B with elevations
61.5m and 72.5m respectively.
❑ If the bottom line represent an elevation of 60m,
then successive thick lines represent 65m,
70m,75m.

Chapter 4: Contouring 40
 ❑ Place the tracing paper so that point A is on the third line from the bottom.
Now move the paper until B is on the fifth line above the 70m.
❑ The intersection of the thick lines 1 and 2 representing elevation of 65m and
70m and the line AB give the position of points on the 65m and 70m contour
respectively and are pricked through on the plan.

Chapter 4: Contouring 41
 examples

Chapter 4: Contouring 42
Chapter 4: Contouring 43
Chapter 4: Contouring 44
Chapter 4: Contouring 45
 Radial method
❑ In this method, a line XY of any convenient length is drawn and
divided into small equal parts, say each 2 mm width on a piece
of a tracing paper.
❑ At its mid-point, a perpendicular is erected and a pole O is so
chosen on the perpendicular that the angle YOX is
approximately equal to 45°. Draw radial lines through pole O
and division marks on the line XY.
❑ The first radial line and every fifth line thereafter are drawn a
little heavier or bolder to facilitate quick reading of the
diagram. (Fig. 7.17).

Chapter 4: Contouring 46
 ❑ Let us assume that we have to interpolate contours at 2 m vertical interval between points A and B
whose elevations are 114.5 m and 137.5m.
❑ Assume Y to read 110 m and every fifth line 10 m apart.
❑ Place the tracing paper over the plan such that the 114.5 m and 137.5 m radial lines
simultaneously pass through the points A and B below the tracing paper.

Chapter 4: Contouring 47
 ❑ The points at which radial lines of 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134 and
136 m intersect the line AB, may then be pricked through to get the positions of required
contours on the plan.
❑ In a similar way interpolation between other points may be done and contour lines drawn
through the points of equal elevation.

Chapter 4: Contouring 48
Contour Gradient

❑ Is the imaginary line lying throughout on the surface of the earth and
preserving a constant inclination to the horizontal
❑ Inclination of a contour gradient is either a rising gradient or falling
gradient
❑ Expressed as ratio of vertical height in a specified horizontal distance

49
Tracing of Contour Gradient

❑ On contour map, alignment of proposed road, canal, railway etc. can

be decided and located by drawing contour gradient
❑ Let the contour interval be 10 m on the supplied contour map drawn
in scale of 1:30,000
❑ An upward gradient of 1 in 30 is required to be drawn from A to B
❑ ∴ Ground Horizontal Equivalent = Contour Interval X Gradient
❑ ∴ Ground Horizontal Equivalent = 10 X 30 = 300 m

50
 Tracing of Contour Gradient
 With A as centre and radius of 1 cm (on scale of
1:30,000), draw an arc to cut 60 m contour at “a”
 Similarly with “a” as centre and with same radius, draw
another arc to cut 70 m contour at “b”
 In similar manner points “c” and “d” are obtained
 During process of drawing arcs, it may be noted that it
cuts next higher contours at two points
 Only points suitable for proposed alignment considering
general layout and geological features is accepted and
other point is ignored

51
 Chapter 4: Contouring
Uses of contour map
❑ The nature of the ground and its slope can be estimated
❑ Earth work can be estimated for civil engineering projects like road works, railway,
canals, dams etc.
❑ It is possible to identify suitable site for any project from the contour map of the
region.
❑ Inter-visibility of points can be ascertained using contour maps. This is most useful for
locating communication towers.
❑ Military uses contour maps for strategic planning.
❑ Contour map provides useful information for locating a route at a given gradient such
as highway, canal, sewer line etc.
❑ The catchment area of a river is determined by using contour map.
❑ The storage capacity of a reservoir is determined from contour map.
52
 Calculation of storage capacity of reservoirs

❑ Knowing the maximum water level of the dam and contour interval, the area enclosed
at respective elevation may be found out by planimeter. The capacity can be
calculated by using following relations
1. Trapezoidal formula

 A  An 
V  h 1  A2  A3 .......  An 1 
 2 
2. Prismoidal formula

V
h
A1  An  4( A2  A4  .....)  2( A3  A5  .......)
Where, 3
h=vertical contour interval
A1, A2, A3,………area enclosed between successive contours
Chapter 4: Contouring 53
 Numerical
1. The following data refers to a site of a reservoir. The area are the ones which will be contained by a proposed dam and
contour lines as given below.
Contour in meters Area enclosed in hectares
610 22
615 110
620 410
625 890
630 1158

Calculate the total volume of water impounding

Hints:
Applying prismoidal formula

Chapter 4: Contouring 54
 2. From the topographical map, the area enclosed within the contour lines and along the face of a proposed dam are as given below.

Contour (m) Area (SQ. METER)

300 29750
295 26850
290 21050
285 18500
280 13440
275 8750
270 5180
265 735
260(Bottom) 30
Calculate the volume of water in the reservoir formed, when the water level is at an elevation of 30m using
Trapezoidal formula
Prismoidal formula

Chapter 4: Contouring 55
 Hints:
Trapezoidal method
 A  An 
V  h 1  A2  A3 .......  An 1 
 2 
29750  30
V  5[  26850  21050  18500  13440  8750  5180  735]  546975m 3
2

Prismoidal method

V 
h
A1  An  4( A2  A4  .....)  2( A3  A5  .......)
3
5
V  [29750  30  4(26859  18500  8750  735)  2(21050  13440  5180)]  547433m 3
3

Chapter 4: Contouring 56