Creating Contours From a
Surface
Surface
To create
contours from a surface
contours from a surface
- Build
a surface.
- From
the Terrain menu, choose Create Contours to display the Create Contours
dialog box.
- From
the Surface list, select the surface that you want to create contours for.
If the surface name is not displayed in the list, then click Browse to
search for it. Surfaces have the file extension .tin.
- Under
Elevation Range, define the range of the surface’s elevation for which to
create contours by entering values in the From and To boxes. The low and
high elevations of the surface are displayed as defaults.
TIP If
you change the Elevation Range, then you can return to the default range by
clicking the Reset Elevations button.
you change the Elevation Range, then you can return to the default range by
clicking the Reset Elevations button.
To
exaggerate the elevational changes of the contours when you look at them in 3D,
enter a value other than 1 in the Vertical Scale box.
exaggerate the elevational changes of the contours when you look at them in 3D,
enter a value other than 1 in the Vertical Scale box.
NOTE If
you exaggerate the vertical scale, the contours are drawn at an exaggerated
elevation and are therefore incorrect when labeling or as a basis for future
TIN creation.
you exaggerate the vertical scale, the contours are drawn at an exaggerated
elevation and are therefore incorrect when labeling or as a basis for future
TIN creation.
- Under
Intervals, select one of the following options:
- Both
Minor and Major - Minor
Only - Major
Only
- Define
the contour intervals by entering values in the Minor Interval and Major
Interval boxes. For example, if you enter a minor interval of 2, and your
drawing units are meters, then a minor contour is created every place
there is a 2-meter change in elevation.
- Specify
the layers for the major and minor contours. By placing the minor and
major contours on different layers, you can easily control the contour
colors and linetypes. You can select a layer or type in a new layer name.
- Under
Properties, select one of the following options:
- Contour
Objects: To create contour objects. - Polylines: To
create polyline contours.
NOTE If
you select the Polylines option, then you cannot select a contour style to use.
you select the Polylines option, then you cannot select a contour style to use.
- From
the Contour Style list, select the contour style to use for the contours.
TIP Click
the Preview button to see a preview of the contour style.
the Preview button to see a preview of the contour style.
- If
you need to load a contour style, edit a style, or create a new style,
then click the Style Manager button to display the Contour Style Manager
dialog box.
- Click
OK to generate the contours.
The
following prompt is displayed:
following prompt is displayed:
Erase old contours (Yes/No)
<Yes>:
<Yes>:
- Type
Yes or No:
- Type
Yes to erase any existing contours that may be present on the contour
layers. - Type
No to preserve existing contours.
WARNING!
If you type Yes to erase the old contours, then existing contours on
both the major and minor contour layers are erased. When you develop grading
plans, pay attention to the layers that the Create Contours command uses so
that your existing ground contours are not erased.
If you type Yes to erase the old contours, then existing contours on
both the major and minor contour layers are erased. When you develop grading
plans, pay attention to the layers that the Create Contours command uses so
that your existing ground contours are not erased.
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