Archive for Map

How do I get Civil 3D to import a SID file?

So you have SID/MrSID.  You know, an image with a *.sid file format.

And you could SWEAR you used to be able to import them into LDT or Map using the Map>Image>Insert command.  But now, *.sid is not on the list.

Other bloggers may have talked about this, but it comes up SO MANY times on the discussion groups and with client visits, I figured I would take my decaf tea break (the joys of gestation) to tell you how you can get .sid back on your supported image list.

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Custom Strings in Point Files

My coworker, Murph, and I have been working on a bit of a joint project lately that will illustrate some very good links with Civil tasks and Geospatial tasks. This has done two things for me – it’s giving me a bit more information regarding GIS (which truly is a horse of a different color…) as well as making me realize that there’s a long way to go before Map 3D and Civil 3D are TRULY compatible. Part of our project revolves around collecting data in the field and the things that we can do with that data. For example, many GIS grade GPS receivers have the capability to not only collect the point number, northing, easting, elevation, and description of a point, but also custom fields that can be defined by the user. Our example for today has a water department using a data collector to locate fire hydrants. The two custom fields that we have in our data collector is hydrant flow rate and inspection date. But how do I get those custom fields into a point label? Well, Murph to the rescue, because he hit this one pretty hard yesterday, and figured it out! Click more to find out how he did it!

Note 1: The following was sent to me by Murph allowing me to put it up here on civil3d.com. So even though he has his very own VERY nice blog about Map3D, tonight he’s a guest contributor to civil3d.com

Note 2: This couldn’t have come at a better time. I received a new Carlson Explorer 600+ data collector today loaded with Carlson SurvCE – it’s got the extra roads module, GPS module, and robotics module on it….stay tuned for a comprehensive review of it. You know the coolest thing about it, other than WiFi and Bluetooth? It’s orange and blue, just like my beloved Auburn Tigers

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Three AU Online Map Classes for the Civil 3D User

In my Stream Class and my Stormwater Management Class, I showed a few Autodesk Map tools and told you that you need to “study up”.

Here is your chance:

GS41-1 A Crash Course in Autodesk Map®: Five Fantastic Features

http://au.autodesk.com/sessions/civilandgeospatial/detail/16893/

CV12-2 Autodesk Map® 3D for Civil Engineers and Surveyors

http://au.autodesk.com/sessions/civilandgeospatial/detail/17098/

GS33-2 The Magic of Display Maps

http://au.autodesk.com/sessions/civilandgeospatial/detail/16892/

AU Online papers and screencasts can be accessed using your Community Center Login.  If you don’t have one, go to the links above and sign up, visit http://au.autodesk.com

 

AU Class: Stream Design in Civil 3D Links Mentioned in Class

Here is a list of articles that expand on what I mentioned in class.  More to come…

Building Optimized Surfaces from Aerial Topography:

How Much Surface is too Much?

Which Aerial Topo Drawing do I use?

GIS Data to build surfaces from DEMs, floodplain analysis and more:

FEMA Q3 Data and Sources (from Civil 3D Paving the Way by Scott McEachron)

The method I demonstrated in class:

Referencing Shapefiles (and other GIS data) in Autodesk Map, Civil 3D and Land Desktop (2007)

Bringing GIS information in as polylines:

Importing Shapefiles into Civil 3D using the Map Menu (download pdf)

I will be posting a series on DEMs over the next few weeks, here is more information on how to unzip them (also see the H+H Whitepaper)Unzipping DEM Files (from Civil 3D Paving the Way by Scott McEachron)

Using Civil 3D for Hydraulic and Hydrologic Tasks White Paper

Getting Started with GIS Data:

Guide to Learning Autodesk Map on Your Own

DE GIS Conference Follow Up

More Information on Integrating CAD and GIS

Penn State Distance Learning in GIS
Getting the Most Out of Raster Imagery in Civil 3D White Paper

Also see AU ONLINE to catch the Map classes you missed!

http://au.autodesk.com/

Utilizing GIS Data the Easy Way

James has been dropping some not-so-subtle hints that some of us need to add some content to this site. I see that Dana listened, but in my defense, I’ve been on the road all week. 3 hotels in 3 nights and a whirlwind tour of Northeast Alabama and Eastern Tennessee has kept me busy, and not in the blogging mood.

However, I did run into a very interesting question at a customer site. I was almost sure that I could accomplish the task that he was requesting, but I wanted data to play with before I committed to anything. He provided me with exactly what I needed so I jumped right in and started working. How many of you have received contours from a GIS application? Maybe it’s a SHP file from an ESRI application or some other sort of data. I’ve got a ton of contours on a drawing that are polylines with a 0 elevation, so they’re useless to me in relation to creating a surface. Flat surface, huh? But if I do a bit of inquiring on these polylines, I see that there’s object data assigned to these polylines, and one part of that object data seems to be a contour elevation. Believe it or not, I’ve got exactly what I need to create a workable surface. Want to learn how? Read on….

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