CENGR 2110

HIGHER SURVEYING
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY

A survey made to secure important

data from which a topographic map
could be made.
Scheme of work of a Topographic Survey

• Establishment of a horizontal control by measuring angular

and linear
• Establishment of the vertical control by determining the
elevation control points by leveling or using plane table.
• Determining the elevations and location of some important
features as many deem necessary for the preparation of
the topographic map.
• Computations of elevation, distances and angles as
obtained from the previous field work undertaken
• Preparation of the Topographic map, or a representation of
terrestrial relief.
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Methods of Representation of Relief

• Shading
• Hachures
• Relief models
• Form lines
• Contour lines
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Methods of Representation of Relief
Shading
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Methods of Representation of Relief
Hachures
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Methods of Representation of Relief
Relief models
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Methods of Representation of Relief
Form lines
TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY
Methods of Representation of Relief
Contour lines
CONTOURS
Types:
Index contours
Intermediate contours
How to read contour lines in
topographic maps:
How to read contour lines in
topographic maps:
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
1. All points on any one contour have the same
elevation.

2. Every contour closes on itself, either within or

beyond the limits of the map. The closure may occur
within the mapped area, but often happens outside
the area and hence will not appear on the map
sheet.

3. A contour which closes within the limits of the

map indicates either a summit or a depression.
Contours which increase in elevation represent hills;
those which decrease in elevation portray valleys or
excavations.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
4. Contours on the ground cannot cross one another
except where an overhanging cliff, a vertical ledge or
wall is represented on a map.

5. Contours are spaced evenly on a uniform slope.

6. Contours are straight and parallel to each other on

a plane surface.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
7. Irregular contours signify rough, rugged terrain.

8. The horizontal distance between adjacent

contours indicates the steepness of the slope of the
ground. Where the contours are relatively close
together, the slope is comparatively steep; where the
contours are far apart, the slope is gentle.

9. Contours cross curbs and a crowned sloping street

in typical U-shaped curves.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
CONTOURS
10. As a contour approaches a stream, the contour
turns upstream until it intersects the shore line. It
then crosses the stream at right angles to the center
of the bed, and turns back along the opposite bank
of the stream. If the stream has an appreciable
width, the contours are not drawn across the stream
but are discontinued at the shore, with which it
merges.
CONTOUR INTERVAL
- vertical distance between two adjacent contour
lines
Scale Interval (m) Scale Interval (m)
1/500 0.5 1/25,000 10
1/2,000 1 1/50,000 20
1/5,000 2 1/100,000 25
1/10,000 5 or 10 1/250,000 50

𝑴𝑫 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍

𝑺𝑹 = 𝑪𝑰 =
𝑮𝑫 𝒏𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒔
SR: scaled ratio (unitless)
MD: map distance
GD: ground distance
LOCATING CONTOUR LINES:
ANALYTICAL METHOD
where:
A & B = established
points on the ground of known elevation
M = a point on a contour crossing the
line between A and B
hm = horizontal map distance from A to
M (cm)
de = difference in elevation between M
and A (m)
DE = difference in elevation between A
and B (m)
H = horizontal map distance between A
and B (cm)

𝒉𝒎 𝑯 𝒅𝒆
= 𝒉𝒎 = 𝑯
𝒅𝒆 𝑫𝑬 𝑫𝑬
LOCATING CONTOUR LINES:
ANALYTICAL METHOD
Sample Problem
The map distance between two benchmarks, A and B, is 15 cm and their
elevations above sea level are 850.50m and 939.60m, respectively. Assuming
uniformity of slope between A and B, calculate the map distance from A where
each of the following contours will cross the line between the two benchmarks:
860, 880, 900, and 920 m.
𝑑𝑒
ℎ= 𝐻
𝐷𝐸
860 − 850.50
ℎ1 = (15) = 1.6 𝑐𝑚
939.60 − 850.50
880 − 850.50
ℎ2 = (15) = 4.97 𝑐𝑚
89.1
900 − 850.50
ℎ3 = (15) = 8.33 𝑐𝑚
89.1
920 − 850.50
ℎ4 = (15) = 11.7 𝑐𝑚
89.1
OBTAINING CONTOURS
Two major classifications:
Direct method: contours to be plotted are actually
traced out in the field.

Indirect method: points located as regards position

and elevation are not necessarily situated on the
contours to be shown, but serve, on being plotted, as a
basis for the interpolation of the required contours.
OBTAINING CONTOURS:
COORDINATE METHOD
Procedure:
1. On a grid system, lay out the area by establishing
corner and perimeter stakes.

2. At the intersections of the grid lines, determine the

elevations.

3. Plot the points of known elevation to the desired scale

in plan.

4. Draw the contour lines by interpolation.

OBTAINING CONTOURS:
COORDINATE METHOD
Sample Problem:
The accompanying tabulation gives elevations of points over the area of a 10m by
10m tract of land. The elevations were obtained by the grid method using 5-m
squares. Point A-1 is located at the northwest corner of the lot and point C-3 at
the southeast corner . All elevations are in meters.

Construct a contour map using a horizontal scale of 1:125 with a contour interval
of 1.0 m.

Point 1 2 3
A 322.9 327 327.5
B 326.6 331 337.3
C 327.4 333.3 335.7
OBTAINING CONTOURS:
COORDINATE METHOD
Sample Problem: Point 1 2 3
A 322.9 327 327.5
1 2 3 B 326.6 331 337.3
A C 327.4 333.3 335.7

For line A1 – A2
323 − 322.9 325 − 322.9
ℎ323 = 4 𝑐𝑚 ℎ325 = 4 𝑐𝑚
327 − 322.9 327 − 322.9
ℎ323 = 0. 098 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. ) ℎ325 = 2.049 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. )
B
324 − 322.9 326 − 322.9
ℎ324 = 4 𝑐𝑚 ℎ326 = 4 𝑐𝑚
327 − 322.9 327 − 322.9
ℎ324 = 1.073 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. ) ℎ326 = 3.024 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. )

C 327 − 322.9
ℎ327 = 4 𝑐𝑚
327 − 322.9
ℎ327 = 4 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. )
OBTAINING CONTOURS:
COORDINATE METHOD
Sample Problem: Point 1 2 3
A 322.9 327 327.5
1 2 3 B 326.6 331 337.3
A C 327.4 333.3 335.7

For line A1 – B1
323 − 322.9 325 − 322.9
ℎ323 = 4 𝑐𝑚 ℎ325 = 4 𝑐𝑚
326.6 − 322.9 326.6 − 322.9
ℎ323 = 0. 108 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. ) ℎ325 = 2.270 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. )
B
324 − 322.9 326 − 322.9
ℎ324 = 4 𝑐𝑚 ℎ326 = 4 𝑐𝑚
326.6 − 322.9 326.6 − 322.9
ℎ324 = 1.189 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. ) ℎ326 = 3.351 𝑐𝑚 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣. )

C
SLOPE
- the rate of rise or fall of the ground surface

B
𝑹𝒊𝒔𝒆

RISE / DE
𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆 =
𝑹𝒖𝒏
A
RUN / HD
METHODS OF EXPRESSING
SLOPE
1. Percent or Grade 4. Gradient
𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 1.0
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = ± (100%) 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = =
𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
2. Degrees 5. Mils
𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 Used in military; 360°=6,400 mils
−1
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 = tan 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑠 = (1000)
𝑅𝑢𝑛
3. Grads
Centesimal system; 1 grad = 1/400 of a circle
𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 = (63.7)
𝑅𝑢𝑛
METHODS OF EXPRESSING
SLOPE
Sample Problem:
The difference in elevation between two ground points, A and B, is 38.25 m, and
the horizontal distance between the two points is 125.50 m. Determine the slope
between points in:

a) percent, b) degree, c) gradient, d) mils, and e) grads

B 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝒂. 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = ± (100%)
𝑅𝑢𝑛
38.25

38.25
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = + (100%)
A 125.50
125.50 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 = +30.48%
METHODS OF EXPRESSING
SLOPE
Sample Problem:
The difference in elevation between two ground points, A and B, is 38.25 m, and
the horizontal distance between the two points is 125.50 m. Determine the slope
between points in:

a) percent, b) degree, c) gradient, d) mils, and e) grads

B 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒
−1
𝒃. 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 = tan
𝑅𝑢𝑛
38.25

−1
38.25
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 = tan
A 125.50
125.50
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 = 16°57’1’’
METHODS OF EXPRESSING
SLOPE
Sample Problem:
The difference in elevation between two ground points, A and B, is 38.25 m, and
the horizontal distance between the two points is 125.50 m. Determine the slope
between points in:

a) percent, b) degree, c) gradient, d) mils, and e) grads

B 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒 1.0
𝒄. 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = =
𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑅𝑢𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
38.25

38.25 1
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = =
A 125.50 125.50
125.50 38.25
1
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = 𝑜𝑟 1: 3.28
3.28
METHODS OF EXPRESSING
SLOPE
Sample Problem:
The difference in elevation between two ground points, A and B, is 38.25 m, and
the horizontal distance between the two points is 125.50 m. Determine the slope
between points in:

a) percent, b) degree, c) gradient, d) mils, and e) grads

B 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝒅. 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑠 = (1000)
𝑅𝑢𝑛
38.25

38.25
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑠 = (1000)
A 125.50
125.50 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑠 = 304.78 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑠
METHODS OF EXPRESSING
SLOPE
Sample Problem:
The difference in elevation between two ground points, A and B, is 38.25 m, and
the horizontal distance between the two points is 125.50 m. Determine the slope
between points in:

a) percent, b) degree, c) gradient, d) mils, and e) grads

B 𝑅𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝒅. 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 = (63.7)
𝑅𝑢𝑛
38.25

38.25
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 = (63.7)
A 125.50
125.50 𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠 = 19.41 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑠