Creating contour lines for a terrain model

Contour lines represent the elevation and shape of the terrain, providing valuable information for analysis and design. Pythagoras CAD software simplifies this process with its intuitive tools. This article will walk you through the steps to create contour lines for a terrain model, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

Creating contour lines

STEPS

Have your terrain model file ready for use.

Select the menu DTM > Contour lines.

In the Contour Lines window

• Choose the graphical display for the contour lines (color, thickness, line style) (1).
• Enter the value for the height difference (interval) between the contour lines (2). Check the box Automatic adjust Elevations to adjust the initial and final elevation to the specified interval.
• Enter the start and end height (3). To display the contour lines in real numbers, round the heights based on the calculated height information displayed on the left side.
• Enter a layer name (4). The layer can be created 'on the fly' by entering the name here for the first time.

Click OK to generate the contour lines based on the configured settings.

Annotating contour lines

There are two ways to annotate contour lines. You can use the Annotate contour lines tool from the Bonus Tools macro to place height annotations where a temporary line intersects the contour lines. Or you can simply use Create height annotation and annotate pre-selected contour lines or click on them individually.

The Annotate contour lines tool

STEPS

• Activate the Bonus tools macro.
• Activate the layer for the 'contour heights'.
• Click on Annotate contour lines.
• Click once in the drawing to define the starting point of the line.
• Click again to define the endpoint of the line.

RESULT

The height annotations are placed at the intersections between the temporary line and the contour lines.

The Create height annotation tool

Select (all) contour lines

Klick on Create height annotation

Every contour line will get one annotation

Further reading: 

How visualize the slope analysis of a terrain model