Explore elevation differences within your map and leverage that data in Autodesk products and other GIS software.
Overview
Contours are lines of equal elevation relative to a certain point. These lines represent a vector file format, meaning they consist of lines rather than pixels. This distinguishes the data from a single point elevation; while a point defines elevation at a specific coordinate, a contour line indicates that everything within that line is at or above a specific height.
Why use contours?
Elevation maps provide valuable insights across various industries:
Construction: Most Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programs use vector maps. Contours provide a precise representation of the physical world for these applications.
Mining: Operators use contours in mining software for accurate volumetric measurements.
Agriculture: Topographic maps assist in variable-rate fertilization by showing how liquids flow downhill. Managers also use contour maps to determine where to draw away excess soil moisture.
Elevation data accuracy
Elevation maps within DroneDeploy use standard geo-referenced information embedded in drone imagery. The data reflects the absolute elevation in WGS 84.
How DroneDeploy creates contours
DroneDeploy captures the latitude, longitude and altitude from drone imagery to create a continuous surface. This surface appears in the Elevation side panel and corresponds to a Digital Surface Model (DSM).
DroneDeploy offers contours as both DSMs and Digital Terrain Models (DTMs). DSMs include all features within the area of interest, such as trees and buildings, while DTMs contain only the elevation of the ground itself.
3D Contours
The 3D Contour layer allows you to see changes in grade across an entire site.
Access the contour layer
Enter the Model view.
Enable Contours and Elevation in the left-hand sidebar.
Adjust the Major/Minor Interval.
Change the Contour Color.
Adjust Elevation Histogram Bounds to tune colorization.
Adjust Elevation Opacity.
Exporting contour files
To export a contour dataset, ensure the following:
The map has Elevation Toolbox functionality.
The account is on an Individual, Advanced, Teams or Enterprise plan.
Step 1: Select the contour file type
Select the desired map in the Explore Tab
Click Export at the bottom of the side panel.
Choose between the Elevation layer for a DSM contour or the Digital Terrain Model layer for a DTM contour.
Step 2: Choose the file format
DroneDeploy provides two file format options for contour lines:
SHP (Shapefile)
DXF (AutoCAD - Design Exchange Format)
Select Contour DXF or Contour SHP. If your software package requires .dwg files, use the .dxf format, as it serves as the general exchange format for AutoCAD.
Step 3: Select the map projection
Choose a map projection that suits your requirements:
Web (Web Mercator) EPSG: 3857: Optimized for Google Earth and web-based applications.
Desktop (WGS84) EPSG: 4326: The standard system for most GIS programs.
Custom Projection: Use this for specific State Plane Coordinate Systems or Universal Transverse Mercator requirements.
Step 4: Set the resolution and interval
Select the spacing between contours. Metric or imperial units depend on your account preferences and the chosen map projection.
A higher interval generates fewer lines (e.g., a 5-foot increment produces fewer lines than a 1-foot increment). While smaller intervals provide more detail, they increase the processing time.
Step 5: Complete the export
Click Export. DroneDeploy sends an email notification when the download is ready. To ensure receipt, allow emails from exports@dronedeploy.com.
For instructions on importing these files into third-party tools, see our guide on Importing Data into Other Software.
3D Contour FAQs
Q: Is there a terrain-only view in the 3D mode?
A: No. Contours render on the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) only. You can export DTM contours from the Exports tab.
Q: Does this change existing contour exports?
A: No. Exports remain unchanged.
Q: Can I visualize elevation and contours in 3D simultaneously?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I adjust major and minor intervals?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I change the contour line colors?
A: Yes. White and black are the available options.
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