Civil 3D 2015 problem changing coordinate system when adding DEM to surface...

[MikeKitchen5860]

I downloaded a USGS GDEM which I was hoping to make into a surface. However, the DEM is in Lat Long and my drawing is UTM Zone 11N NAD 83 (metres). Anyway, following the help file, I made a grid surface, added the DEM's TIFF file to the definition. However, under the DEM's properties I can't change the DEM's CS Code to match the file information. As such, my DEM surface is not converted to my drawing's coordinate system. Is this a bug in Civil 3D or am I just doing something wrong?

Thanks

Mike Kitchen

[AlmasSuljevic]

Please see these two posts: 

http://beingcivil.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/02/import-metric-dem-file-into-imperial-drawing.html

http://beingcivil.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/11/correctly-locating-dem-data.html

See if the procedure where you create TIN surface works for you.  

[MikeKitchen5860]

Hi Almas,

Thanks for responding. I followed these directions. However, where I try to select the coordinate system (CS) for the DEM, there is no "..." button to select. I'd just done a clean install of Infrastructure works on this machine last month and I've been keeping up with updates, so I hope this isn't a bad install.

[almas.suljevic]

Can you click in the CS Code field and see if the [...] will show up. See this for reference: 

[MikeKitchen5860]

Hi Almas,

No, that's the problem - the ellipsis [...] button in the CS field does not appear and I cannot select a coordinate system - as such, my DEM surface does not get translated to the drawing's coordinate system (which makes things pretty useless - given I don't do design or mapping work in Lat/Long). Has this happened to anyone else running Civil 3D 2015 SP2?

Thanks

Mike Kitchen

[AlmasSuljevic · Accepted solution]

Hi Mike,

Can you check this link to see if it helps with missing buttons: http://beingcivil.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/browse-button-in-import-survey-data-dialog.html

Also see this image and make sure that your Value column is not sized where you cann't see it.

Other than this you may be having some issues with your install.

[MikeKitchen5860]

Hi Almas,

It was as simple as moving changing the width of the "value" column. Embarrassing.

Thanks for your help.

Mike Kitchen

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem but in my case extending the value column didn't help. The three dots button appear when working with a TIN surface but not with a Grid surface. I did uninstall and reinstalled but I have yet to do a clean uninstall since it takes a lot longer. Any insights?

[Anonymous]

Adjusting the Value box is also not working for me.  My surface is great but in the wrong spot.  Help please.

[Anonymous]

I ended up starting over.  Upon the adding DEM data I resized the CS box and that gave me the ability to select the CS.  It doesn't appear that I can change the CS code for the dem file data once it is in the surface, but since it is a fixed for the dem data it worked fine.