contours around curves

[wbrustle]

I was wondering if anyone knows of a way to evenly space contours around a curve in a surface.

Many times I have a steep area in a surface that needs to be displayed using 1 foot contour intervals, and in certain areas the contours are crossing each other around curved areas, like a curve in a ditch. Is there a way or a setting I am missing that may help to alleviate this problem. In the past i have had to "fudge" the surface a little to get the contours to look correct.

[neilyj666]

Do you have any sort of smoothing applied to these contours?

[wbrustle]

yes, I have it set to the maximum it can be

[BrianHailey · Accepted solution]

Contours should never cross each other in a TIN surface. If you smooth the contours, you are sacrificing the accuracy of the contours so they "look pretty". Instead of smoothing the contours, try smoothing the surface.

I wrote about it on my blog HERE.

[wbrustle]

thank you so much. Our company moved from LDD 2008 right to Civil 3d 2013 with no training....is smoothing a surface new or was it always available? I didn't even know there was a command for that. I had always just smoothed contours. I can't wait to try this!!!! These discussion groups have been a tremendous help. I usually get a reply to a posted question within minutes and most of my questions are answered so thanks again to all the experts.....we all know how frustrating it is when something does not work the way its suppose to 🙂

[wbrustle]

one more question about smoothing suface...............what point interpolation/exreapolation output location is recommended?

[Neilw_05]

I usually go by trial and error. Try a setting and see if it gives satisfactory results. Assign an area that encompases the problem and apply. You DON'T want to smooth the whole site as smoothing adds processing time.

If you are only concerned about the pretty picture and don't need a precise surface in that area, try bumping down your contour smoothing to half. Using full contour smoothing almost always results in crossing contours.

[wbrustle]

ok...I will try that....thank you!