MPSC Civil Engg.

Pre Exam – ELEMENTS OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Page | 1

CONTOURING
▪ Contour line or a contour is the line of intersection of a level surface with the surface of
the ground.

Fig. 5.4
▪ In other words, a contour line is an imaginary line which joins the points of the same level
on the surface of the earth. For example, the periphery of the water surface of a still lake
or a pond represents a contour line
▪ Figure 5.4(a) shows a pond with the water level at an elevation of 120.00 m. Figure 5.4
(b) shows the plan of the water surface.

Terms

1. Contour Interval
▪ The difference of elevations between two successive contours is known as the contour
interval.
▪ The contour interval for a particular contour plan is kept constant.
▪ It is always measured in the vertical plane.
▪ Contour interval is inversely proportional to the scale of the map.
▪ Suggested Contour Intervals for Different Purposes
Purpose Scale Contour Interval
Building sites 1 cm =10 or less 0.2 to 0.5 m

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Town planning Reservoir

1 cm = 50 to 100 m 0.5 to 2.0 m
planning
Location Survey Earthwork, etc. 1 cm = 50 to 200 m 1 to 3 m

▪ Suggested Contour Intervals for Different Scales

Sr Scale (R.F.) Contour Interval
1. 1/500 0.2 to 0.5 m
2. 1/1000 0.5 to 1.0 m
3. 1/2000 1 to 2.0 m
4. 1 /5000 2 to 5.0 m
5. Less than 1/5000 5 to 10.0 m

2. Horizontal Equivalent
▪ It is the horizontal distance between two consecutive contour lines.
▪ It is always measured in the horizontal plane.
▪ It is not constant.
▪ Smaller the horizontal equivalent, steeper is the ground slope & vice versa.

3. Contour Gradient
▪ A contour gradient is a line on the surface of the ground having a constant inclination
(slope) to the horizontal.

Scale of the Map.

▪ The contour interval depends upon the scale of the map. If the scale is small, the contour
interval is kept large so that there is no overcrowding of the contours.
▪ On the other hand, if the scale of the map is large, the contour interval can be kept
small.

Characteristics of Contours
▪ The contours have the following characteristics.
▪ The contour lines are closed curves. However, they may close either on the map itself or
outside the map, depending upon the topography
▪ As the perpendicular distance between two contour lines is the shortest distance,
contours are always perpendicular to the direction of the steepest slope

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Fig. 5.5

▪ The spacing between contour lines depends upon the slope of the ground. In steep
slope the spacing is small, but for gentle slopes, the spacing is large
▪ The horizontal distance between the consecutive contours is called the horizontal
equivalent. For a given contour interval, the horizontal equivalent depends upon the

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scale of the map and the nature of the terrain. When the steepness of the slope
increases, the horizontal equivalent decreases ( Fig. 5.5 )

Fig. 5.6

▪ If the contour lines are equally spaced, they indicate a uniform slope.
▪ If the contour lines are straight, parallel and equally spaced, they represent a plane
surface.
▪ Irregular contours indicate rough, rugged terrain, whereas smooth contours denote
gradual slopes and changes
▪ In case of a depression, the contours increase in elevation from inside to outsides shown
in Fig.5.7 on the other hand, in case of a hill, the contours increase in elevation from
outside to inside as shown in Fig. 5.7
▪ Contour lines cross a ridgeline (or a watershed line) at right angles. The contour lines form
U-shaped curves, with their concave side towards the higher elevation. Thus contours of
higher elevations are inside the bend. The same contour appears on either side of the
ridge

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Fig.5.7
▪ Contour lines cross a valley line at right angles. The contour lines form V-shaped curves,
with their convex sides towards the higher elevations. Thus the contours of lower
elevations are inside the bend. The same contour appears on either sides of the valley
▪ Two contour lines of different elevations can not generally cross each other, because a
point on the ground cannot have two elevations. However, in special cases of an
overhanging cliff (Fig.) or a cave penetrating a hill side, the contours appear to cross
each other
▪ The contour lines form four loops in the case of a saddle which is the junction of two
ridges. In the case of a saddle, on two opposite sides, the ground slopes up, whereas on
the other two sides, the ground slopes down.

Methods of Locating Contours

Methods of locating contours with a level may be classified into two types

Direct Method.
▪ In the direct method, the contour to be plotted is actually traced on the ground by
locating the points of that elevation.
▪ The horizontal positions of the points so located is then determined and the points are
plotted on the plan.
▪ The pegs of different contours are coded so that one set cannot be mistaken for another
▪ Following direct methods are commonly used for locating the contouring
a. Horizontal Control
b. Direct Contouring Using a Hand Level

Indirect Method.
▪ In the indirect method, the spot levels are taken at some selected guide points and the
levels of these points are determined.
▪ The horizontal positions of these points are determined, and the points are plotted on the
plan

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▪ Following indirect methods are commonly used for locating the contouring
a. Grid method
b. Cross-Section method
c. Radial Line method
d. Controlling Point method

Uses of contour maps

1. Determination of character of terrain
2. Selection of suitable site
3. Determination of sections
4. Inter-visibility between two points
5. Location of Route
6. Determination of catchment Area
7. Estimation of Reservoir Capacity

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