Creating Contours in n4ce
Fundamental to the creation of Contours is a digital terrain model (DTM). Tools are available for creating, editing and viewing these Models, as described in the previous section. Contours are useful when editing a model and seeing where the DTM may need editing. Quick contours are updated when the Contour Defaults are changed or when you edit the DTM. Note the spike in the contours below. This is obviously a candidate for switching triangles. Also, note that contours can be displayed in a 3D view.
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Once a DTM is created contours will appear automatically according to the settings, as shown opposite. These are called Quick Contours and update if you change the defaults or modify the DTM. They are drawn on the fly and are not stored in the n4ce database. If you export these to DXF they appear as short straight lines, not continuous polylines.
Contours can be continuous and curve fitted. To do this they need to be committed to the Dedicated CAD Backcloth. This is a parallel CAD database attached to each Model and is used to store and display items such as contours, annotation and tables. Direct access to this Dedicated CAD Backcloth is limited in the Lite edition. See the Professional editions for further uses.
If you commit the quick contours as curve fitted continuous polylines, two sets will appear, both likely to be on the same layer. Note here that the Dedicated CAD Backcloth uses the same layer structure as the Model.
This is where the Layer Override kicks in and where you would turn off the Quick contours. Also note in the above dialog the Grid Lines and CAD check options, the latter being the Dedicated CAD Backcloth.
Note contours of height differences between models are called Isopachytes.
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Contours will be allocated a Layer, Colour and Style to be plotted, as shown in the above definitions. Any number of contour Intervals can be specified, with a start (min) and finish (max) value.
Contour annotation can be added to the contours at fixed offsets or burnt into committed curve fitted contours, as shown below. Note: text always points uphill.
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