Overview
Create topographic drawings by placing elevation data points on your drawing and generating contour lines with a color-filled heatmap. This is useful for visualizing ground elevation differences in foundation repair assessments, turf putting green designs, landscaping grading plans, and similar workflows.
Availability
Supported Platforms: iPad (iOS), Android, and Windows
Subscription Requirement:
Elevation Data Points: Draw Pro and above
Contour Lines (contour lines and heatmap): Takeoff and Estimate tiers
Who Is This For?
Foundation repair contractors, turf installers, landscapers, concrete contractors, and basement waterproofing companies who need to capture and display elevation data during site visits.
Workflow Guide
Goal: Place elevation data points on a drawing and generate a topographic surface with contour lines and heatmap fill.
Part 1: Adding Elevation Data Points
Open the Site Data tool from the right-side toolbar.
Select Elevation Data Point.
Tap anywhere on the canvas to place a data point. A numpad appears to enter the elevation value.
Enter the height value using the numpad. Use the +/- button to toggle between positive and negative values. Tap the green checkmark to confirm.
Repeat to place additional data points across the area you want to visualize. Add at least 5 data points for usable results. The more points you place, the more accurate your contour lines will be.
To set a reference zero point, select an existing data point and tap Set as Reference in the context menu. This recalibrates all other points relative to the selected point's elevation.
Use the bottom toolbar options to adjust:
Set Size to control the data point label size
Color & Styles to change point appearance
Units and Precision to set your measurement unit (decimal feet, decimal inches, millimeters, or meters) and decimal precision
Part 2: Generating Contour Lines
Open the Site Data tool and select Contour Lines (requires Takeoff or Estimate tier).
Tap a closed area on the drawing that contains elevation data points. The app generates contour lines and a heatmap fill automatically.
Adjust the output using the Contour Styles panel:
Interval: Set the distance between contour lines (e.g., 0.3 ft). Use the + and - buttons or type a value directly.
Interval Fills: Choose a fill gradient from the available presets. The default gradient runs from red (low) through green (zero/reference) to yellow (high).
Contour Line Weight: Adjust the pixel thickness of contour lines using the slider.
Contour Color: Select a color for the contour lines.
Contour Line Type: Choose from Solid, Dashed, Dotted, or Dot-Dash styles.
Height Label on Contour Lines: Toggle height labels on or off. Adjust the text size with the + and - buttons.
Tap Finish to apply the contour lines to your drawing.
FAQs & Troubleshooting
Q: What elevation units can I use?
Decimal feet, decimal inches, millimeters, and meters. Configure units and decimal precision from the Units and Precision button in the bottom toolbar when the Elevation Data Point tool is active.
Q: Can I edit elevation values or contour lines after placing them?
Yes. Both elevation data points and contour line heatmaps can be edited after initial placement. Select the element you want to modify and make your changes.
Q: What does "Set as Reference" do?
It designates a selected data point as the zero reference. All other elevation values recalculate relative to that point. This is useful when you want to show how far the ground has settled compared to a specific location, like a doorway or corner of a foundation.
Q: How many data points should I add?
At least 5 for a usable output. More data points produce more accurate contour lines, so add as many as practical for your site.