1.

0 OBJECTIVES
i.
ii.

To collect the coordinate and elevation data using GPSMap 76CSx Garmin.
To produce the contour map using SURFER software.

2.0 INTRODUCTION
A contour map is a topographic map on which the shape of the land surface is shown by
contour lines, the relatives spacing of the lines indicating the relative slope of the surface. A contour
line is an imaginary line which connects points of equal elevation. Such lines are drawn on the plan of
an area after establishing reduced levels of several points in the area. The contour lines in an area are
drawn keeping difference in elevation of between two consecutive lines constant.
Characteristic of Contours
1. All points on a contour line are of the same elevation.
2. No two contour lines can meet or cross each other except in the rare case of an overhanging
vertical cliff or wall.
3. Widely spaced contour indicates flat surface; Closely spaced contour indicates steep ground;
Equally spaced contour indicates uniform slope; Irregular contours indicate uneven surface.
4.

Approximately concentric closed contours with decreasing values towards centre indicate a
pond; Approximately concentric closed contours with increasing values towards centre
indicate hills.

5. Contour lines with U-shape with convexity towards lower ground indicate ridge; Contour
lines with V-shaped with convexity towards higher ground indicate valley
Contour maps are extremely useful for various engineering works. Firstly, a civil engineer studies the
contours and finds out the nature of the ground to identify. Suitable site for the project works would
be taken up. Besides that, by drawing the section in the plan, it is possible to find out profile of the
ground along that line. It helps in finding out depth of cutting and filling. The routes of the railway,
road, canal or sewer lines can be decided so as to minimize and balance earthworks; the catchment
area can be estimated and hence quantity of water flow at any point of river can be found. Moreover,
from the contours, it is able to determine the capacity of a reservoir.

3.0 EQUIPMENT
i.

GPSMap 76CSx Garmin

ii.

Surfer software

4.0 PROCEDURE
i.

Start by spotting, or drawing on a section of land. The distance and elevation of each

ii.

location from a common boundary was taken with a GPS device.

Start contouring with the highest values by a pencil. A contour interval was determined.
Then, the contour lines were started to been drawn with value that was slightly less than the
biggest values in each interval. Look carefully when the contour line was drawn. The line

iii.

was drawn at the proper distance between the two spot by using eyes as ruler.
The map was finished once the contour lines were drawn from highest elevation to lowest
elevation. Contour interval used was labelled at the bottom of the map.

6.0 DISCUSSION
We met some trouble when we carried out this lab work. We have no experienced in doing such
paperwork thus we have repeated the drawing for several time. The first mistake we have done was
we have plot the location wrongly on the map. Next, we also failed to draw a well looking shape of
contour line when we connect the points in the same contour interval. Hence we erase all the lines and
draw again. However, this came to another problem again. We should not use a 2B pencil when carry
out drawing part. This is because the pencil trace was hard to clean clearly and make stain on the
paper. This will lead to bad looking and untidiness of paperwork. As a result, we replaced it with a
new paper and redo all the steps.