Leveraging GIS Data in Civil 3D

When utilizing GIS data on a Civil 3D project, one should first ask themselves some questions regarding the data in order to handle processing the data in the most efficient manor. I like visuals for systems thus I've created this flowchart using Autodesk's Praxis Workflow Editor here.

Ultimately in this post, I will explain the four primary method's for importing GIS data in Civil 3D.

1. Static Connection using MAPIMPORT
2. Dynamic Connection using FDO
3. Create Surface from GIS Data
4. Import GIS Data (Pipe Networks)

First, I think it's helpful to note that GIS data processing commands are distributed with Civil 3D but are not actually a part of Civil 3D - they belong to another piece of Autodesk software called AutoCAD Map 3D. This is helpful to know when you are searching for help documentation on commands and to understand that much of what I'll be posting below applies to AutoCAD Map 3D users as well. And for those moving to 2019 products, we have the exciting news of Only One. AutoCAD. in which we can now get specific toolsets added to AutoCAD to help workflows; AutoCAD Map 3D Toolset being one of those.

1) Static Connection MAPIMPORT Command

The MAPIMPORT command is used for bringing in data in static form into your drawing and can be accessed by typing the command syntax MAPIMPORT. The result is importing as AutoCAD objects as well which usually provides the best results in formatting the data with the normal AutoCAD controls for displaying on drawings.

Upon running the command, you are first prompted for the file. The MAPIMPORT command has many different file types it supports, but for this example we have a simple SHP file and thus will choose ESRI Shapefile (*.SHP).

The next dialog will show your current drawings' assigned coordinate system (highlighted in red) - if you forgot to assign one, you can do so by clicking the globe button without exiting the command. The spatial filter area allows you to clip the data to a specific area, should your drawing be setup already in a way that you can correct select the spatial location. Each file selected will appear in the Import Properties section of the dialog where you can assign the layer of the object and verify the coordinate system of the file (highlighted in blue). Note that if the drawing and the file have differing coordinate systems, the software will translate the file data to the current drawing's coordinate system.

Next is the data attached to the file. If you want to be able to view the extended object data, it's important to click into the data column for each file and select the '...' button to choose the option to Create Object Data. You can then also specify which fields are brought over.

Lastly, when using this option, I prefer to Import Polygons as closed Polylines.

Here is the result of this shape file that contained data for the countries of Africa and how the data came in. Note that upon selecting any objects and viewing the AutoCAD properties, there is a section for Object Data in which you'll be able to view the extended info about that object.

2) Dynamic Connection Using FDO

The FDO  option provides a dynamic link to the data which is important if the data will be updating regularly throughout your project. To access this option, you must first access the Map3D portion of Civil 3D using the Map Task Pane. To do this from the Civil 3D workspace, type in the command syntax MAPWSPACE and choose to turn the Task Pane On. The palette below will appear.

Click on Data (highlighted in red) and choose Connect to Data...

 The Data Connect Palette will appear showing all the different methods of connecting to data. For this SHP file, we'll use the Add SHP Connection, then choose either the SHP file button or the folder button.

 Once choose, select the Connect button.

 The SHP file(s) will be added as connections and show up in the sources. To add them to your current drawing, select them and choose Add to Map.

Below you can see the same SHP file brought in, though the default appearance looks drastically different. Note when choose the objects and viewing in properties, they show as Map Features. These cannot be formatted using the native AutoCAD methods.

 To format the appearance, note that you can see these in your Map Task Pane. Right click on the item and choose edit style. From here you can use the Map method of formatting how the objects appear.

 

Any changes to the data on the GIS side will then be reflected into your drawing automatically.

3) Static Connection: Create Surface From GIS Data Command

To streamline the process of importing surface data and generate a Civil 3D surface, we can use the Create Surface from GIS Data command found on the Home Tab, Surfaces drop down or use the command syntax CreateSurfaceFromGISData.

 The object options tab will provide you the ability to name the surface and set it's style.

Next you'll connect to the data type file or folder, and select Login button.

 Next you'll see the schema available in the selected file along with the coordinate system assigned to the file and the coordinate system of your drawing. This command will translate the data as necessary.

 On the Geospatial Query tab we can filter the data to a selected are on the drawing if you already know where your site lies.

 Lastly, on the Data Mapping tab, you need to specify what data in the file is the relevant Civil 3D Elevation property - in this case the elevation data is stored as ContourEle within the SHP file.

 Selecting finish will then generate a surface from the selected file in which we can then use as our normal Civil 3D surfaces. More information on this command can be found at this AKN.

4) Static Connection: Import GIS Data Command

Autodesk should really be relocated under the Home tab Create Pipe Networks and should be called Create Pipe Network From GIS data as that's ultimately what it is meant to do. But for now, to access this command, go to the Insert tab, Import panel, and select the drop down. Choose Import GIS Data or use the command syntax _AeccImportGISData

You'll be prompted to select the SHP file or path to SHP files, then follow the steps through wizard to map the data to the corresponding properties.

 On the Object Options tab you'll name the Civil 3D Pipe Network, select a Parts List and labels.

 On the Schema and Coordinates tab, you'll see your SHP files and if it's able to show the coordinate system of the data it would populate correctly - for this example, these files will need some additional work to assign the coordinate system with ArcGIS. At the bottom of this tab page you can also set your drawing's coordinate system.

For Data Mapping: Pipes, you'll need to look at the available feature classes in the SHP file and select what cross sectional shape to apply to the pipes. Click add to apply that shape to the feature class.

 Once added, then you'll need to assign attributes from the SHP file to the Civil 3D properties. This is where you'll need to fully understand the Schema used in the object data for the SHP file to know what to choose for the various components of the Civil 3D pipes. Critical items will be material, diameter, start location, end location, and elevations, but you may have other data helpful for mapping.

The same process will be applied for structures on the Data Mapping: Structures tab.

 With the Query Options tab, you'll be able to limit how much of the SHP file is brought into Civil 3D. This can significantly speed up the process of bringing in the data depending on how many pipes and structures are in the SHP files.

 Lastly is the Cleanup tab in which you can force snap tolerances for pipes and structures and also discard any data that is unlinked to pipes/structures.

Ultimately, bringing the data in you'll have a Civil 3D Pipe Network with the proper locations, elevations, materials, and other data assigned from the SHP file. For more information, see this AKN.





In my next post, I plan to follow with utilizing the AutoCAD Map 3D's ability to query data between drawings on different coordinate system and how we can leverage that to easily exchange data between files.