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SUPPORT - GIF & TIFF FILES

We have added support for the processing of GIF and compressed TIFF files in Civil Designer 6.3 Build 12 and AllyCAD 3.4 Build 12. This service was previously discontinued due to patent considerations, which has since expired, allowing us to reintroduce this support to our valued clients.

EXTRACTING DTM INFORMATION FROM CAD DRAWINGS

In today’s newsletter, we take a closer look at how to extract DTM points from CAD drawings.

The functions found in the Survey mode ‘Extract DXF’ and ‘Extract Text’ (conversions menu) and the Terrain mode ‘Polyline to DTM’ (model menu) will assist you when extracting DTM points.

In a DXF file, the Extract DXF command creates a point that matches the coordinate of each CAD entity in the DXF drawing. Points are then created at the vertices or insertion points of the CAD points, lines, polylines and text entities.

If the entities in the DXF drawing have z coordinates, then this will be the point elevation, should this not be the case, then the point may only get a zero elevation. DTM line information may also be stored for applicable entities like lines and polylines. The output is an ASCII file of coordinates and line information in our normal format. You would then typically do an Import ASCII YXZ into a blank project.

The Extract Text command works differently to the Extract DXF command, in that only numerical text entities are evaluated from a drawing that should already be attached to the project. For each such entity, the function creates a DTM point and assigns an elevation based on the numeric text. The DTM point is then immediately inserted into the current project. For example, from a flat 2D CAD drawing of spot shots, you may create heighted DTM points.

The Polyline to DTM function works in a similar fashion. Polylines on a CAD drawing attached to the project may have points inserted into the DTM along the route of the polylines and at a set elevation. You will however need to specify what that elevation is. This function would typically be used to convert a contour drawing to DTM points. (Please see Tech Tip T30005 on our website for more information).

The three functions may be used sequentially to extract large amounts of valuable DTM information from CAD drawings, so that you may reliably reconstruct a DTM.

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The Knowledge Base Team

 

CUSTOMER SHOWCASE

MOVING THE RIVER THAT RAN THROUGH IT

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Adrian Skea is the Cape Town branch Manager of UWP Consulting. He has led an interesting and exciting professional life since qualifying as an engineer in 1987. "Cape Town has a different excitement, as I am involved in a lot of interaction with our clients and the ever-present bureaucracy. This can almost be as exciting as a flood," he says with a huge grin.

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