SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING DETERMINATION OF REDUCED LEVEL OF VARIOUS POINTS TO DRAW THE CONTOUR MAP BY USING AUTO LEVEL A. OBJECTIVE The objective of the contouring is to determine the RL’s of different points using auto level for the preparation of the contour map. B. THEORY Contouring is, basically, a levelling operation. The equipment are the samefor levelling and contouring. The main objective of contouring is to determine the points on the ground having the same reduced level (RL). The contour lines join the points of same elevation directly or by interpolation technique. It gives the topographical features of the ground, comparing different contour lines of different elevations for a closed area. Based on the topographical features, calculations for engineering projects can be carriedout. There are different methods of drawing such closed or open contour lines within a specific area. N Fig, 1 Contour Profile 68SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Important Terminology 1. Contour Line ‘The line of intersection of a level surface with the ground surface is knownas the contour line or simply the contour. It can also be defined as a line passing through points of equal reduced levels. A map showing only the contour lines of an area is called a contour map. 2.Contour Interval The vertical distance between any two consecutive contours is known as a contour interval. Suppose a map includes contour lines of 100 m, 98 m, 96m, and so on. The contour interval here is 2m. This interval depends upon. (@ the nature of the ground (i.e. whether flat or steep), (ii) the scale of themap, and (ii) the purpose of the survey. It should be remembered that the contour interval for a particular map isconstant. 3. Horizontal Equivalent ‘The horizontal distance between any two consecutive contours is known as horizontal equivalent. It is not constant, It varies according to the steepnessof the ground, For steep slopes, the contour lines run close together, and for flatter slopes they are widely spaced. NES Surfice Horionta Equivalent Fig. 2 Contour Lines 69SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING C. ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT REQUIRED Following accessories and equipments are required for the contouring 1. Auto level 2. Levelling staff 3. Tripod stand 4. Tape 5. Graph sheet 6. Pencil 7. Eraser 8 Ranging Rods Fig. 3 Accessories and Equipments D. PRECAUTION 70SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 1. The instrument is always preferred to set up in a place where the area can be surveyed without much difficulties 2. While plotting the contour map proper care should be taken 3. Leveling staff should be held on perfectly vertical to avoid parallax. 4, Measurement of station should be done with general accuracy. E. PROCEDURE (a) Select any suitable place for setting up the instrument. Place the instrument and try toadjust it. Adjustment procedure should be consist of the followings, (i) Setting up the level (ii) Leveling up _(iii) Elimination of parallax (b) Mark an area of 100 m*; ie., length 10 m and width 10m. (©) Take staff reading at every station at an interval of 2.5 m, (e.g. 2.5 m x 2.5 m grid). The grid points are determined using tape, and marked using arrows. (d) Take the elevation of top left comer as (A-1) which may be considered as_ bench mark (a) Using Cross Sections In this method, a base line, centre line or profileline is considered, Cross sections are taken perpendicular to this line at regular intervals (say 50 m, 100 m, etc.). After this, points are marked along the cross sections at a regular intervals (say, 5 m, 10 m, ete). A temporary bench-mark is set up near the site. Staff readings are taken along the base line and the cross sections. The readings are entered in the level book; thebase line and the cross sections should also be mentioned. The RL of ich of the points calculated, Then the base line and cross sctions are plotted to a suitable scale, Subsequently, the RLs of the respective points are noted onthe map, after which the required contour line is drawn by interpolation. This method is suitable for route survey, when cross sections are takentransverse to the longitudinal section (Fig. 4). 1SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 100.50 98.80 100.15 9775 96.80 99 k— 98 98.90 99.25 4625 \ 97.78 99.65 [~ 97. 97.60 96.95 95.60 96.25 98.35 4a \ Base Line B 96.75, 98.50 96.75 95.25 97.70 94.65 98.75 99.60. 98.75 97.30 CIS-2 C/s-3 CiS-4 CIS-5 Fig. 4 Using Cross Sections (b) Using Squares In this method (Fig. 5), the area is divided into anumber of squares. The size of these squares depends upon the nature and extent of the ground. Generally, they have a sides varying from 5 to 20 m.The comers of the squares are numbered serially, as 1, 2,3... A temporary bench-mark is set up near the site, and the level is set up at a suitable position. The staff readings on the corners of the squares are taken and notedin the level book maintaining the sequence of the serial numbers of the comers. The RLs of all the comers are calculated. The skeletons of the squares are plotted to a suitable scale, The respective RLs are noted on the comers, after which the contour lines are drawn by interpolation. 2SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING 5 1 8 hs 95307 ~—«weas AS ° 0 ny 2 9760 @ 65 7 %, 3 is 7 s 975 7) as og7s__ ong 9820 7 3 ‘ 7 ° ‘ Rs Notes Pe Skelet thlhase ote as Pe Skeleton Fig. 5 Using Squares F, OBSERVATION & CALCULATION METHOD OF INTERPOLATION OF CONTOURS The process of locating the contours proportionately between the plottedpoints is termed interpolation, Interpolation may be done by 1. Arithmetical calculation 2. The graphical method 1. By Arithmetical Calculation Let A and B be two comers of the squares (Fig. 5). The RL of A is 98.75m, and that of B 100.75 m. The horizontal distance between A and B is 10m. Horizontal distance between A and B= 10m Vertical difference between A and B = 100.75 — 98.75 = 2 m Let a contour of 99.00 m be required. Then, Difference of level between A and 99.00 m contour = 99.00 — 98.75 = 0.25m Distance of 99,00 m contour line from A = 10/2 x 0.25 = 1.25 m This calculated distance is plotted to the same scale in which the skeletonwas plotted, to obtain a point of RL of 99.00 m. BSURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Similarly, the other points can be located. 2. By Graphical Method On a sheet of tracing paper, a line AB is drawn and divided into equal parts (Fig, 6). AB is bisected at C, and a perpendicular is drawn at this point. A point 0 is selected on this perpendicular. Then radial lines are drawn from Oto the divisions on AB. After this lines 1-1, 2~2, 3-3 ... are drawn parallel to AB. These lines serve as guidelines. The boundary line and every fifth line is marked with a thick or red line. 110.4 1 2 Fs Z BE Ze o E—100] ¢, SS Sa 3 t bolas SS 90 B Fig, 6 Interpolation by Graphical Method Suppose we have to interpolate a 2 m contour interval between two points a and b of RLs 92.5 and 100.75 m. Let us consider the lowest radial line OB to represent an RL of 90.00. So, every fifth line (which is bold or red) will represent 95, 100, 105, ete. The tracing paper is moved over the plan until a lies at 92.5 and b at 100.25. Line ab should be parallel to AB. Now the points 94, 96, 98, 100 are prickedthrough to obtain the positions of the required contour. 4URVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB HOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Table.1 Observation Table Station | Distance | Staff Reading at station | H. I. | Difference | Reduced | Remarks (m) | Back | Inter | Fore Rise | Fall| Level ( (m) | (m | (m) (m) | (m) | m AL BM. AZ AS Ag AS BI B2 BS Ba BS CI 2 G3 C4 os DI D2 G. DISCUSSION Contouring helps in studying the general character ofthe tract of the country without visiting the ground. With the knowledge of characteristics of contours, it is easy to visualize whether country is flat, undulating or mountainous. Contouring can assist in deciding the sites for engineering works such as reservoirs, canals, roads and railways ete. on the basis of the economy. Contouring is used to determine the catchment area of the drainage basin andhence capacity of the proposed reservoir. 18SURVEYING/GEOMATIC LAB SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Its usefull in computing the earth work required forfilling or cutting along the linear alignment of the projects such as canals, roads, ec, In addition the height of earth retaining structures (e.g. retaining walls) can be easily estimated. Contouring is also used to find out the inter-visibility of the points and to trace out a contour gradient for road alignments. Besides, we can draw longitudinal and cross- sections toascertain nature of the ground. Through this fieldwork students will lear about procedures ofeollecting data for contour maps, using level and tape, Students will also leam about the procedures to draw contour maps. ‘The general map of a country includes the locations of roads, railways, rivers, villages, towns, and so on, But the nature of the ground surface cannot be realised from such a map. However, for all engineering projects involving roads, railways, and so on, a knowledge of the nature of ground surface is required for locating suitable alignments and estimating the volume of earth work Therefore, the contour map is essential for all engineering projects. This is why contour maps are prepared. H. QUESTIONS 1. What is a contour line? 2. Why is the horizontal equivalent not constant? 3. In some places consecutive contours run close together and in some places they are wideapart, What does this mean? 4. In a map, it is found that two consecutive contours cross each other. What would you comment? 5, What is the object of preparing a contour map? I. REFERENCE 1. Surveying Volume I by B.C, Punmia, Br. Ashok K. Jain, Dr. Arun K, Jain, Laxmi Publication (P) Ltd., New Delhi. 2. A Textbook of Surveying and Levelling by R. Agor, Khanna Publishers, New Delhi 3. IS 1779-1991 (Indian Standard SPECIFICATION FOR 4- METRE LEVELLING STAFF). 16