Civil 3d import shapefile with elevations. May 6, 2018 · 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. The final goal is to import the points into Autodesk® InfraWorks™ in order to create a camera path. Elevation). You can get topographic contours from a raster using not only GIS-essy type programs but from Autodesk Oct 8, 2023 · How to import SHP files with GIS data in Autodesk Civil 3D or AutoCAD Map 3D. Open the attribute table of the shapefile, add a new field of type Double and name it 'Elevation'. S_FIRM_PAN shows the location of each panel within the data set. In these notes, there's a We import the SHP files into a Civil 3D drawing, creating AutoCAD points, coordinate geometry points, feature lines, and polylines, all containing embedded property set data. tif) downloaded from https://elevation. The Z coordinate, or elevation, content is only populated as a feature attribute, not the geometry of the spatial feature itself. Here's a video that demonstrates the MapImport procedure and Query. Aug 3, 2021 · Hi, I wish to be able to show Elevation data on a drawing. shp files into Civil 3D using both the drag and drop method, and the mapimport command. Use the Flood Hazard lines. May 17, 2017 · After exporting to SDF (from Civil) you can import SDF again (i. https://knowledge. Consider it elevation data in raster format, not vector format. This uses a GEOTIFF file (. I notice that the contour labels are in meters! How would I change that into feet? My thinking is the shapefile needs to be converted into feet in GIS software before importing into civil 3d? Dec 12, 2021 · A co worker showed me that you can download a fema flood zone map then type mapiinsert. Oct 8, 2023 · Issue: How to create a 3D surface from an ArcSDE or ESRI shape (shp) file that is attached to an AutoCAD® Civil 3D® drawing. Try to get the SHP file in an available EPSG code. Thanks for your understanding Importing shapefiles no elevation RalphBrown99 Advocate 03-10-2025 01:20 PM Oct 10, 2017 · Hi guys, I've imported a GIS shapefile to civil 3d and did the conversion to a TIN surface. Nov 27, 2024 · Image-5 6. I used the mapimport command in Civil 3D and I get the contours to import (CONTOUR. Oct 8, 2017 · Hello, I'm trying to import contours from a . the description in you shp file is DEM ? are you trying to create a surface? you can do so directly with the shp or some DEM image file To Bring ArcGIS Data into Civil 3D You can bring ArcGIS data layers that contain points, lines, and polygons into Civil 3D as alignments, feature lines, gravity pipes, parcels, points, or structures. When you import, you convert the contour features into Cad entities. It is very grainy and hard to see. After the shape file has been imported, save and close the drawing. shp into civil 3d. To Import Data into and Export Data from HEC-RAS Software This procedure describes only how to import a GEO file into, and export an SDF file out of, HEC-RAS software. I managed to get most of it imported successfully, but none of the topo lines are showing elevations in the Object Info palette. However, for WaterGEMS import from LandXML is not available currently. Mapimport do not work, which The SHP Import/Export feature is used to import survey data from ESRI shape files into a Civil 3D drawing. MAPIMPORT command: To Import SHP Files. Enter the name of the shape used in the original shapefile, and press “Enter. Elevations of these objects are brought into CAD if a GIS field containing the Elevation value exists. Open Arcgis Pro and create a new project. You can then MapExport to . OR-NIF Coordinate System to your drawing. If you can get shapefiles of your network then you could use ModelBuilder to build your water supply network. Oct 8, 2023 · How to assign elevations to polylines from a contour layer in AutoCAD products. Feb 28, 2018 · Is there a workflow for getting points from ESRI shapefiles to Civil 3D's COGO points? We've got a workflow for going from shapefiles to block with attributes but it would be better to go directly to Civil 3D's points. However, when I get to "Set Property Alterations" dialog box and hit "Expression" the only fol Mar 1, 2017 · Hi I am trying to import a shapefile (attached) into Civil 3D and set this to the geometry elevation property of the polyline. You can use SHP files (shapefiles) to directly transfer survey data from other software into Civil 3D. However, I can't seem to get it to work in the 2025 version. Elevation Data Elevation data can come in a variety of different formats. SHP file doesn't contains contour lines but the polygons. This cannot be done directly in AutoCAD, and requires the use of Civil 3D. During point import, use some format column names to adjust point elevation values during point import. Usually our team members using ESRI products, they request our data in the form of Shape files (. How can I convert these lines (map features) into polylines with correct elevations and create a surface? or is there any way to create a regular surface from Map Features? I need it for road design and subdivision design. Feb 13, 2025 · Something useful like “elevation” might be object data, rather than the property of the geometry: This can be converted with Map 3D, or the Map Workspace (MAPWSPACE command) in Civil 3D with a Query. The process of importing GIS data, specifically ESRI shape files, into a drawing setup with a coordinate system is detailed. An image with elevation data can be imported as imagery or a surface can be created from it, but an image without Dec 3, 2018 · I am trying to show drainage pipe linework in CAD with pipe diameter shown. After exporting your linework data to a SHP file, you can include the file in the import event for another drawing. I'm Simón Noyola, and let's go through the example. In general the exporting system is able to export in different coordinate systems The SHP Import/Export feature is used to import survey data from ESRI shape files into a Civil 3D drawing. Contours display at an elevation of 0 despite containing elevation information stored as object data. For example, USGS elevation grids have horizontal units in feet but elevations commonly in meters. The first file is about 0. sdf (Autodesk's proprietary Spatial Data Format) first. 1 gb and when the command is done processing nothing appears, is the file size too large? In this comprehensive tutorial series, we'll guide you through the process of generating a detailed 3D surface model from contour data within the Autodesk Civil 3D software environment. Feb 20, 2014 · In the Object Data Mapping, select the fields that you want written to the object data table (i. Overview: Use the following processes for exchanging georeferenced data between AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016 and ArcMap. SHP data has been exported from ArcGIS using EPSG:3967 which is not available in AutoCAD Map 3D coordinate system library. Likewise, how do I import shapefiles? Make sure to extract your zipped shapefile first. org. I need to use the mapimport function so they import at polylines. The GIS value is for informative purposes only, meaning the values look 'nice' when viewed in a Nov 10, 2021 · I imported a shapefile that has contour lines for a project as Map Features. MAPCONNECT using FDO connection: Use Data Connect. Clicked finish and I get the error, no GIS data to import. Starting with the raw point cloud, Global Geomapper is used to turn the data into SHP file contours where the elevation is output as a separate TXT file. Civil 3D includes SHP Import/Export Utilities as an addon that can be downloaded from your subscription site: First, confirm the SHP Import/Export Utilities is installed. Open a new work session. These objects (feature lines, gradings, points, surface contours, and alignments) need to be You can bring ArcGIS data layers that contain points, lines, and polygons into Civil 3D as alignments, feature lines, gravity pipes, parcels, points, or structures. Autodesk Civil 3D enables you to connect directly to a GIS datastore and import GIS data, such as contours and point collections, without any intermediate data or file conversion. I can import a SHP file which shows Elevation data when right clicking on a line and viewing Properties but how can i show this inormation on the drawing? I am new to CIvil 3d so apologies if this is a basic question. Note: 2D contours as polylines with 0 elevation and 3D contours as polylines with non-zero elevations. The work must be based in any real world coordinate system. SRTM or Shuttle Radar Topography Mission which is high-resolution digital topographic data collected by NASA, using radar from a spaceship orbiting Earth, of course. Jun 26, 2023 · AutoCAD's query is a 2-step process: (1) import the shapefile and create object data during the import and (2) perform a query that will leverage the object data and 'raise' the contours to their proper elevation. Sep 18, 2024 · Issue: SHP Import/Export Utility is missing from the Toolspace > Toolbox tab in Civil 3D. I have imported contour shape files using the "MapImport" command. For Civil 3D and Map 3D 2020 and newer, you can use the Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS. shp. e. Sep 28, 2018 · AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Map 3D have multiple ways for importing SHP files. Jul 20, 2018 · Hi @rogeriogestal30, Is this a civil 3D surface or just polylines? When you say add elevations do you mean add an elevation label or you are assigning elevations to polylines that don't have an elevation? Oct 8, 2023 · When trying to import SHP files using command MAPIMPORT or connect using FDO the SHP file coordinates data are placed at wrong location. Jul 22, 2021 · The "Points" referred to on the dialog are AutoCAD Point entities, not Civil 3D COGO Points. Digital Terrain Cross Section Cutting Extract HEC-RAS cross sections from 3D digital elevation terrain data. Name your project and choose a file directory. It DOES NOT work in 2018. It works correctly when the SHP file contains contours lines. The coordinate projection of the shape file needs to be known so that it can be selected within Civil 3D. Civil 3D will see the "Contours1ft_44123H1222. Be sure you capture Object Data. Situation: My firm has shape files from GIS which contain 1ft contours for entire counties. . Where to download and install it from? Convert Elevations Command The Convert Elevations command allows elevation grids (also known as digital elevation models, DEMs, and raster elevation grids) to be converted from one vertical unit of measure to another. Oct 8, 2023 · How to import and convert a polyline from a shapefile to an alignment in Civil 3D? To create an alignment from a linear feature contained in a shapefile, follow the steps: Open a new drawing in Civil 3D. At the second part, step 6, "In the Select Data dialog box, verify that the Object Data option is selected, and then select the object data field that you want to us Feb 3, 2025 · I set the elevation field to elevation. The SHP Import/Export feature is used to import survey data from ESRI shape files into a Civil 3D drawing. Once imported you can then perform a query on those contours and 'raise' them to their respective elevation. S_BFE is the zig-zagged elevation lines. After looking at other posts/forums, I did all the steps through the "define query" dialog. This will create AutoCAD Points. From there I could style the surface at any contour interval without issue. Many thanks in advance Use ADEDEFDATA to create GIS Attributes within Civil 3D & Map 3D Using AutoCAD Map 3D Tools for Civil Projects Webinar Using GIS data in your engineering design with Civil 3D - Webinar recording SHP file selection and attributes Click SHP File in the Import SHP Point Settings dialog box to display the Open Shapefile Information File dialog box, and then select a shapefile to which the point settings in the current settings file will apply. When we import these shape files, the contours come Dec 23, 2020 · The title of your shapefile, Contours SRTM, holds the key. You have to make sure your coordinate system (I. Secondly,how do i import a shx file into civil 3d? Navigate to the compiled SHX file, and double-click it. Aug 29, 2023 · In this post, I’ll go through importing an ESRI shape file containing contours, and moving those contours up to the appropriate elevation. By Joy Etkins - EJES, Inc. SHP), but the labels are missing when they come-in. I've tried ne Feb 18, 2014 · Hello, I am using Civil 3D 2014. For GIS data hosted on ArcGIS Online or Enterprise portal. Drag-n-Drop the "Contours1ft_44123H1222. Then import the sdf file using MapImport. ” AutoCAD will import the compiled SHX file. I found this useful link. shp). fsdf. Anyo Sep 5, 2007 · None – AutoCAD Map 3D will import everything contained in the specified Shapefiles. When I do it it comes in as a sheet of paper with wide lines and big dots instead of a smooth green color. Now open a new map. It can be done by query in the contours with an altered properties expression to set the elevation of closed polylines to the ‘elevation’ attribute value of the object data as shown but this takes too long and you would like know if there is a direct way. Sep 17, 2018 · I have used the procedure listed below to assign elevations to shape files in Civil 3D 2017 and it works. (E. The contours show the pressure labels in the other software. On the Object Options page of the Import GIS Data wizard, specify the standard properties for the new surface object. Given the nature for how the shapefiles were created, there are individual shapefiles for junctions, pipes and reservoirs. LandXML TIN Surfaces as Terrain Elevation Data The software can use AutoCAD Civil 3D, Bentley MicroStation, and other TIN surfaces to determine cross section Oct 8, 2023 · Issue: You want to export COGO or Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D® points to a shape file with Z information and/or other user defined properties. Using the Import GIS Data wizard, you connect to the SHP data file, specify object properties, specify the schema and coordinate system, map the GIS feature attributes to object properties, define the geospatial query parameters, and then specify options for cleaning up the data. Let's look at a quick tip on how we can transform surface elevations when downloading SHP files from the USGS portal. au/ (better know as ELVIS!) BOUNDARY LINES: How to import a ESRI Shapefile into Autodesk Civil 3D. prj" file and use that to automatically assign a NSRS11. Use Command MAPSTATUSBAR to see the Coordinate System displayed at the bottom of your screen. Jun 16, 2017 · Solved: Is there a way to create civil 3d lines or polylines out of a GIS layer? I am working with a county parcel right now and the file is too Aug 10, 2023 · Solved: Hi guys, I have trouble with importing a SHP file into Autocad. May 18, 2022 · Importing Shapefile Contours with Elevations in Linetype Looking for any guidance on how to import a contour shapefile and apply the unique elevation call out for each line so that it's visible in my viewport when I print to PDF. His came in looking smooth and pretty just like on the fema site. Now you need to import that file into your Civil 3D environment so that you can use the contours to generate a Civil 3D surface. shp" into a brand new (Imperial) drawing. Mar 10, 2025 · The combination of QUERY and Alter Properties will bring in the Topographic Contours AND raise those contours to their correct elevation. Now, all the imported shp files no longer display. You can also bring raster data from ArcGIS into Civil 3D as imagery or create a surface from the raster data. This video walks you Jan 14, 2021 · Some Map 3D background first. To know more about shapefile please refer to ESRI shapefile technical description. These pipe diameters are stored in the attribute table of the shapefile in ArcGIS and I am wondering how to transfer this data over to Civil3D 2018 with the attributes as well. shp, export to . Mar 19, 2020 · While several files are included, only the *. Any ideas on how to get the contour labels to show? The contours are at 0 elevation, so it's not like I Hello Abdul, Civil 3D objects are more useful in the storm and sanitary networks environment which is why you can export the Civil 3D model to a LandXML file and import it into SewerGEMS easily. Click OK to close all dialog boxes and import the file. Click Home tab Create Ground Data panel Surfaces drop-downCreate Surface From GIS Data Find. The following elevation data file formats are supported: ArcInfo ASCII Elevation Grids ArcInfo Binary Elevation Grids ArcInfo Contour Shapefiles ArcInfo Elevation Point Shapefiles ArcInfo GDB File Geodatabases ArcInfo MDB Personal Geodatabases AutoCAD Civil 3D Terrain Jun 16, 2020 · So you want to bring the shapefile named mo_05 but you don't want the entire shapefile, you only a portion of it, correct? If this is the case, then you really want to IMPORT the shapefile, not export. I’m trying to import two shape files of contours into Civil3d for my capstone project. shp file with contour data in it and you need to create a surface from it? Well, look no further, in this post, I'll show you how to do just that as well as show you some of the limitations of this quick method. See the below Jun 29, 2015 · Hello all, I am trying to export water surface elevations from HEC RAS to AutoCAD. Calculate the Elevation field equal to the field within the attribute table that contains the elevation values. Jul 25, 2025 · Users reported that when using the "Create Surface from GIS Data" command to create a surface from the SHP file in Civil 3D, the following notification is displayed: "No GIS data to import" Note: SHP fIle contains Polygons objects. It was a polyline shapefile of the contours. Download from FEMA and then use MAPIMPORT to import the shapefiles. We will remove this banner once completed. Utilize AutoCAD Civil 3D surfaces, contours, TINs, DTMs, DEMs, survey points and other external digital elevation terrain data. Thanks!! When reading Shapefiles (SHP) which include terrain Contour lines, it is very common to find that the Z coordinate of each Contour is set as being a numerical data in a Field of the associated data table Object Elevations in AutoCAD The change of the Elevation of 2D Objects in AutoCAD allows you to place them in a given Z position. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Initially the link worked perfectly and displayed the map objects as expected. I ran into a similar issue before in mapworkspace and ended up importing the shapefile into the drawing directly using MAPIMPORT. Dec 26, 2022 · The Civil 3D Shp Import / Export Tool (add-on) was specifically developed for Caltrans land survey workflows b/w Trimble Business Center and Civil 3D. I have done this process many times before in the 2020 Civil 3D version. By default, contour shapefile using this Civil 3D procedure will be at 0-feet (mean sea level) despite the GIS data indicating it has an elevation value. The shape files come into the drawing file without issues but the properties show the shape file attribute data only, such as "CONTOURELE", while the polyline elevation is 0. Elevation values from object data cannot be used as geometry parameter - elevation, within polyline properties. What am I doing wrong? Sep 30, 2025 · Civil 3D has the capabilities to perform import and export GIS data. Use the following columns: Thickness: Include this column name in the format if your data includes surface thickness values, such as the thickness of a layer of topsoil or clay. 5 gb and imports fine but the second file is about 1. Jun 22, 2018 · Simply put, I am trying to import an ESRI shape file so that the polylines have Elevations or import the shape file and then assign elevations in bulk. Consider the following option to import or connect SHP files in Autodesk Civil 3D and AutoCAD Map 3D: MAPIMPORT command: To Import SHP Files. When they come in they all have 0 elevation data. ) AutoCAD Civil 3D Objects cannot be directly exported to a shapefile. Current display – Imports any data that falls within your current drawing window. Then how to export a shapefile into a CAD dxf file without losing elevation information? Let's do it step by step using QGIS 3. 0. On This article will explain how to import contours into Civil 3D (in shapefile format), and how to create a surface from this information. (This example uses NAD 83 UTM Zone 15, International Feet. State Plane System) is activated/on/selected. The coordinate system of the LAS data and the drawing needs to be known. shp files will be available for import to AutoCAD with this command. The contour file is also supposed to be in WI83-CF. g. Importing shapefile into Civil 3d, converting elevations from meters to feet. Note that these will not come in with an elevation and you will have to reference the graphic map. See attached image. See how to create a Civil 3D Surface from GIS contour shape files in Civil 3D. Civil 3D mapping elevation values to altitude attribute from a shape file for 3D contours FUM 223 subscribers Subscribed Oct 8, 2023 · How to import and convert a polyline from a shapefile to an alignment in Civil 3D? To create an alignment from a linear feature contained in a shapefile, follow the steps: Open a new drawing in Civil 3D. When using MAPIMPORT, I have set the coordinate system to WI83-CF and have the data importing, but while the contours are clearly for my area Nov 30, 2019 · Laban, While nosing around I found >>>This Excellent Video<<< about how to import FEMA WMS maps into Civil 3D. Nov 9, 2021 · I imported a shapefile that has contour lines for a project as Map Features. AutoCAD Map, Civil 3D, Land Desktop, and Topobase all have the ability to import a shape file. I can still see the data link in Map 3D. To move COGO Points into . Import SHP This section explains how to prepare an existing Shapefile (. Thanks for your understanding Importing shapefiles no elevation RalphBrown99 Advocate 03-10-2025 01:20 PM You can create a pipe network by importing GIS data from a SHP file. The user begins by typing 'map' in the command line to access the map May 9, 2023 · I'm having issues importing the 2' contour file attached. Apr 24, 2017 · Hi All I've imported . Apr 5, 2011 · I am trying to import a shape file contains a lot of points with elevations, after I inserted them, they stays on a same horizontal plain. The SHP file has additional files linked to it. Jan 26, 2022 · LIDAR CONTOURS: How to import a LIDAR Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to Autodesk Civil 3D. Nov 17, 2024 · Learn how to import and manipulate topography in AutoCAD for civil projects, including elevation points, contour creation, and 3D surface modeling. SHP) so that it can be used as terrain in PVcase GM. Building a model with ModelBuilder (importing external data) As mentioned previously, this example uses shapefiles as the source files to build the model. Description If you are an AutoCAD Civil 3D user being asked to provide data to your geographic information system (GIS) department, if you are being asked to use GIS data as background data for your designs, or if you think GIS is a 4-letter word—this class will answer this all-too-common question: “Why should I care about GIS?” You will learn to import GIS data not only as AutoCAD Nov 16, 2015 · So, you have a . Aug 28, 2018 · ChicagoLooper Mentor 08-28-201805:17 PM Although contour features, like GIS shapefiles, can produce a surface, you'll get better results by importing the shapefile instead. Use the Export Feature Lines to SHP command to transfer survey linework data from an Autodesk Civil 3D drawing to a SHP file. I made a new surface in the Toolspace and added the contours to the definition. So you have a SHP file that contains contours. Trimble Access Feature Definition codes and all surveying workflows can be kept in TBC where it should be and then you just export out the data from TBC to shape format. Is there a way to get the contour polyline to import and have the proper elevation assigned to the Sep 26, 2007 · Do you have a contour line file that is in ESRI shp format and need to create a civil surface from it or need the contour lines to be at their correct elevation? You can import it and create Object… Sep 14, 2012 · I have water system modeling software where I've created pressure contours for a water system. Checked property, still got the elevation value, but Z value is shown as 0. 4. Oct 19, 2019 · To make it, we have to convert the data into 3D vector mode and assign elevation information for z. just drag and drop SDF file to new drawing file) - it is basically AutoCAD Map functionality. For this tutorial I'm using QGIS 3. Dave. When this value is other than zero, the Objects are moved from May 17, 2023 · I'm doing some work with the Illinois state LiDAR point cloud and my team keeps hitting the same wall with flat contours in AutoCAD Map 3D. Apr 28, 2025 · Most Shapefiles are inherently 2D. Essentially what I want to do is to automatically export water surface elevations from the results in HEC RAS to the labels on my cross sections in AutoCAD so that I don't have to manually label them one by one. Thanks, Using LAS LiDAR Data in AutoCAD Civil 3D Overview: Use the following processes for accessing LiDAR data in an LAS/LAZ format from the USDA GeoCue server or USGS The National Map (TNM), and then importing into Autodesk Civil 3D. How do I position all points at the right Z level/elevation? Also, anyone knows ho Apr 8, 2020 · I stopped import after around 63 thousand points. This is where you to tell Civil 3D how to RAISE each contour to its proper elevation. There’s no GIS data filtered out, so the Share SHP Import/Export and Point-Alignment Tables Command Reference The following table lists the commands and briefly describes their functionality. Arc GI Importing GIS Shape (SHP) Files with MAPIMPORT in Civil 3D 2023 How to Create Contours from Google Earth Pro to AutoCAD Civil 3D Creating AutoCAD MTEXT Labels From GIS Data with Map 3D Jul 12, 2023 · Hi, I've had to import an Autocad Civil 3d file for the first time. a We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. So I am able to bring in the shape file however I cannot set the contour information to the geometry elevation attribute. The value in the Thickness column can be subtracted from the value in the Elevation column when points are Autodesk Knowledge Network provides comprehensive support and resources for Civil 3D users, including guides, troubleshooting, and installation help. Coordinate system for the drawing is in WI83-CF. Mar 10, 2025 · Autodesk Community will be read-only between April 26 and April 27 as we complete essential maintenance. v3lx uhi hpjml suqym pn3 yirdtjd kvt lls 4ottvvon 0fs