Can I get lat/long from an array of blocks?

[oiverson]

I have zero experience with ACAD Maps, but 20+ years with standard ACAD.

If I have an array of blocks, can the insertion points be dumped out as lat/long for use in a drone flight-planning software?

[Pointdump]

Hi Owen,
If your blocks are geo-referenced, then you certainly can get lat/long information. Can you post what you have?
Dave

[TerryDotson]

If you were to consider third party add-ons, the MapWorks Alt Coord List tool will generate reports from CAD geometry.  One click transfer to Excel, Word, etc.

This tool is also available in the low cost GeoLocationPlus subset.

[oiverson]

Pretty much my opening post shows what I have - nothing tangible and only a blip of a concept!

I use the GEO command in AutoCAD to get a basic roof plan, so I figured that already has geo coordinates so any insertion point should already be able to be geo-located, but nothing was obvious that I could pull lat/long coords from regular ACAD.

Thought maybe Map 3D would be similar enough for me to use like regular ACAD but with lat-long more readily available.

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

Try this:

1. First, georeference your drawing. Use MAPCSASSIGN to apply a coordinate system to modelspace. e.g. if you are drawing a map for a site located in the US, you may assign the appropriate state Plane and Zone, units of feet.
2. Go to geolocation Tab=>Tools Panel=>Mark Position Dropdown=>Lat-Long Option
3. On command line type in your Lat=>ENTER
4. On command line type in your Long=>ENTER
5. At your flashing cursor=>Enter a Label (e.g. 101, 102, City-1, City-2, etc., etc.)
6. Click an 'Empty' area of modelspace to end the geomarker function. Repeat as needed for all points.
7. Select all geomarkers, go to Properties Palette=>Geometry Section=>Change size to 100=>Zoom Extents and turn on Bing imagery.
8. Select a single geomarker=>Scroll to bottom of Properties Palette=>Location Section=>View your Lat/Long

Notes:

1. The display of Lat/Long in the Properties Palette is controlled by the variable known as LATLONGFORMAT, where 0=decimal degress and 1=deg-min-sec.
2. If you want to enter a list of Lat/Longs from a spreadsheet you can perform a SAVE AS on the spreadsheet saving to csv format or .csv Comma delimited (*csv). Then use MAPIMPORT command to import the csv file to your drawing--you must assign an approproate coordinate system to modelspace for this procedure to work. You'll also need to indicate the FORMAT your csv file is using, e.g. PNEZD format (or some other acceptable format) so Map3D can 'understand' your csv file--improper formatting is a common reason why MapImport doesn't work.

[ChicagoLooper]

@oiverson wrote

<<....I use the GEO command in AutoCAD to get a basic roof plan, so I figured that already has geo coordinates so any insertion point should already be able to be geo-located,....>>

Please do not confuse using the GEO command with assigning a coordinate system to modelspace. Without properly assiging a CS, you won't be able to acquire the lat/long's in your drawing.

To TEST whether you have properly assigned a CS, turn on Bing Hybrid aerial imaery. If the aerial background isn't consistent with your line work, or if the imagery doesn't appear, then you haven't properly assigned a coordinate system.

[ChicagoLooper]

duplicate post.

[oiverson]

Hmm... I figured that in my GEO command in regular ACAD I have to choose a datum so I just assumed that process was setting the CS:

Either way, your previous reply is great - I'll give it a go when I get a little free time, so thank you so much!

[ChicagoLooper]

Hello @oiverson 

FYI, if your site is in the US and you assign UTM84-18 to your drawing, you'll be drawing in meters, not feet. Meters, as opposed to feet, will mess up your viewport scale, unless of course, you really and truly want to draw in meters.

I'd suggest you draw in State Plane with units of feet. Just curious, UTM84-18 covers the states NC, VA, NJ, PA, NY, to name a few. What is the site's nearest major city/state? Or county of the site? The county (or city) will determine the State Plane and Zone to assign to your drawing.