Grid levels

Grid leveling is used for site

investigation, for drawing contour
lines and for the easy calculation of
volumes.

The opposite figure shows a typical

survey of a site using grid point
levels. The area of the site is divided
into a number of squares 5 5
metres (triangles or rectangles can
also be used) and levels are taken at
corner points. The grid levels enable
us to calculate the volume of
material above or below a certain
reduced level (RL) and to draw
contour lines. In the example one
12.9 m contour line is shown.Assignment (Volumes and contour lines)

The opposite figure shows a building site.

 The lot is 50 40 metres and
has spot levels at 1010 metre
grid points as indicated.

1) For this site draw all contour

lines at 1 metre interval. The
distance on the grid lines must
be calculated using the formula
for similar triangles.

2) Find the reduced level to

establish a finish ground level
(FGL) by utilising the cut and
fill method (cut equals fill)

3) How much soil is required if

the RL of the building pad
(FGL) is to be 16.300.
Calculate the volume.

If submitted to the lecturer the

correct answers will be emailed
to the student

Figure 8

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Contour lines are an essential part of the assessment and this subject matter needs to be clearly
understood. Contour lines are lines drawn on a plan connecting points of equal elevation. If you
walk along a contour line you neither gain or lose elevation. The contour interval is constant for
each plan. The interval will be indicated for each exercise or assessment. Depending on the slope
of the lot, intervals can be 100 mm, 200 mm or 500 mm.

Contour lines show the vertical dimension (the third dimension) of the ground on site plans. The
vertical distance separating contour lines gives an indication of the steepness of the slopes. A few
simple rules for contour lines will be helpful in interpreting the vertical dimension of a building
site.
 In general gentle slopes are
represented by widely spaced
contour lines.
Steep slopes are represented by
closely spaced contour lines.

The contour lines shown in Figure 7

spacing at 500 mm interval.

Figure 7

There are two methods to plot

contour lines: a) by estimation
b) by calculation

a) is the quickest method of plotting

the contours. Estimate by visual
inspection the position of a contour
between two adjacent spot levels.

b) is more accurate if the ground between the RL's is nearly straight. Similar triangle rule is then
used to calculate the contour line.

Method a)
Contours lines are at 500 mm interval, that means there are two contour lines between grid point
21 (RL 10.541) and grid point 16 (RL 11.687) the 11.000 and 11.500 respectively. The distance
between the two RL's is 5 metres. By estimation the 11.000 contour line would be approx. 0.4

5m 2.000 m from RL 10.541 and the 11.500 contour line would be close to RL 11.687