Test the mapping of the topography of the urban environment of

Merauke, use Surfer.

Agustan 1, Muh. Akbar 2, Dina Limbong Pamuttu 3
Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Musamus University,
Merauke, Papua, Indonesia

agustanmuliana@unmus.ac.id

Abstract. There is information on the ground level of the surrounding urban environment of
Merauke 0-4m above sea level from the statistical office but does not present the shape of the
contour line so that estimated inundation and flow of water are difficult to
predict. Topographic maps are not always available and not there is a guarantee of obtaining it
quickly and accordingly, thus demanding utilization efforts software that can produce contour
lines according to the planned location. The prepared contour experiments are google earth,
TCX Converter, and Surfer. The results obtained information on the contour height of 1-10 m
asl for the entire path zone. Coastal height of 1 m above sea level. The shooting environment is
on average 4-8 m above sea level. And 4 small spots altitude 9-10 m above sea level. This
contour is not suitable based on BPS data and field facts the height of the urban plains of
Merauke is only 1-4 m above sea level. Height factor of building body around 4 m, the roof
height is around 6 m, and the 2nd-floor building is around 8-10 m. Thus satellite imagery
translates the height of a building as a surface height the land translates into contour
lines. Making topographic contours through imagery satellites in the urban environment of
Merauke cannot be used as a design basis physical development, but can be used as one of the
measurement tools for increasing zones building bodies in residential or urban environments.

1. Introduction
Geographically, Merauke Regency is a flat area with a height variation from 0–4 m above the sea
level. Especially for inside the city center of Merauke the height is around 0–2 m above sea
level. Some inner-city zones are also former swamps. As for surface skin clay type land which is then
popular as the term Merauke mud [2].

The results of the original swamp surface subsurface survey in the center of Merauke city and have
measurements carried out with sea tide from the trunk line the sluice shows the base the native
swamp is almost parallel to the sea tide [1]. Whereas the height of the land from the base of the
swamp original around 1-2 meters.

Historical records of the rainy season each year in the city show puddles of water in residential
spots. This is difficult to avoid because the city base is formed on a swamp. More in observing that
the inevitable is the development of the city itself. The physical development of the city of
Merauke continues to fill the gap between vacant land.

The designs of infrastructure development within the city of Merauke demand a basic map that will
be an initial consideration in taking policies to anticipate the pattern of floods seasonal due to the
rate of physical development. Thematic base maps in the form of no topographic maps always
available when needed. Efforts to find out the topographic map of the desired area on Internet sites
also have no guarantee of getting it quickly and accordingly. Thus demanding efforts to use
 software that can produce lines contour lines in topographic themes according to the planned
location.

The contour line itself is a component of a map that cannot be separated from topographic
maps. The contour line is a combination of two line segments that are interconnected but not
mutually intersect. This is an elevation point on topographic maps. The information delivered by
the map topography is only limited to the appearance of nature or the high and low shape of the
surface earth alone [4]. Basic Geospatial Information, hereinafter abbreviated as IGD, is an IG that
contains about objects that can be seen directly or measured by the physical appearance on the face
of the earth and that doesn't change in a relatively long time. On the Indonesian topographic map,
hypsography depicted in the form of earth surfaces contour lines and altitude points on land [6].

The last decade has begun to appear software that can be used to create digital thematic maps
where each has tools capabilities different and very practical and interesting. Among popular
software for mapping including Arcgis, Global mapper, Quicksurf, Mincom Minescape, Surfer,
etc. However, some of the software to produce thematic maps requires software supporters like
Google Earth as a source where Google Earth itself is supported by satellite Landsat which records
the surface of the earth at any time. File extensions from various devices software must also be
compatible so that the type of TCX Converter or the like is very needed so that file transfer
between software can be read.

2. Methodology
To obtain the topographic map of the city of Merauke an experimental method was carried
out. Previous preparation of software in the form of google earth as a source of image capture zones,
TCX Converter and excel as a transit container and change file extensions. Next selected Surfer type
software to display contour lines on the topography of the city of Merauke. Finally, the interpretation
of the image is done and the comparison with the real conditions of the field.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Activate Google Earth to get an image capture area of the earth

Figure 1. Catch the path of Merauke city with Google Earth

As a first step, Google Earth’s activation is done to get a catchment area in the city of Merauke as
shown in figure 1. After the catch zone, the image of the earth is determined than in the path icon we
click to get the path in the zone marked with color red stripes. The path or path is the path of the
coordinate points and the x, y, and z axes. in principle, the more paths in the highlighted area then will
have better dimensional density graph dimensions. After that, the catchment data is saved in a file with
a KML extension, and automatically the red path line will change white color when saved [5].

3.2. Activate TCX Converter to digitize the path point

Digitizing is the process of redrawing geographic features on analog maps into a digital format by
digitizing the tablet or mouse connected to the computer, the result of this digitization process then
stored in the form of spatial data [7].

Figure 2. Activation of TCX Converter

Activate TCX Converter to convert predetermined path points on google earth before. Conversion path
turns into digitizing such coordinate points image 2. Altitude conversion must be modified to track
directly connected tracks with the internet so that TCX Converter can automatically translate one by
one all.

Figure 3. ALT track conversion online Already filled

As shown in figure 3, the longitudinal, latitudinal, and altitude columns have been converted all in the
form of numbers then the data files are stored in CSV form with TCX The converter itself can be
opened later in the excel file in Figure 4 below. Figure 4. Exclusively opens the CSV file

Figure 4. Excell opens the CSV file

3.1. Activate surfer

Figure 5. Copying LONG, LAT, and ALT files from excel to surfer
Files that are opened with excel consist of 10 columns but only 3 columns are needed, namely
longitudinal, latitudinal, and altitude columns as copied in Figure 5. Longitudinal columns
representing the x-axis, latitudinal representing the y-axis, and altitude representing the z-axis
[10]. and then stored in a file with BLN extension. Through the device, the surfer returns to do a grid
against BLN files that have been saved are to be opened and opened in 2-dimensional graphs and 3
dimensions according to the advantages and completeness of the tools available to surfers [3].

Figure 6. Surfer opens the grid file on the plot page for image display

Figure 6, respectively, is the process of opening the grid file and Figure 7 is the image display already
in the form of a basic contour. The image cannot be interpreted so it still is requires zooming by
digitizing the area to be zoom then saved to file The BLN is then saved again with the grid file. The
zooming process in principle is the same by making the path at the initial stage, the more path points
you take it will the clearer the picture will be obtained. What distinguishes this path is that of the
surfer and no longer done on Google Earth.

Figure 7. The appearance of the initial contour image

 Figure 8. Zooming 2-dimensional black and white contour

The contour is a line depicted on a map that shows points equal to the height of a particular reference
field [8], generally, the field used as the reference is the mean sea level or Mean Sea Level (MSL).
The results of zooming in figure 8, have seen the contour profile and can be done interpretation even
though it is still in simple 2-dimensional black and white form. However, for more complete
improvements will still be made both in terms of coloring and scale to reduce error readings as shown
in figure 9.

Figure 9. Giving color and scale

 Figure 10. Cross profile

Another interest in technical design is the need for cross-section appearance. The device the surfer has
prepared tools for this purpose so that the user can see the cross-section from any direction you want,
just draw the transverse line then right-click select add profile and will automatically give a cross-
section shape as shown in Figure 10. For more Perfect surfer prepares tools for 3-dimensional display,
where drawing plots can be done rotation so that it can be seen from several viewpoints as shown in
the following picture 11.

Figure 11. 3-dimensional profile

3.2. Image interpretation (contour map)
Based on the results of taking satellite imagery and the results of the surfer's performance in removing
maps the information obtained from the contour is that the surface height reaches 1-10 m above sea
level for the entire path zone. In the coastal area, the average height is 1 m above sea level. Height in
urban centers or settlements on average around 4-8 m above sea level. And there are 4 small spots
show a height of 9-10 m above sea level.

Based on BPS data and field facts that the existence of urban plains is high Merauke is only 1-4 m
above sea level. Of the two available altitude information, there are differences that are very
prominent between satellite imagery and field facts. The next question is where the difference and
why is it different.

Look more closely at the contour maps that have been made through the surfer that in the area or
path where no contour information is correct and accurate according to circumstances the field but
in the path area that passes through the built-up zone or building solid provides indication of the
increase in surface height as well, so that the contour is no longer in fact field.

The appearance of the building height hypothesis affects the accuracy of the surfer's performance
against the surface of the original land, then at the same time can be analyzed that the height of the
body of the building around 4 m, the roof height is around 6 m, and the 2nd floor building is around
8-10 m. Refer to the height of the building and the results of the contour indicator are matching or
there is a match. Thus satellite imagery translates the height of the building as a ground-level which
is translated into contour lines. Therefore, when taking the path for topographic maps, the path
must be right above the ground without it blocking.

4. Conclusion
Making topographic contours through satellite imagery in urban environments cannot be used as the
basis for the design of physical development, but can be used as a measurement tool zone of increase
in building bodies in residential or urban environments. Estimated difference height in the map of the
original land contour using a surfer is the difference in height of the building itself, in the sense that
the height of the building affects the accuracy of the surfer's performance against the surface of the
original land, then at the same time can be analyzed that the height of the body of the building around
4 m, the roof height is around 6 m, and the 2nd floor building is around 8-10 m. Refer to the height of
the building and the results of the contour indicator are matching or there is a match. Thus satellite
imagery translates the height of the building as the height of the land surface translated into contour
lines.

4.1. Suggestion
When retrieving path paths for topographic maps, the path must be right above ground level without
any building blocking it.

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