Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
horizontally or tilted upright like topics in a bookshelf. In Figure 7.2 pat-
terns of land ownership and agriculture management are revealed in
the patterns of tree hedgerows marking property boundaries or pasture
plots. The hedgerows seem to follow lines of equal elevation or contours.
contour LineS: a LanGuaGe for tWo
dimenSionS
Contour lines are a human invention used just as are letters and num-
bers to communicate and describe the world. The word BREAD consists
of a selection of symbols—letters in an alphabet—to communicate a
physical object or an idea. The letters B - R - E - A - D when seen on a
piece of paper by an English language reader are understood to repre-
sent a loaf or piece of bread. Both contours and numbers, when applied
following a set of rules, can communicate something of meaning and
can also allow the reader to visualize the shape or a landscape. How-
ever, the same symbols applied without a framework of rules will not
produce understandable results. A writer who knows the conventions
for assembling individual letters can create words, and by following sen-
tence structure conventions—syntax—is able to create sentences that
convey ideas or descriptions, emotions, and images of places, among
other purposes. Like sentences, contours can be thought of as commu-
nication devices. In the case of contours lines, they are used to portray
the three-dimensional shape of a landscape or designed outdoor envi-
ronment. Contour lines are a graphic device used by designers to visu-
alize or see landform (which is three dimensional) in two dimensions
on a piece of paper or computer screen. The two-dimensional contour
or topographic plans created by a designer are used to communicate the
design intent—in the case of terrain modifications—to others such as
clients, government design review boards, and contractors.
Contour lines, together with spot elevations and a range of standard
symbols and numeric and alphabetic annotations, are used to create
site-grading plans. Contractors are guided by the grading plans in per-
forming the required earth moving on a site to create the desired earth
