11/4/2015

1.0 Topographic
Surveys
Engr. Jefferson R. Vallente Jr. M.PICE
Assistant Instructor, Civil Engg Dept.
Geospatial Analyst, XUERC

1.1 The representation of relief

Spot heights

Hachures

Form lines
Contour lines
Layer tinting
Shading
Relief or terrain models
Ridge & stream lining
Subaqeous contours

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Spot Heights
The elevations of
important features and
critical points such as
road junctions, peaks,
summits, sags, and
highway crossings.

Hachures
Series of of short lines
drawn in the direction
of the slope. For a
steep slope the lines
are heavy and closely
spaced. Gentle slopes
are fine and widely
spaced.

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Form lines
Are drawn when not
enough vertical control
is available or when
the surface is too
irregular or intricate to
contour.

Contour Lines
Most widely used
method of
quantitatively
representing hills,
mountains,
depressions, and
ground surface
undulations.

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Layer tinting
A color tint system is in
common use for aerial
navigation charts and
on small scale maps of
the world. This shows
different colors to show
different zones of
elevations.

Shading
An old method used
to show relative
elevations on maps.
Dependent upon
shadows cast by the
elevated portions of
the land.

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Relief and terrain models

A representation of
the terrain done in
three dimensions
to suitable
horizontal and
vertical scales.

Ridge and stream lining

Mainly used to
emphasize the
location of low
and high ground.
Used to show
the location of
low ground.

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Subaqueous contours
Done for the
portrayal of ground
underwater using
depth curves or
subaqueous
contours.
Necessary to
differentiate land
from water

1.2 Types of contours

Index contours
Intermediate contours
Depression contours
Supplemental contours
Approximate contours
Contour interval
Characteristics of contours

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Index contours

Intermediate contours

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intermediate
contours

Depression contours

depression
contours

Supplemental contours

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Approximate contours

Contour interval
Constant vertical distance between two adjacent
contour lines.In the design of topographic maps,
the contour interval is commonly fixed at multiples
of 0.5, 1, 2,5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 meters.
Flat to gently rolling: 1 to 5m
hilly: 5 to 20m
mountainous: 25 to 100m

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Contour Interval
SCALE

INTERVAL

SCALE

INTERVAL

1/500

0.5m

1/25,000

10m

1/2,000

1/50,000

20

1/5,000

1/100,000

25

1/10,000

5 or 10

1/250,000

50

Selection of Contour Interval:

1. Relative Cost
2. Purpose of the Map
3. Nature of the Terrain
4. Scale of the Map

1.3 Methods of Locating Contours

Interpolation Methods:
by Estimation
rubber band method
analytical method
triangle and scale method
template method

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