Add Gz format mapping to AutoCAD functionality

[Anonymous]

In my role with the local authority in Cheshire in the UK I supply Gz format Ordnance Survey (OS) Master Map (OSMM) mapping to contractors on a regular basis. The contractors carry out work on behalf of the local authority. The vast majority of the contractors only have standard AutoCAD rather than Civil3d software. Standard AutoCAD, unlike Civil3d doesn't include the ability to load Gz format OSMM. This causes inconvenience amongst many of the small and medium sized companies and inertia for all the various companies, some of whom are global engineering companies and will likely also be affecting other companies across the UK where they are using OSMM mapping, which is the go to mapping for AutoCAD users within the UK. Given that the ability to load Gz format OSMM exists already within Civil3d I think it would make a great difference if Autodesk included this functionality within the next release of standard AutoCAD too. This may not translate into better profits for Autodesk but would create goodwill amongst the UK AutoCAD using community and would cut out the inertia and inefficiency for UK companies and would likely help to strengthen AutoCAD's positions in the market place by increasing the interoperability of the software.

[pendean]

No one here is Autodesk Development: you are starting on a park corner shouting at fellow end users with your post.

Running a business is not easy or cheap, but perhaps you as the local authority, if you truly wish to help your region, could lower your standards instead, or provide them with access to lower cost 3r party add-ons?

FWIW Autodesk takes feedback here but your wishlist is never going to happen since there is a solution already provided, aka use the correct software in the first place https://www.autodesk.com/company/contact-us/product-feedback

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link i'll post this there too. I'm trying to help all the private companies that use OSMM and are frustrated by the lack of this functionality within standard AutoCAD.

[pendean]

@Anonymous Wrong tool for the task: that's all this is.

You can use a car to move excavated earth from one site to another, but using an actual dump-truck is the correct tool for the task. It really is that simple.

[Anonymous]

i believe Map 3d also has this functionality which you get if you subscribe to Autodcad with specialized toolsets

like what was said above your using the wrong software

[Anonymous]

Part of the problem is that many of the smaller private companies only have access to standard AutoCAD and I suspect that staff in many of the larger companies have to track down those staff that have access to AutoCAD Civil 3D. 

[jggerth]

You could reach out to @TerryDotson at Dotsoft.com, and see if he can add that file format to his ToolPac package Import functionality.  If he's willing, it would be a lower cost option for your partners.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, that's useful to know and is something that I can pass on as a potential solution.

[TerryDotson]

Ordnance Survey MasterMap .GZ import is available in DotSoft's Low Cost GeoLocPlus package, along with many other formats and some great GeoLocation tools.  We don't have an eval for it, but since it is a subset of our MapWorks product, you can evaluate the functionality in MapWorks then acquire only the GeoLocPlus package.

[Anonymous]

That's very handy and will likely be of interest to many. Thanks very much for your time.