CONTOURS

Engr. Randy G. Policarpio

Definitions:

Contour – an imaginary line of

constant elevation on the ground
surface.

Contour line – a line on the map

representing a contour.
CONTOURS
CONTOURS
Intermediate
Contour Lines

 TYPES OF CONTOURS
1. Index Contours
2. Intermediate Contours
3. Supplemental Contours
4. Depression Contours
5. Approximate Contours
CONTOURS

1. INDEX CONTOURS
 Index contour is shown by a heavier line
at regular intervals on a topographic map.
These heavier lines which are normally
twice the gauge of the standard
contours.
 They are usually drawn every fifth
contour and carry the contour number or
the elevation designation.
 The index contour is broken along
portions of the line and the contour
number indicated accordingly.
 They are numbered on the upper side of
each line, which indicates at first sight
uphill and downhill directions, placing the
figures in a row above one another.
 CONTOURS
2. INTERMEDIATE CONTOURS
 The four lighter weight
contours found between the
index contours.
Intermediate Contours

 These lines are not

usually labelled except
where the terrain is
relatively flat and
elevations are not
readily obvious
Intermediate Contours

 Intermediate
contours are so
closely spaced as to
nearly unite or merge
into a single line, it is
standard practice for
readability not to
portray the lines for
short distances. This
technique is called
feathering (see Fig.
16.2)
CONTOURS
3. SUPPLEMENTAL CONTOURS
 A supplementary
contour is used when
the elevation change is
minimal, like in flat
floodplains.
 They are used to
represent a smaller
change in elevation than
the intermediate
contour.
Supplemental Contours

 Supplementary contours
are drawn as dashed
lines or lines of dots.
 These lines are drawn
at all one elevation, but
they differ from the
previous two types of
lines in that their
spacing or change in
elevation that they
represent is different.
They almost always
represent half the
elevation change that is
found between
intermediate and index
contour lines.
 CONTOURS
4. DEPRESSION CONTOUR
 Depression contour are drawn to
show low spots such as excavations
around which contour close.
 The symbol used is the index or
intermediate contour to which ticks
are drawn perpendicular to the
contour line on the downhill side.
DEPRESSION CONTOUR
CONTOURS

5. APPROXIMATE CONTOURS
 In some instances contour
accuracy cannot be definitely
determined. The area maybe
inaccessible on the ground or it
may be difficult to interpret
contours from aerial photographs
when heavy cloud or shadows
occur. To portray a reasonable
idea of relative elevation, the
map maker has to make an
educated guess rather than have
a blank area in the map.
CONTOURS
THE CONTOUR INTERVAL
 The contour interval is the constant vertical
distance between two adjacent contour lines.
CONTOURS
 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
 For general types of terrain, the contour interval used maybe as follows:
 Flat to gently rolling: 1 to 5 meters
 Hilly: 5 to 20 meters
 Mountainous: 25 to 100 meters
 According to Map Scale
SCALE INTERVAL SCALE INTERVAL
1/ 500 0.5 m 1/25,000 10
1/2,000 1 1/50,000 20
1/5,000 2 1/100,000 25
1/10,000 5 or 10 1/250,000 50
 CONTOURS
SELECTION OF CONTOUR INTERVAL
The following factors to be considered:
1. RELATIVE COST
 The time and expense of field and office work is given important consideration.
 The smaller the interval, the greater is the amount of field work, reduction, and plotting required in the
preparation of the map.
 The cost of the map will be higher as the contour interval is reduced.
2. PURPOSE OF THE MAP
 Close contouring will be required when the map is to be utilized for the detailed design of engineering construction
or for the measurement of earthwork quantities.
 A wider interval will be required for surveys of reservoirs, drainage areas, and lines of communication.
3. NATURE OF THE TERRAIN
 Rugged terrain will require a larger interval than gentle and rolling country.
 To portray adequately flat ground a relatively small interval must be specified.
4. SCALE OF THE MAP
 The contour interval should be in inverse ratio of the scale of the map.
 If the map is reduced, the interval must be increased; otherwise line are crowded, confuse the map user, and may
possibly obscure some important map details.
CONTOURS

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS

1. All points an any one contour have the

same elevation.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
2. Every contour closes on itself, either
within or beyond the limits of the map.

3. A contour which closes within the limits of

the map indicates either a summit or a
depression. Contours which increase in
elevation represent hills; those which
decrease in elevation portray valleys or
excavations.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
4. Contours on the ground cannot cross one another
except where an overhanging cliff, a vertical ledge
or wall is represented on the map.

Wrong
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
6. Contours are straight and parallel to each
other on a plane surface.
5. Contours are spaced evenly on a uniform slope.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS

7. Irregular contours signify

rough, rugged terrain.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS
8. The horizontal distance between adjacent
contours indicates the steepness of the slope of
the ground. Where the contours are relatively
close together, the slope is comparatively steep;
where the contours are far apart, the slope is
gentle.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS

9. Contours cross curbs

and crowned sloping
street in typical U-
shaped curves.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOURS

10. Contour lines form a V pattern

when crossing streams. The apex
of the V always points upstream
(uphill).