Lesson 2 · Fictional training terrain

Terrain and Contours

MGRS 12U WD · datum 612 m

3D landscape · the same map, raised · heights drawn ×12

2D map · the same coordinates

2D3DHeights ×12

3D landscape

SelectedNone

Drag the terrain to turn it · shift-drag or two fingers to slide · scroll to zoom · tap to select

Lesson 2 of 9

Terrain and Contours

1Drag the 3D terrain to turn it. Tap any spot on the terrain or on the map: the same place is marked in both, with its actual and relative elevation.
2Move the slice. A level plane cuts the ground at one height, and the red line where they meet is a contour.
3Change the contour interval. Every level is counted from the 612 m datum, and every fifth one is a heavier index contour.
4Tap a contour, or step up and down the levels, then show only that contour to follow it around the hill.
5Play the transformation. The flat map rises into its landscape: the ground first, then trees, buildings and the tower, then roads and water. Nothing moves east or north.
6Tap a road, the creek, the lake, a wood, a building or the tower in either view. The same feature is marked in the other.

Elevation

Tap the terrain or the map

Reference datum: 612 m

Actual elevation is the height in metres printed on the map, and it is the value you navigate with. Relative elevation is the actual elevation minus the 612 m datum, the terrain's local base. It is used here only to place the slice and to count contour levels.

Slices and contours

Slice

Slice height: +40 m · 652 m actual
This slice is: the 652 m intermediate contour
Show the slice
Contour interval
Index contours: every 50 m from 612 m
Contour followed: none
Show only this contour

Terrain features

Choose a feature to see its ground shape and its contour pattern highlighted together.