How to Edit a Contour Map in TerraModel

Contour maps show elevation and various other aspects of the lay of the land.

"TerraModel" is a piece of software designed by the "Trimble" company. It is a CAD design program designed for surveyors, civil engineers and contractors. "TerraModel" reads and displays contour maps. These maps can be generated by professional surveyors by downloading them from websites or created by the surveyors themselves. Using this software to edit contour maps is a process that can help you create the exact map you want to create.

Instructions

1. Click "File" and select "Open" to open your loading screen. Browse to the file with your contour map, select it and click "OK" to open the map. Wait for it to load completely before beginning.

2. Select "Settings" from the top menu and click on "Contour Settings." Change the settings by clicking on the text menus and inputing new numerical values, such as the line thickness and the text font. This changes only the display.

3. Find "Draft" in the top menu and select it, then select "Label points with text." Click on the boxes next to the "Points" options to select the objects you want included on your contour map. Select "Save" and click "OK" to finalize your edits.

4. Change the "Point description label settings" when the menu pops up. Select the drop-down bars to change the height, color, font, directions and justification of your labels. Click "OK" to implement your labels.

5. Add survey points by clicking on the down arrow just to the right of your layer name. Select "Points" from the drop-down menu to highlight the layer you are editing. Click until you find the point you want to edit.

6. Click "Edit" and select "Edit Object" to open up the editing window for the survey point. Change the settings, such as "Elevation," and click "Close" to complete editing.

7. Select any object on the contour map by selecting its type from the down-arrow menu you used earlier. Edit objects such as the contour line positions, the elevations, the view and anything else you want to change.

8. Continue editing the objects on your map using the down-arrow menu. Edit everything that you want to edit. Save your work periodically by clicking "File" and "Save Project" from the top menu.

9. Add new objects to your map by clicking on "Draw" and selecting the type of objects you want to draw, such as points or lines. Left-click to place your point or lines and change their options with the options menu to make them look exactly how you want them to look.

References

• USDA: Terramodel Note 4 Contour Maps; Stephen J. Moran, Robert E. Sullivan, Karen S. Dvorsky; July 2009
• Natural Resources Conservation Service: TerraModel Notes

Resources

• Trimble: Terramodel