Index contour lines: Every fifth contour line is a thicker, “index” line.At some point along that line, its exact elevation is listed. A topographic survey shows the location, size, and height of these types of improvements, as well as gradual changes or contours in elevation. The data obtained at the property by the land surveyor will determine what the topographic survey looks like. Topographic maps are also important when you are planning a backpacking trip, as they will allow you to plot your route ahead of time and make sure you are prepared.

A topographical survey, also known as a land survey or topographical land survey, measures and identifies the exact location and details of natural and manmade features within an area of land. Through the use of contour lines, topo maps bring a 3-dimensional element to a 2-dimensional paper map, allowing you to visualize the rise and fall of the land and “see” the depths of canyons, the location of boggy meadows, and the height and shape of mountains. To read topographic maps, you can assess the contour lines as well as the colors and symbols on the map. Knowing how to read a topographic map is the foundation to any backcountry adventure. It’s important to have a professional land surveyor explain the drawing and make the … ­The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) produced its first topographic map in 1879, and it still produces them today. Unlike boundary or residential land surveys, a topographic land survey focuses more on elevation than on horizontal measurements. The more data the land surveyor obtains, the more detailed a topographic survey can become. Developments in aerial photography and satellite imaging make these maps much more accurate and efficient to produce than in the days when they were created by hand. A topographical survey picks up several different elements depending on the specification from the client.