Name: John Rudmark L.

Ebol Subject: GE 101 - General Surveying II

Section: DEFG 1 Instructor: Engr. Arturo G. Cauba Jr.

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 5

ANALYTICAL METHOD OF PLOTTING CONTOURS

TIME OF DAY/ DATE:

WEATHER CONDITION: SCORE
LIST OF EQUIPMENT: Triangles, Straight edge, Metric scale, Pencil, Pen, Tracing paper,
Masking tape, and Electronic Calculator.
OBJECTIVE: To learn the analytical method of interpolating (or spacing) contour line proportionally
between points of known locations and elevations.
PROCEDURE:
1. This problem is an indoor lab exercise which highlights a type of office/ drafting work required
in topographic mapping. It will be assumed that the given data were taken from an actual field
observation.
2. The accompanying tabulation gives elevations of points over the area of a 50 m by 60 m tract
of land. The elevations were obtained by the grid method using 10-m squares. Point A-1 is
located at the northwest corner of the lot and point G-6 at the southeast corner. All elevations
are in meter.

POINT 1 2 3 4 5 6
A 1522.82 1559.25 1485.10 1413.45 1362.12 1290.56
B 1440.00 1441.32 1462.38 1451.65 1392.05 1340.00
C 1395.45 1425.68 1506.44 1480.37 1400.72 1371.58
D 1409.56 1453.68 1545.15 1460.00 1410.28 1393.19
E 1436.73 1479.15 1495.65 1451.30 1434.05 1430.00
F 1470.35 1520.44 1490.68 1465.40 1452.98 1458.16
G 1545.25 1565.00 1519.50 1490.23 1475.10 1470.75

3. The requirements for this lab are:

a. Construct a contour map using horizontal scale of 1:125 with a contour interval of 20
meters. The proportional spacing of contour lines must only be determined analytically.
b. The contour map should be drawn on a grid layout. All necessary map marginal
information, elevation of points, labelling of horizontal and vertical grid lines, and etc must
likewise be indicated.
c. Use tracing paper with dimensions of at least 46 cm by 54 cm, and arrange the paper so
that the longer side is vertical.
d. Indicate the elevations of the following index contours: 1300, 1400, and 1500 m. The
thickness of these index contours drawn heavier than the intermediate contours.
e. A total of 30 grid squares are needed to portray the 42 points with known elevations. For
example, one such grid square is formed by point A-1, A-2, B-2, and B-1. Contours
should be interpolated between points A-1 and A-2, A-2 and B-2, B-1 and B-2, and A-1
and B-1. Similarly, there is a need to interpolate only along one of the two diagonals of
this grid square. One diagonal is formed by a line joining A-1 and B-2 and the other
between B-1 and A-2. The selected diagonal is one where the difference in elevation
between the terminal points is maximum.
f. The analytical interpolation of contour lines should be made on all the lines and selected
diagonals forming the 30 grid squares.( Use the formula of determining the proportional
spacing of contour lines)
g. Use pencil for initial plotting and a technical pen with black ink for final plotting.
CONTOUR MAP SAMPLE:

COMPUTATIONS: (use extra sheet if necessary)

Scale: 1:125
Grid Sides = 10m , Diagonal Sides = √102 + 102 = 14.14𝑚

General Formula for Proportional Distance

𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏−𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Distance = ∗ 𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒅 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆/𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆
𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏−𝑳𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

Index Contour of 1300

Side Highest Contour Lowest Proportional
Grid/Diagonal
Interval Elevation Elevation Elevation Distance
A5 - A6 1368.12 1300 1290.56 10 8.78
B5 - A6 1392.05 1300 1290.56 14.14 12.82
B6 - A6 1340 1300 1290.56 10 8.09

Index Contour of 1400

Side Highest Contour Lowest Proportional
Grid/Diagonal
Interval Elevation Elevation Elevation Distance
C1 - B1 1440 1400 1395.45 10 8.98
C1 - B2 1441.32 1400 1395.45 14.14 12.74
C1 - C2 1425.68 1400 1395.45 10 8.49
C1 - D2 1453.68 1400 1395.45 14.14 13.04
C1 - D1 1409.56 1400 1385.45 10 3.97
A5 - A4 1413.45 1400 1362.12 10 2.62
A5 - B4 1451.65 1400 1362.12 14.14 8.16
B5 - B4 1451.65 1400 1392.05 10 8.67
B5 - C4 1480.37 1400 1392.05 14.14 12.87
 B5 - C5 1400.72 1400 1392.05 10 0.83
C5 - B6 1400.72 1400 1340 14.14 0.17
C5 - C6 1400.72 1400 1371.58 10 0.25
C5 - D6 1400.72 1400 1393.19 14.14 1.35
D5 - C6 1410.28 1400 1371.58 14.14 3.76
D5 - D6 1410.28 1400 1393.19 10 6.02
E5 - D6 1434.05 1400 1393.19 14.14 11.78
D6 - E6 1430 1400 1393.19 10 8.15

Index Contour of 1500

Side Highest Contour Lowest Proportional
Grid/Diagonal
Interval Elevation Elevation Elevation Distance
A1 - B2 1522.82 1500 1441.32 14.14 3.96
A2 - B1 1559.25 1500 1440 14.14 7.03
A1 - B1 1522.82 1500 1440 10 2.76
A2 - B2 1559.25 1500 1441.32 10 5.02
A2 - B3 1559.25 1500 1462.38 14.14 8.65
C3 - B3 1506.48 1500 1462.38 10 1.47
C3 - B2 1506.48 1500 1441.32 14.14 1.41
C3 - B4 1506.44 1500 1451.65 14.14 1.66
C3 - C2 1506.44 1500 1425.68 10 0.80
A2 - A3 1559.25 1500 1485.1 14.14 11.30
C3 - C4 1506.44 1500 1480.37 14.14 3.49
C2 - D3 1545.15 1500 1425.68 14.14 5.34
C3 - D2 1506.44 1500 1453.68 14.14 1.73
D2 - D3 1545.15 1500 1453.68 10 4.94
C3 - D4 1506.44 1500 1460 14.14 1.96
D3 - D4 1545.15 1500 1460 10 5.30
D3 - C4 1545.15 1500 1480.37 14.14 9.86
D3 - E4 1545.15 1500 1457.3 10 5.14
D3 - E3 1545.15 1500 1495.65 10 9.12
F2 - E1 1520.44 1500 1436.73 14.14 3.45
F2 - E2 1520.44 1500 1479.15 10 4.95
F2 - E3 1520.44 1500 1495.65 14.14 11.66
F2 - F1 1520.44 1500 1470.35 10 4.08
F2 - F3 1520.44 1500 1490.68 10 6.87
F1 - G1 1545.25 1500 1470.35 10 6.04
F1 - G2 1565 1500 1470.35 14.14 9.71
F3 - G2 1565 1500 1490.68 14.14 12.37
F3 - G3 1519.5 1500 1490.68 10 6.77
G3 - F4 1519.5 1500 1465.4 14.14 5.10
G3 - G4 1519.5 1500 1490.23 10 6.66
GROUP NO.: 2

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RECORDER: ____________________________________________
MEMBERS:
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LABORATORY REPORT: (Introduction, Results, Conclusion)

The 5th laboratory activity for this course has a task content of plotting contours analytically and
proportionally between points of known locations and elevations. This is part of learning outline of the
lecture about Topographic Surveying. The materials needed for this laboratory activity are the
following: Triangles, Straight edge, Metric scale, Pencil, Pen, Tracing paper, Masking tape, and
Electronic Calculator. On a 50m by 60m tract land, it was subdivided into 30 grid squares each sides
with 10m measurement to identify the measurement of the diagonal sides, utilize the Right Triangle
theorem of basic geometry (Pythagorean Theorem) and it is determined as 14.14m (using metric
scale ruler with a scale of 1:125). From the 30 grid squares accompanied by 42 points each
portraying a given elevations stipulated above. The index contours to be plotted are the elevations of
1300m, 1400m, and 1500m. A contour interval also of 20m is needed these contour lines are to be
identified as intermediate contours.

To plot the index contours which are the elevations of 1300m, 1400m, and 1500m, the analytical
method involving calculations is required. This also includes the measuring of distance through
proportions. The general formula of it is the Highest Elevation to be subtracted by the Contour
Elevation and divided by the Difference of the Highest Elevation and Lowest Elevation. The quotient
then be multiplied by the interval sides could be either the sides from the square which is 10m or its
diagonal side of 14.14m then you can now mark it then once complete you can now start plotting it.
To know the interval sides to be involved in the calculations, you must observe and analyze the
different points and its known elevation. Identified the points by selecting a contour intervals and two
grid points where 1300, 1400, and 1500m lies between then perform the calculations. Then from the
measuring equipment mark the proportional distance then perform the plotting.

From this laboratory activity, I could conclude that in order to plot contour lines perseverance is
needed because of its very long process. It can also considered be as a challenge to become
consistently accurate in plotting.