TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY

TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY

Topography
- is the study of the shape and features of land surfaces. The topography of an
area could refer to the surface forms and features themselves, or a description
(especially their depiction in maps). It is a field of geoscience and planetary
science and is concerned with local detail in general, including not only terrain
but also natural and artificial features, and even local history and culture.
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Topographic Survey
A topographic survey locates all
surface features of a property,
and depicts all natural features
and elevations. In essence it is a
3-dimensional map of a 3-
dimensional property showing all
natural and man-made features
and improvements. Specifically, it
shows their location, size, height
and any changes in elevation.
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What Is the Importance of Topographic Maps?

Topographic maps are an important tool because they can represent the three-
dimensional landscape in two dimensions. A person who can read a map from
the top can discover the location of peaks, valleys, mountain intervals, and
saddles, among other land features.
Topo maps can also show whether you are traveling up or down a specific road
or trail.
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Contour Lines
Contour lines are lines drawn on a map connecting points of equal elevation,
meaning if you physically followed a contour line, elevation would remain
constant. Contour lines show elevation and the shape of the terrain.
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Purposes of Contouring
Contour survey is carried out at the starting of any engineering project such as a
road, a railway, a canal, a dam, a building etc.
1. For preparing contour maps in order to select the most economical or
suitable site.
2. To locate the alignment of a canal so that it should follow a ridge line.
3. To mark the alignment of roads and railways so that the quantity of
earthwork both in cutting and filling should be minimum.
4. For getting information about the ground whether it is flat, undulating
(smooth rise and fall) or mountainous.
5. To locate the physical features of the ground such as a pond depression, hill,
steep or small slopes.
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Contour Elements
Contour Interval: The constant
vertical distance between two
consecutive contours is called the
contour interval.
Horizontal Equivalent: The horizontal
distance between any two adjacent
contours is called as horizontal
equivalent.
The contour interval is constant
between the consecutive contours
while the horizontal equivalent is
variable and depends upon the slope
of the ground.
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Contour Elements
Index contours are bold or thicker lines that appear at every fifth contour line.
Sharp contour points indicate pointed ridges.
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Characteristics of Contours
1. All points in a contour line have the same elevation.
2. Flat ground is indicated where the contours are widely separated and steep-slope
where they run close together. Widely spaced contours indicate moderate slopes.
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Characteristics of Contours
3. A uniform slope is indicated when the contour lines are uniformly spaced and
4. A plane surface when they are straight, parallel and equally spaced.
5. Closely spaced contours indicate steep slopes
6. Contours should be labeled to the elevation value
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Characteristics of Contours
7. A series of closed contour lines on the map represent a hill, if the higher
values are inside.
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Characteristics of Contours
8. A series of closed contour lines on the map indicate a depression if the
higher values are outside.
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Characteristics of Contours
9. Contour line cross ridge or valley line at right angles. If the higher values
are inside the bend or loop in the contour, it indicates a Ridge. If the higher
values are outside the bend, it represents a Valley.
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Characteristics of Contours
10. Contour lines cannot merge or cross one another on map except in the case
of an overhanging cliff.
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Characteristics of Contours
11. Contour lines never run into one another except in the case of a vertical cliff.
In this case, several contours coincide and the horizontal equivalent
becomes zero.
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Methods of Obtaining Contours

Direct Method - In the direct method of contouring, the reduced level (RL) of
various selected points on a contour line are obtained and their positions are
located. The contours are then drawn by joining these points. It is a very
accurate method but it is slow and tedious as a lot of time is wasted in searching
points of the same elevation for a contour.
This method is employed only for small area where superior accuracy is
demanded. The method of locating contours directly consists of horizontal and
vertical control. The horizontal control for a small area can be exercised by a
chain or tape and a large area by compass, theodolite or plane table. For vertical
control either a level and staff or a hand level may be used.
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Methods of Obtaining Contours

Procedure- The work is started
from BM and the level is set up at
the center of the area. Suppose it is
required to find out the contour of
90.00m then the staff should be a
move to various positions on the
plot where the reading on staff
should give RL of 90.00m. On
ground. When all the point is
located they mark on the ground
directly. Then similar process is
followed for locating 95.00m and
other contours.
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Methods of Obtaining Contours

Indirect Method - In this method, spot level is taken at the regular interval along
predetermine line on the ground. The work is then plotted on plan and then the
required contour line is drawn by the process of interpolation. The indirect
method is less tedious and speedy as compared to the direct method.
In this method, levels are taken at some selected points and their levels are
reduced. Thus in this method horizontal control is established first and then the
levels of those points found. After locating the points on the plan, reduced levels
are marked and contour lines are interpolated between the selected points. For
selecting points any of the following methods can be used:
1. Method of squares
2. Method of cross-section
3. Radial line method
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Method of Squares
In this method area is divided
into a number of squares and all
grid points are marked (Ref. Fig.
1). Commonly used size of square
varies from 5 m × 5 m to 20 m ×
20 m. Levels of all grid points are
established by levelling. Then
grid square is plotted on the
drawing sheet. Reduced levels of
grid points marked and contour
lines are drawn by interpolation
[Ref. Fig. 1].
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Method of Cross-Section
In this method, cross-sectional points are taken at regular interval. By levelling, the
reduced level of all those points are established. The points are marked on the drawing
sheets, their reduced levels (RL) are marked and contour lines interpolated. Figure below
shows a typical planning of this work. The spacing of cross-section depends upon the
nature of the ground, scale of the map and the contour interval required. It varies from
20 m to 100 m. Closer intervals are required if ground level varies abruptly. This method
is ideally suited for road and railway projects.
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Radial Line Method

[Fig. 3]. In this method several radial
lines are taken from a point in the
area. The direction of each line is
noted. On these lines at selected
distances points are marked and
levels determined. This method is
ideally suited for hilly areas. In this
survey theodolite with tacheometry
facility is commonly used.

Figure 3
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Interpolating Contours
For interpolating contour points between the two points, any one of the following
method may be used:
(a) Estimation
(b) Arithmetic calculation
(c) Mechanical or graphical method
Estimation – the points on the required contour are located by eye judgment or
estimation between points whose elevation are known. This method is good for small
scale maps. It is assumed that the slope between the ground points are uniform.
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Interpolating Contours
Arithmetic Calculations – This method is used when high accuracy is required and
scale of the map is of intermediate or large. In this method, the distance between of
known elevation are accurately measured. Then with the help of arithmetic
calculations, the positions of the required elevation points are computed.
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Interpolating Contours
Mechanical or graphical method of interpolation consist in linearly interpolating
contour points using tracing sheet: On a tracing sheet several parallel lines are drawn
at regular interval. Every 10th or 5th line is made darker for easy counting. If RL of A
is 97.4 and that of B is 99.2 m. Assume the bottom most dark line represents 97 m RL
and every parallel line is at 0.2 m intervals. Then hold the second parallel line on A.
Rotate the tracing sheet so that 100.2 the parallel line passes through point B. Then
the intersection of dark lines on AB represents the points on 98 m and 99 m contours
[Ref. Fig. 4].
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Interpolating Contours
Similarly the contour points along
any line connecting two
neighboring points may be
obtained and the points pricked.
This method maintains the
accuracy of arithmetic calculations
at the same time it is fast.

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Figure 4
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Drawing Contours
After locating contour points smooth contour lines are drawn connecting
corresponding points on a contour line. French curves may be used for drawing
smooth lines. A surveyor should not lose the sight of the characteristic feature
on the ground. Every fifth contour line is made thicker for easy readability. On
every contour line its elevation is written. If the map size is large, it is written at
the ends also.
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Difference Between Direct and Indirect Method of Obtaining Contours