HILL ARCHITECTURE

LANDFORM FEATURES, CONTOUR SIGNATURES

 Terrain - Terrain refers to the characteristic features of a land surface:
landforms, elevation, rocks, soils, and vegetation if any. It is any term that
defines a particular region or area.
Terrain can be mountainous, hilly, or flat. It can be bare, rocky, desert, swampy,
grass, forest, and many other descriptive and ecological classifications.

Relief - Relief is a term that is used to describe land's physical shape. It

describes the height, slope, shape, and aspect of land. The difference between
the highest and lowest point of land is called as relief.

Reference Point Reference Point on the earth's surface is the vertical

distance, above or below mean sea level.
 METHODS OF DEPICTING RELIEF
Layer Tinting
Contour lines
Hachure
Shaded Relief

Shaded Relief

Layer Tinting Contour Hachure

 CONTOURS
Contour lines - It is an imaginary line that joins or
connects all points of equal elevation above or below a
fixed reference point or datum (mean sea level or a
locally established benchmark).

Horizontal equivalent - The horizontal distance between

any two adjacent contours is called horizontal equivalent.
It is variable and depends upon the slope of ground.

Contour interval - The vertical distance between any two

consecutive contours is called contour interval. For a
contour map contour interval is kept constant. Contour
interval is decided after considering the site topography.
 TYPES OF CONTOUR LINES
a) Index - Starting at zero elevation or mean sea level, every fifth contour line is a heavier line. These
are known as index contour lines. Normally, each index contour line is numbered at some point. This
number is the elevation of that line.

b) Intermediate - The contour lines falling between the index contour lines are called intermediate
contour lines. These lines are finer and do not have their elevations given. There are normally four
intermediate contour lines between index contour lines.

c) Supplementary - These contour lines resemble dashes. They show changes in elevation of at least
one-half the contour interval. These lines are normally found where there is very little change in
elevation, such as on fairly level terrain.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CONTOUR LINES:
1. All points on the same contour line are at the same elevation.
2. Every contour line is a continuous line, which forms a closed figure, either
within or beyond the limits of the map or drawing. (figure 1)
3. Two or more contour lines are required to indicate three dimensional form and
direction of slope. (figure 2) Figure -1
4. Consistent with the preceding point, water flows perpendicular to contour
lines.
5. Equally spaced contour lines indicate a constant, or uniform slope.
6. Contour lines never cross except where there is an overwhelming cliff, natural
bridge, or other similar phenomenon. (figure 3)
7. Widely spaced contour lines indicate gentle slope. (figure 4)
8. Closed contour lines with higher elevation towards the center indicate hills.
(Figure 5)
9. Closely spaced contour lines indicate steep slope. (figure 4)
10. Closed contour lines with reducing levels towards the center indicate pond or
Figure -2
other depression. (Figure 6)

Figure -6 Figure -5 Figure -3 Figure -4

TYPES OF SLOPES

1. Uniform Gentle slope (Dip Slope)- Contour lines showing a uniform, gentle slope will be evenly
spaced and wide apart.

2. Uniform Steep slope (Scrap Slope)- Contour lines showing a uniform, steep slope on a map
will be evenly spaced, but close together. Remember, the closer the contour lines, the steeper
the slope. It is also called Scarp slope starting from ridge into a direction perpendicular to it.
3. Convex slope : Contour lines showing a convex slope on a map will be widely spaced at the top and
closely spaced at the bottom .This decrease in surface slope with elevation is represented by a contour
pattern in which the contour spacing increases as elevation increases.

4. Concave slope : Contour lines showing a concave slope on a map will be closely spaced at the top
of the terrain feature and widely spaced at the bottom. This increase in surface slope with elevation is
represented by a contour pattern in which the contours become more closely spaced as elevation
increases.
PERCENTAGE OF SLOPE :
TERRAIN FEATURES AND CONTOUR SIGNATURES
MAJOR LANDFORM SIGNATURES : MINOR LANDFORM SIGNATURE :
1. SUMMIT 1. DRAW
a. HILL 2. SPUR
b. CONICAL HILL 3. CLIFF
c. CONVEXO CONCAVE HILL 4. PLATEAU
d. KNOLL 5. WIND GAP
2. VALLEY 6. SWALE LANDFORM
3. GAP 7. WATER SHED
4. SADDLE
5. DEPRESSION SUPPLEMENTARY TERRAIN FEATURES :
6. RIDGE 8. CUT
9. FILL