A slope map shows detailed elevation changes and is used by architects, landscapers, and water control planners. Traditional equipment and software packages are used to create the map, which can predict water flow and indicate service line placement. Horizontal slope maps with aspect information are used for various purposes, and bioclimatic data can be added for further expansion.
A slope map is a topographic map that shows elevation changes at a very detailed level. Architects, landscapers, and water control planners use a slope map to evaluate a particular site. Detailed data is required to generate one of these maps.
Many people are familiar with topographic maps, commonly called topographic maps, provided by several national geological survey agencies. These diagrams draw lines through points of constant elevation: the closer the lines are on the map, the steeper the landform. Most topographical maps are constructed so that the vertical height between two adjacent lines is between 20 and 50 feet (6 to 15 meters). This distance is not useful for those professions working on a single residential or commercial site. On a slope map, contour lines, or lines having the same elevation, may indicate height differences of as little as 15 cm (XNUMX inches).
Surveys of the site are done using traditional equipment, including tape measures, levels, and an angle-measuring instrument called theodolite, which is mounted on a tripod. Other equipment includes devices for electronic distance measurement (EDM) and global positioning system (GPS). The systems are sophisticated, but users still require significant experience to generate good data.
Once the data for a slope map is obtained, several software packages can create the maps, connecting points of equal elevation. This task is easy when the slopes are steep and the elevation changes rapidly. In flat areas, the islets are less evident, sometimes requiring human choices or verifying the data with a site visit. A check sheet, a sheet with variable isolines scaled to the map, is a useful tool for creating and verifying survey data.
One of the most valuable uses of a map is predicting the flow of water. Groundwater can cause buildings and parking lots to rise and move. Storm runoff can also damage property. A slope map can also indicate the placement of service lines and their depth.
A horizontal slope map overlays elevation information with aspect information. The direction of view is shown on the map by shading the isolines. These maps are used to display views of a building’s future occupants, the effectiveness of solar energy equipment, and the best locations for fruit or ornamental trees, among other uses.
The aspect-slope map can be further expanded by adding bioclimatic data. Colored fills are drawn on the map to indicate swampy, dry, windy, biologically active, frozen or other areas. Knowing these small areas helps keep corridors for migratory birds, plants healthy, and walkways and driveways ice-free.
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