Lecture-2

Representation of vertical distance contd.

Contour Gradient
An imaginary line on the surface of the earth having a constant inclination with the horizontal
(slope) is called contour gradient. The inclination of a contour gradient is generally given either
as rising gradient or falling gradient, and is expressed as ratio of the vertical height to a specified
horizontal distance. If the inclination of a contour gradient is 1 in 50, it means that for every 50
m horizontal distance, there is a rise (or fall) of 1 m.
When the inclination of a contour gradient is given its direction from a point may be easily
located either on the map or on the ground by the methods discussed below.

Locating contour Gradient on a Map

With the aid of contour plan, it is easy to trace a contour gradient of desired inclination on a
paper, and even transfer it later to the ground (Figure 18.1).

To locate a rising gradient of 1 in 100 from a point say P situated on 200 m contour on the map
having contour interval 5 m at a scale of 1: 5000, draw an arc of radius

with radius at P. The arc cuts the 205 m contour at Q. Locate R and S on 210m and 215 m
contours taking arcs of radius of 10 mm with centres at R and S, respectively. Join P,Q,R and S.
The line P to S represents the contour gradient on the ground having constant slope of 1 in 100.
Locating contour Gradient on the Ground
To locate a rising gradient of 1 in 100 from the station P, a level is set up at a commanding
position and back sight is taken at P. Let the back sight reading be 1.255 m. The staff reading at
any point X on the contour gradient can be calculated from its distance from P (Figure 18.2). For
the distance XP of 20 m, the required staff reading would be

To locate the point X on the ground, the staff man holds the 20 m-mark of the tape, keeping the
zero-mark at P, and moves till the staff reading of 1.055 m is obtained. Likewise, the staff
readings for other points at known distance from P, are calculated, and the points are located. If
the point Q is on the contour of 105 m, its distance from P would be 500 m in this case. The
instruments such as Indian clinometer, theodolite and Ghat tracer may also be used for tracing
the contour gradient on the ground

Uses of Contours
Contours provide valuable information about the nature of terrain. This is very important for
selection of sites, determination of catchment area of a drainage basin, to find intervisibility
between stations etc. Some of the salient uses of contours are described below

Nature of Ground

To visualize the nature of ground along a cross section of interest, a line say XY is being
considered through the contour map (Figure 18.3). The intersection points between the line and
contours are projected at different elevations of the contours are projected and joined by smooth
curve. The smooth curve depicts the nature of the ground surface along XY

To Locate Route
Contour map provides useful information for locating a route at a given gradient such as
highway, canal, sewer line etc.
Let it be required to locate a route from P to Q at an upward gradient of 1 in 100. The contour
map of the area is available at a contour interval of 5 meter at a scale of 1:10000. The horizontal
equivalent will therefore be equal to 100 meter. Then with centre at P with a radius of 2 cm draw
an arc to cut the next higher contour, say at q. With q as centre, mark the next higher contour by
an arc of radius 2 cm say at r. Similarly, other points such as s,t,u. etc are obtained and joining
the points provides the location of route. (Figure 18.2)

Intervisibility between Stations

When the intervisibility between two points can not be ascertained by inspection of the area, it
can be determined using contour map. The intervisibility is determined by drawing a line joining
the stations / points say PQ and plot the elevations of the points and contours intersected by PQ
as shown in Figure 18.3. If the intervening ground is found to be above A'B' line, the

intervisibility is obstructed. In the figure, the ground is obstructing the line of sight.
To Determine Catchment Area or Drainage Area
The catchment area of a river is determined by using contour map. The watershed line which
indicates the drainage basin of a river passes through the ridges and saddles of the terrain
around the river. Thus, it is always perpendicular to the contour lines. The catchment area
contained between the watershed line and the river outlet is then measured with a planimeter
(Figure 18.4).

Storage capacity of a Reservoir

The storage capacity of a reservoir is determined from contour map. The contour line
indicating the full reservoir level (F.R.L) is drawn on the contour map. The area enclosed
between successive contours are measured by planimeter (Figure 18.5). The volume of water
between F.R.L and the river bed is finally estimated by using either Trapezoidal formula or
Prismoidal formula.

Examples
Ex.18-1 In a hydro-electric project, the reservoir provides a storage of 5.9 million cubic meter
between the lowest draw down and the top water level. The areas contained within the stated
contours and the upstream face of the dam are as follows :
Contour (m)
Area (104 sq m)

200
44

195
34

190
28

185
23

180
20

175
16

170
11

165
8

If the R.L. of the lowest draw down is 167 m, find the reduced level of water at the full storage
capacity of the reservoir.
Solution :
The area contained in lowest draw down level i.e. at 167 m is as follows :
Given, contour interval = 5 m
The area contained between 165 m and 170 m level is (11 - 8) x 104 = 3 x 104 sq m
i.e., For a height of 5 m, difference in area = 3 x 10 4 sq m
Therefore between 165 m and 167 m, i.e. for a height drift of 2 m, the area difference

= 1.2 x 104 sq m
The area contained in 167 m contour = (8 + 1.2 ) x 104 sq m = 9.2x 104 sq m
Now from given and calculated data and using trapezoidal rule
Contour
167

Area contained
(104)
9.2

Volume contained
between (104)

Volume contained by
(104)

30.3
170

11.0

30.3
67.5

175

16.0

97.8
90.0

180

20.0

187.8
107.5

185

23.0

295.3
127.5

190

28.0

195

34.0

422.8
155.0
577.8
195.0

200

44.0

772.8

So, at full storage capacity, the height of water level lies between 195 m and 200 m.
The volume of water beyond 195 m height is
(5.9 x 106 - 5.778 x 106) = 1.22 x 105 cu.m
Let h be the height of water level above 195 m height. Then area contained in (195 + h) m
contour is

= 34 x 104 +
The volume between 195 m and (195 + h) m contour is

or, h2 + 34 h -12.2 = 0
Solving, we get h = 0.355 m
Thus the reduced level of water at the full reservoir capacity is (195 + 0.355) = 195.355 m
Exercise 18
Ex.18-1 The areas enclosed by contours on the upstream face of dam in a hydro-electric
project as
Contour (m)
Area (hectares)

800 790 780 770 760 750 740 730

31.41 26.74 24.89 22.23 19.37 17.74 12.91 5.35

The lowest draw down level is 733 m. compute the full reservoir capacity.
Answers
For Exercise 18
Ex.18-1 14.031480 million cubic meter