Summary
The GT_CONTDIST command in GeoTools is a powerful tool for checking contour spacing and breaking contours where adjacent contour lines are too close together. This is particularly useful for cartographers, civil engineers, and surveyors working with BricsCAD, AutoCAD, ZWCAD and ARES Commander.
GeoTool -> Miscellaneous Tools -> Miscellaneous Tools -> Contour Spacing Distance Tool
Key Features Include:
- Contour Spacing Checker & Breaker:
- Identifies locations where contours are too close together, making them difficult to read or label.
- Automatically breaks contour polylines at points where spacing is less than the specified tolerance.
- Flexible Sampling Methods:
- Vertex-based sampling – Checks contour spacing at each vertex.
- Segment distance-based sampling – Analyzes spacing at regular intervals along the contour.
- Contour Breaking Options:
- Distance Tolerance Control – Users can define the minimum spacing required between adjacent contours.
- Major & Minor Contour Intervals – Helps in distinguishing between different contour types.
- Exclusion of Major Contours – Prevents breaking of primary contour lines and user-specified elevation levels.
- Efficient Layer Management:
- Allows users to specify a layer for broken contour segments to keep drawing data organized.
Benefits:
This tool is particularly useful for terrain mapping, topographic visualization, and automated contour refinement, ensuring clear contour representation and uncluttered labeling in CAD drawings.