topic Re: Elevation Data not Importing in AutoCAD Map 3D Forum

Elevation Data not Importing

CColozza — Wed, 17 May 2023 21:53:19 GMT

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. 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. Arc GIS Pro is then used to clip the contour to the area I'm investigating as well as import that TXT file to a new column of data. Starting with a geo-located file in Illinois NAD-83 East Foot, I click on "Map Import" and navigate to the SHP file from Arc Pro. I've tried importing the object data and leaving it out but it makes no difference. Upon importing the contours, AutoCAD maps the contours to the right geolocation but everything is flat. The object data for each contour clearly has a data field titled "Elevation" in the AutoCAD Properties tab, but AutoCAD doesn't seem to recognize that is should be using that data for the Z coordinate. I've attached a sample of the SHP output from Arc Pro.

Has anyone encountered this before? Should the data field in Arc Pro be named something very specific so that AutoCAD finds it upon importing?

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

Pointdump — Wed, 17 May 2023 23:20:33 GMT

Hi Charlie,
You're just lacking a step or two. Read >>>Here<<<.
Dave

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

Pointdump — Thu, 18 May 2023 06:45:08 GMT

Charlie,
I used the Attach/Query method to assign elevations to your contours. Drawing attached.
Dave

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

braudpat — Thu, 18 May 2023 08:34:27 GMT

Hello @CColozza

1) You can use @Pointdump method to elevate your 2D Plines

2) Or you can use a Lisp routine "OD2DXF38" which elevate the 2D Plines to the Object Data value "ELEVATION"

The Health, Bye, Patrice (The Old French EE Froggy)

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

Pointdump — Thu, 18 May 2023 10:21:10 GMT

Hi Patrice,
Nice! Very fast and easy!
Dave

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

ChicagoLooper — Thu, 18 May 2023 22:46:05 GMT

Hi @CColozza

Brookport? Metropolis?

You don't necessarily need ArcGIS or ArcPro. All you need is to convert the LiDAR into shapefile (which you've already completed using Global Mapper). Using your shapefile, the entire operation can be done using Map3D/Civil3D in two parts.

Part 1 (Refer to image-1):

Open a brand new clean drawing template so you can convert the shapefile from ESRI vectors to AutoCAD polylines. Do this using MAPIMPORT command. Be sure to assign coordinate system IL83-EF beforehand. During the import process, you'll accomplish two things:

Convert from shapefile linework to plain vanilla AutoCAD polylines.
Capture (or harvest) the elevation values from the shapefile's database file (dbf). The captured data is known as Object Data (OD).

Name this drawing DEMO_101.dwg and save it your project folder. Once it's saved, close it and proceed to Part 2.

Image-1

Part 2:

This part requires opening a brand new second drawing (or you may use your current drawing). In this second drawing, you'll perform a QUERY by connecting to Demo_101.dwg, the drawing you saved a minute ago. The connection entails Drag-and-Drop. Be sure to assign IL83-EF to this second drawing just like the previous drawing.

Drag Demo_101 from your project folder and drop it directly on a blank area of the Map Explorer Tab of the Map Task Pane. (MAPWSPACE=>enter ON on command line.) The drawing named Demo_101 is now attached to your second drawing Follow all steps to Execute Query. (Refer to images 2 thru 4).

Image-2

Image-3

Image-4

As a final step, detach DEMO_101.dwg. by selecting it from the Explorer Tab of the Map Task Pane that you attached earlier=>right click=>Detach.

To verify proper contour elevation, use the view cube and view the contours from Top, Front and Left views. When you zoom-in close, you'll see the contours have been raised to their respective elevation. While viewing from either front or left view, select an individual contour and view its Elevation under the Geometry Section of the Properties Palette. The elevation shown under the Geometry section will be consistent with the Elevation shown at the bottom of the Properties Palette (under the section name OD:Test_Contours).

***If you run Civil3D and want to make a surface, you can use these elevated contours as your surface definition.

Image-5Image-6

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

CColozza — Mon, 22 May 2023 15:16:06 GMT

Hello braudpat,

Choosing between your LSP program and using the Query method referenced twice in this post, your LSP was miles easier to use and understand. With the way our file structure is arranged, creating multiple files quickly isn't always possible or efficient; this LSP allows me use the original drawing I'm working with so long as I've imported the object data of the contours. Just a little editing/translating text to English is all I needed to tweak.

Thank you!

CColozza

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

braudpat — Tue, 23 May 2023 08:07:29 GMT

Hello @CColozza

Do you need an US/English version or the French version is OK for you ?

The Health, Bye, Patrice

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

CColozza — Tue, 23 May 2023 13:16:27 GMT

braudpat,

Perhaps for the sake of this forum and those who may read this in the future, it would helpful if you were able to upload a US/English version.

Best Regards,

CColozza

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

braudpat — Fri, 26 May 2023 13:55:50 GMT

Hello @CColozza

Here is the US/English version ...

The Health, Bye, Pat

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

thomasdonahueMZ7RK — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:26:18 GMT

Can you provide further explanation on how to work through the LISP method? I have never used this methodology before.

Re: Elevation Data not Importing

braudpat — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:09:21 GMT

Hello @thomasdonahueMZ7RK

Command: APPLOAD < Enter >

Select the OD2DXF38 Lisp file, Load, Close/OK

Command: OD2DXF38 < Enter >

Then ...

Bye, Pat