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Talking to an old surveyor changed how I read topo maps
Ran into a retired surveyor at a diner outside Reno and he pointed out that I was chasing contour lines instead of reading the drainage patterns first, so now I ask myself where the water goes before I pencil in anything else, but I'm curious if anyone else learned a basic habit like that from a veteran that completely shifted their drafting process?
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the_sarah2mo ago
Man, that hits home! I used to be so stubborn about contour lines, like they were the only truth on the page. But once I started tracing where the water would actually pool and run, everything clicked into place. It feels way more natural now, like the map finally matches the ground in my head. I still catch myself slipping back into old habits on flat terrain, but that drainage-first trick is basically my default now.
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