CONTOUR LINE

Susilo Aditya Darma

Program Studi Teknik Sipil
Fakultas Pendidikan Teknologi dan Kejuruan
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

ABSTRACT
An imaginary line in the field connecting points of the same height is a contour line. The
background of this article is to know the meaning, nature, and interpolation of contour lines. The
nature of the contour line is that it does not branch, is in the form of a closed curve, does not
intersect, protrudes upstream when passing through a river, protrudes towards a descending road
if it passes through the road surface, is not depicted when passing through a building.
Interpolating contour lines can use 3 ways, namely estimation (visual), calculation (numerical),
and graphical.

Keywords: Contour Lines, Contour properties, Interocation

PRELIMINARY
An imaginary line in the field that connects points with the same height is a contour line
or it can also be called on a map there is an imaginary line that is continuous and connected to
other points that have the same height. The nature and characteristics of contour lines are in
accordance with the surface on the earth. In looking for a contour line must have a value,
position, and elevation.
From the background above, there are several formulations of the problem that the
authors get, namely: 1). What is a contour line?; 2) what is the nature of the contour lines?; 3)
How to interpolate contour lines?
Based on the problem formulation that has been described, the purpose of this article is to
1) Understand and know what is meant by contour lines; 2) Knowing the nature and
characteristics of contour lines; 3) Know how to interpolate contour lines.

DISCUSSION
Definition of Contour Lines
According to Heywood (2002, p283), a contour is a line on a topographic map that
connects points of the same elevation and is usually used to represent the shape of the earth's
surface. Other names for contour lines are tranches, elevation lines and horizontal curved lines.
 Contour lines can also be interpreted as imaginary lines in the field connecting points
with the same height or contour lines are continuous lines on the map showing points on the map
with the same height. Other names for contour lines are line tranches, line heights and horizontal
height lines.
Nature and Characteristics of Contour Lines
Contour lines have the characteristics of not branching, in the form of closed curves, not
intersecting, protruding upstream when passing through a river, protruding towards a descending
road if passing through the road surface, not being drawn when passing through buildings, The
presentation of contour line intervals depends on the scale of the map presented. , if it is flat then
the contour line interval depends on the scale of the map presented, if it is flat then the contour
line interval is 1/1000 multiplied by the map scale value, if it is hilly then the contour line
interval is 1/500 multiplied by the map scale value and if it is mountainous then the interval the
contour line is 1/200 times the map scale value.

Contour Line Interpolation

Drawing the contour line based on the acquisition of the position of the high points (spots
height) will make it easier and smoother to draw the contour line. Contour line drawing is
obtained by means of interpolation calculations, in the direct method of measuring contour lines,
contour lines are connecting lines of observed points with the same height, whereas in indirect
method of contour line measurement, the detail points are generally at any point not the same.
 If the detail points obtained have not realized the points with the same height, the position of
the point with a certain height is sought, which is between the 2 high points and obtained by the
principle of calculating 2 congruent triangles. Linear interpolation can be done in the following
ways: estimates, calculations and graphics.
a. Method of estimation (visual) Points with the same height, while the measurement and
interpretation is directly between points whose height is known.

b. Method of calculation (Numerical) This method basically also uses two points whose
position and height are known, the interpolation calculation is done numerically (exactly)
using linear comparisons.
c. Graphic way Graphical method is done with the help of parallel lines made on transparent
paper (trace or kodatrace). Parallel lines are made at equal intervals according to the
height of the contour line to be searched.

CONCLUSION
Contour line is an imaginary line in the field connecting points with the same height or identity
line on the map that pays attention to the points above the map with the same height. through
rivers, and so on. Interpolation is the process of finding and calculating the value of a function
whose graph passes through a given set of points. The point may be the result of an experimental
experiment, or it may be obtained from a known function.