Contour
An Imaginary line on the ground
surface joining the points of equal
elevation is known as contour.
Contour is a line in which the ground surface is
In other words,
intersected by a level surface obtained by joining
points of equal
contour and is called
elevation. This line on the map represents a
Contour line.
A map showing Contour Lines is known as Contour Map.
Contouring
The process of tracing contour 80 aawwuuaunuuauxuw
lines on the surface of the earth is 75
called Contouring. 70 I
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Purposes of Contouring
Contour survey is carried out at the starting of any engineering project sucl
as a road, a railway, a canal, a dam, a building etc.
1. For preparing contour maps in order to select the most economical o
suitable site.
2. To locate the alignment ofa canal so that it should followa 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
mountainous.
5.
To locate the physical features of the ground such
hill, steep or small slopes.
as a pond depressiov
Contour Interval & Horizontal Equivalent
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 ashorizontal equivalent.
The contour interval is constant betvween
the consecutive contours
while the horizontal
of theground.
equivalent is variable and depends upon the slo
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Characteristics of Contours
1. All points in a contour line have the same 80 mmauuSuBUU u
elevation. 7
2. Flat ground is indicated where the contours are 70
widely separated and steep-slope where they run 6 5 Runasm s s / nu uuuuma n
close together. HILL
60
3. A uniform slope is indicated when the contour 65
lines are uniformly spaced and
4. A plane surface when they are straight, parallel
and equaly spaced.
5. A series of closed contour lines on the map A HILL
represent a hill, if the higher values are inside
Characteristics of Contours
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mn nuuuulu mumuu
6. A series of closed contour lines the
on
75
map indicate a depression if the higher
DEPRESSION
values are outside 70
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60
50
A DEPRESSIC
Characteristics of Contours
7. Contour line cross ridge 100
or valley line at right
angles.
80
If the higher values
are
inside the bend or loop
in
the contour, it indicates a
Ridge.
If the higher values are VALLE
outside the bend, it RIDGE LINE
represents a Valley.
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Characteristics of Contours
8. Contour lines cannot merge
50
or cross one another on map 40
40
except in the case of an
30 u
Overhanging cliff 30
20 asunnnng""" MNR * "
9. Contour lines never run into 20
10
10
one another except in the case
of a vertical cliff. In this case,
several contours coincide and
the horizontal equivalent 10 2 50
becomes zero.
oVERHANGIN
OVERHANGING CLIFF