Grade Contour - It is the contour established on a specific grade or gradient along the hill side.
OR
The line joining the points of equal grade or gradient is termed as grade contour.
Procedure for establishing grade contour on ground : The grade contour along hill side can be established by following procedure.
1. Suppose a grade contour of 1 in 30 is to be established on ground. The points of grade contour can be marked approximately using Abney level.
2. By setting the instrument of tripod do all temporary adjustments. Take the reading on bench mark of R.L. say 100 m as B.S. reading 0.400 m; so that H.I. will be 100.400 m.
3. Therefore R.L. of first point (40 m away in straight line) will be 100.000 – (40/30) = 98.67 m. And therefore to get this R.L. on ground, the staff reading should be 100.400 – 98.67 = 1.73 m
4. Now, the staff is held 40 m away from bench mark and up and down movement is done to get 1.73 m reading and then point is marked on ground with peg.
5. The above procedure is continued in the same straight line and corresponding points are marked on ground.
6. Finally the line joining all the marked points will give us the required grade contour of 1 in 30 accurately.