Determining Spot Heights from Contours

In the last section we looked at drawing contours from your grid observations. As highlighted it is a
useful tool to allow you to conduct feasibility studies.

As builders you may do this a few times but it is more likely your regular encounter with contour
lines will be when you are given drawings to price.

You are likely to be given a site plan to price a project. Contours on the plan will indicate the heights
of the land. From this you will determine the cut and fill requirements and form a price accordingly.

To determine ground levels from a contour drawing it is simply a reverse of what we did in the
lesson above. From the contour drawing we recreate the grid.

Step 1

On our contoured drawing were place an even grid. Grid size is IMPORTANT. You must use a scale
ruler and select a dimension that is,

1. Relevant- A grid size of 100 metres will be too large and no reliable quantities will be
determined later.
2. Ease – Select a grid size that will make your later calculations easier when you need to do
the volume calculations e.g. uses a grid size of say 10m x 10m instead of 13m x 13m.

Draw the grid as described and this time lightly draw in the grid lines.

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Step 2
Identify grid intersections that the contour lines pass through.

100.800

100.600

100.200

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Step 3 – Method 1

Select a grid intersection between contour lines and use the following formula to interpolate the grid
spot heights.

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Grid ÷ Distance between Contours))

Note – Distance from Higher Contour to Grid is Distance from Higher Contour to Grid heading towards the lower contour.

For example at grid B3 the spot height may be determined as follows

Distance between Contours = 29mm

(Note- while it is important to use a scale when setting the grid, it is not important when
interpolating as was displayed when we developed the contour drawing above. The Grids are used
for volume calculations later)

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Grid ÷ Distance between Contours))

Spot Height = 100.800 – (100.800 – 100.600) x 18 ÷ 29

= 100.800 – 0.124
= 100.676

x 100.676

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Step 3 – Method 2

Select a grid intersection between contour lines and use the following method to interpolate the grid
spot heights. In our example we will use grid B3.

1. Determine the height difference between the two contours e.g.

100.800 – 100.600 = 0.200

2. Determine the distance between the two contour lines. The distance measured must be
along the grid line passing through the grid intersection (Scale is not important for the same
reason outlined above). In this case = 29mm

3. Determine the amount of fall per mm measured on the plan

0.200 ÷ 29mm = 0.0069m
Therefore for every 1mm actually measured along the grid line there is a decrease of
0.0069m in vertical height.

4. Measure the distance from the highest contour to the required grid intersection. It is
important that this is measured along the same line as the previous measurement. In this
case = 18mm

5. Determine the actual difference in height from the highest contour to the grid intersection.
0.0069 x 18mm = 0.124

6. Subtract the answer in point 5 (0.124) from the highest contour value (100.800).
100.800 – 0.124 = 100.676

This RL of the grid intersection B3 = 100.676.

18mm
45mm
72mm
98mm

x 100.676

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Step 4

Repeat the process described above for each grid intersection.

For example grid points C2 to F2 may be done in this manner.

Distance between Contour 100.800 & 100.600 along Grid 2 = 125mm (Note that may change for you
depending what scale the document is printed at)

Method 1

Using the formula

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Grid ÷ Distance between Contours))

C2 = 100.800 – (100.800 – 100.600) x 18 ÷ 125

= 100.771
D2 = 100.800 – (100.800 – 100.600) x 45 ÷ 125
= 100.728
E2 = 100.800 – (100.800 – 100.600) x 72 ÷ 125
= 100.685
E2 = 100.800 – (100.800 – 100.600) x 98 ÷ 125
= 100.643

Method 2

1. Determine the height difference between the two contours e.g.

100.800 – 100.600 = 0.200

2. Determine the distance between the two contour lines. The distance measured must be
along the grid line passing through the grid intersection (Scale is not important for the same
reason outlined above). In this case = 125mm

3. Determine the amount of fall per mm measured on the plan

0.200 ÷ 125mm = 0.0016m
Therefore for every 1mm actually measured along the grid line there is a decrease of
0.0016m in vertical height.

4. Measure the distance from the highest contour to the required grid intersection. It is
important that this is measured along the same line as the previous measurement. In this
case the measurements are
a. 18mm
b. 45mm
c. 72mm

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 d. 98mm

5. Determine the actual difference in height from the highest contour to the grid intersections.
a. 18mm x 0.0016m = 0.029
b. 45mm x 0.0016m = 0.072
c. 72mm x 0.0016m = 0.115
d. 98mm x 0.0016m = 0.157

6. Subtract the answer in point 5 (0.124) from the highest contour value (100.800).
a. Grid C2 = 100.800 - 0.029 = 100.771
b. Grid D2 = 100.800 - 0.069 = 100.728
c. Grid E2 = 100.800 - 0.115 = 100.685
d. Grid C2 = 100.800 - 0.157 = 100.642

18mm
45mm
72mm
98mm

x 100.771 x 100.728 x 100.685 x 100.642

x 100.676

125mm

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Step 5
Sometimes the point required is not between contours but between a contour and the edge of the
drawing.

x 100.520

Grid Point B5

This point is not between 2 contours. It is between a contour and the edge of the drawing. In all
previous interpolation exercises we have assumed that the ground level is found in a straight line
between the 2 contour lines.

We can review this principle by determining the height of Grid Point B4.

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Grid ÷ Distance between Contours))

= 100.600 – ((100.600 – 100.400) x (12/30))

= 100.600 – 0.080
= 100.520

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 We can also look at this graphically in Section A-A.

Spot Height RL 100.676

Located on straight line
between contours 100.600 Contour

30mm
RL 100.600
RL 100.676
RL 100.400

100.400 Contour
RL 100.000

Section A-A Plan View Excerpt

We use this principle to determine the spot height at the edges of the drawing.

If we look at Section A-A again the straight line between the 100.600 and 100.400 contours can be
extended to the edge of the drawing to Grid Point B5.

Spot Height
100.600
100.400
Grid 5

Spot Height RL 100.676

Located on straight line
between contours 100.600 Contour

30mm

48 mm
RL 100.600
RL 100.676
RL 100.400

Grid Point B5
100.400 Contour
RL 100.000

Plan View Excerpt

Section A-A

We can use our formula from the previous example

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Grid ÷ Distance between Contours))

In this case the distance from the Higher Contour to Grid will be larger than the Distance between
the contours.

Distance between Contours = 30

Distance from Higher Contour to Grid Point = 48

We can determine the spot height for Grid B5 as follows

= 100.600 – ((100.600 – 100.400) x (48/30))

= 100.600 – 0.320
= 100.280

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 -35mm
55mm
x 100.520

x 100.280

Now lets look at Grid Point F1, it is located on the edge of the drawing.

Distance between contours = 55mm

Distance from Higher Contour = -35mm (It is important to enter the distance as a negative as it is directional i.e. heading
away from the lower contour)

We can determine the spot height for Grid F1 as follows

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Grid ÷ Distance between Contours))

Note – Distance from Higher Contour to Grid is Distance from Higher Contour to Grid heading towards the lower contour.

= 100.600 – ((100.600 – 100.400) x (-35/55))

= 100.600 – (-0.140)
= 100.600 + 0.140
= 100.740

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 x 100.740

x 100.520

x 100.280

The above example was used in a prelude to the next discussion. As builders on many occasions from
contour drawings you need to determine the ground levels adjacent to proposed structures.

In the following page we have a proposed garage to be built on a property with an existing house on
it.

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 12.000

11.000

10.000

9.000

8.000

N
Scale 1:200

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 The first item to consider is what is the contour interval?

The interval is 0.5m.

The next task is what is the existing ground level at the 4 corners of the garage?

South West Corner

This South West corner of the Garage is located between the 11.000 Contour and the 11.500 Contour.
We can calculate the ground level at this point by using the same formula we used previously,

Spot Height = Higher Contour – ((Higher Contour – Lower Contour)) x (Distance from Higher Contour to Feature ÷ Distance between Contours))

When measuring the distance Higher Contour = 11.500

between the contours in this Lower Contour = 11.000
situation you should measure as
close as possible in the direction of Distance from Higher Contour to Feature = 35mm
fall in the land. This is at 90˚ to the Distance between Contours = 45mm
contours along the dotted line.
Spot Height = 11.500 – ((11.500 – 11.000) x (35 ÷ 45)
Spot Height = 11.500 – 0.389
Spot Height = 11.111

11.000

South East Corner

Higher Contour = 11.500

Lower Contour = 11.000

Distance from Higher Contour to Feature = 30mm

Distance between Contours = 60mm

Spot Height = 11.500 – ((11.500 – 11.000) x (30 ÷ 60)

Spot Height = 11.500 – 0.250
x 11.111
Spot Height = 11.250

11.000

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North East Corner

This part of the building is not between 2 contours but located between a contour and the edge of the
drawing. We can use the method outlined previously.

Higher Contour = 12.000

Lower Contour = 11.500

Distance from Higher Contour to Feature = 60mm

12.000
Distance between Contours = 40mm

Spot Height = 12.000 – ((12.000 – 11.500) x (- 60 ÷ 40)

Spot Height = 12.000 – - 0.750
11.250 x Spot Height = 12.000 + 0.750
Spot Height = 12.750

11.000

As mentioned before interpreting contours is not an exact science. You need to use judgement when
determining contours.

In this example the spot height calculated was 0.750m above the 12.000 contour. The contour interval
is 0.500m so you would expect the 12.500 contour between the spot height location and the 12.000
contour.

If you remember in your field day you conducted your grid survey at the edge of the grided area i.e. the
fence line. It would be unlikely that the survey was not conducted to the fence line.

It is common practice to leave some spot heights at the edges of a drawing to assist you to clarify these
issues.

In this case you should reject your answer and suspect that the land plateaus and adopt a spot height
of say 12.490.

North West Corner

X 12.480
12.490 x Higher Contour = 12.000
Lower Contour = 11.500

Distance from Higher Contour to Feature = 48mm

12.000
Distance between Contours = 50mm

Spot Height = 12.000 – ((12.000 – 11.500) x (-48 ÷ 50)

Spot Height = 12.000 – - 480
11.250 x Spot Height = 12.000 + 0.480
X 11.111
Spot Height = 12.480

11.000

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