CIVL 1101 Surveying - Introduction to Topographic Modeling 1/9

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

 Topography is the study of the shape and features of land  Topography is the study of the shape and features of land
surfaces. surfaces.

 Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary science  This meaning is less common in the United States, where
and is concerned with local detail in general, including not topographic maps with elevation contours have made
only relief but also natural and artificial features, and even "topography" synonymous with relief.
local history and culture.

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

 Topography - defined as the shape or configuration or  U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed maps for
relief or three-dimensional quality of a surface a large part of the US

 Topography maps are  Napoleon Bonaparte

very useful for engineers received his first promotion
when planning and because of ability to make
locating a faciltiy and use maps

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Typical USGS Topographic Map

USGS Topographic Map of Mt. Shasta, CA - 1883

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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours

The most common method of representing the topography

of an area is to use contour lines

A contour line is an
imaginary level line that
connects points of equal
elevation

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours
There are several rules to note when viewing topographic maps:
 The rule of Vs: sharp-pointed V usually are in stream valleys, with Contours that point up hill can
the drainage channel passing through the point of the V, with the V indicate a valley or stream
pointing upstream.

 The rule of Os: closed loops are normally uphill on the inside and
downhill on the outside, and the innermost loop is the highest area.

 Spacing of contours: close contours indicate a steep slope; distant

contours a shallow slope. Two or more contour lines merging
indicates a cliff.

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

Imagine a hill that has its When is the steepest part of this terrain?
top sliced off with a really
big knife
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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

What is the shallowest part?

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours
 The selection of the contour is important

 The contour interval should be small enough to give

the desired topographic detail while remaining
economic

 Usually every fifth contour line is shown in a heavy,

wider line, this is called a index line
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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours
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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Contours
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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Contours Characteristics of Contours

 Closely spaced contours indicate steep slopes

 Widely spaced contours indicate moderate slopes

 Contours should be labeled to the elevation value

 Contours are not shown going through buildings

 Contour line do not cross

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Characteristics of Contours Construction of Contours

 Depression and hill look the same; note the contour  The first step in developing a contour map is
value to distinguish the terrain measuring the elevations of a group of points

 Important points can be further defined by including  It will be easier for us to establish a rectangular grid of
a “spot” elevation points (marked with flags) and measure the elevation

 Contour lines tend to parallel each other on uniform  The location of the flag points can be established by
slopes taping and checked by pacing or the odometer

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Group Work Group Work

68 ft. 66 ft. 64 ft. 62 ft. 60 ft. 58 ft. 56 ft. 54 ft. 68 ft. 66 ft. 64 ft. 62 ft. 60 ft. 58 ft. 56 ft. 54 ft.

100 ft. 100 ft.

50 ft. B 50 ft. B

52 ft. 52 ft.
A C A C

D 50 ft. D 50 ft.

What is the elevation of point A? What is the elevation of point C?

CIVL 1101 Surveying - Introduction to Topographic Modeling 7/9

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Group Work Group Work

68 ft. 66 ft. 64 ft. 62 ft. 60 ft. 58 ft. 56 ft. 54 ft. 68 ft. 66 ft. 64 ft. 62 ft. 60 ft. 58 ft. 56 ft. 54 ft.

100 ft. 100 ft.

50 ft. B 50 ft. B

52 ft. 52 ft.
A C A C

D 50 ft. D 50 ft.

elevation 53 ft.  64 ft.

What is the approximate slope between points A and C? slope    0.037  3.7%
length 300 ft.

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Construction of Contours Construction of Contours

 For our project, the spacing of the grid is established by  Repeat this calculation for each side of your site and
requiring that no more than 1-foot contour elevation use the smallest value for you grid spacing
change in each grid cell.  If the grid spacing value is problematic to use or set-up,
 To compute that spacing consider the slope along each round down to a convenient value - probably a multiple
edge of your site: of 10 would be convenient.
elevation 102  98 elevation 102  98
102 ft. slope   102 ft. slope  
length 100 length 100

1 100 1 100
100 ft.
grid spacing    25 ft. 100 ft.
grid spacing    25 ft.
slope 4 slope 4
98 ft. 98 ft.

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Construction of Contours Construction of Contours

 Repeat this calculation for each side of your site and C

use the smallest value for you grid spacing N
D
 If the grid spacing value is problematic to use or set-up,
round down to a convenient value - probably a multiple
of 10 would be convenient.

Side Length (ft.) Elevation Grid Spacing

AB
BC A
CD B
DA
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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Once your contour grid is established, measure the
98 102 106 112
elevation of each grid point
C D C
N
D 101 108 109 111

106 111 119 108

A
B
108 112 112 106
A
 We want a contour map on 5 ft. intervals
B
 The grid is rectangular, the dimensions of the sides are 80
ft. (north) and 100 ft. (east)

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Construction of Contours Construction of Contours

 The basic method for estimating contour is applied to 100  First see if a contour
each grid cell individually 98 102
interval exist between
 Use linear interpolation to find the location of the nodes of the grid cell; if so,
100 D
desired contour interval 105 estimate where along the
side the contour interval
 Let consider the cell in the upper left–hand corner - would be located
101 108
remember the contour interval is 5 ft.
 Apply simple linear
105 interpolation to each side
to locate the contour
interval

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Let’s look at the top edge of the grid cell Let’s look at the bottom edge of the grid cell

100 100 102 105 108

98 100 102 98 98 100 102 101
F(x) = ax + b F(x) = ax + b

D x D x

102  98 108  101

a  slope  a  slope 
100 100
101 108 101 105 108

b  intercept  98 105 b  intercept  101

2(100) 4 4(100) 7
x  50 ft. 100  x  98 x  57 ft. 105  x  101
4 100 7 100
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Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Let’s look at the left edge of the grid cell Let’s look at the right edge of the grid cell

100 101 105 108

98 100 102 98 98 100 102 102
F(x) = ax + b F(x) = ax + b

100 x x
D D 105
105
100 101  98 100 108  102
a  slope  a  slope 
80 80
101 105 108 101 105 108

b  intercept  98 b  intercept  102

2(80) 3 3(80) 6
x  53 ft. 100  x  98 x  40 ft. 105  x  102
3 80 6 80

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

Locate the contour intervals locations on the grid cell Repeating the linear interpolation for each of the remaining
grid cell gives:
98 100 102  Next, simply connect
98 102 106 112
points of equal contour
D intervals D C
105
101 108 109 111
100
 One grid cell down, eight
101 105 108
to go . . . 106 111 119 108

A
B
108 112 112 106

Topographic Survey Topographic Survey

End of Topographic Surveying

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