Creating a slope map from a conventional autocad map

[Anonymous]

Wondering how to create a topo map from data collected by a total station using Trimble General Survey. I am able to import the data from the total station into 3D Map, but how do you create a map from there?

Thanks

[Pointdump]

Joe,

Welcome to the Forum. Need a little more information. What kind of data? COGO points, AutoCAD points, a CSV file? And when you say "create a map" do you mean contours? Do you need a Civil 3D surface for design work like alignments and corridors? Parcels?

Dave

[Anonymous]

So I'm importing the data points from General Survey as a .DXF file into 3D Map. I use our total station to create site plans for construction.

Once I have imported the .dxf file, I can see all our points, the names and elevations.

What I what to be able to do is create topo lines / contours from these data points and eventually ( as I get better) be able to create a 3D model of the site.

Hope I am answering your question.

Joe

[Pointdump]

Joe,

To cut to the chase, please post your DXF. I can think of several paths, but I'm still not sure exactly what kind of data (COGO points, AutoCAD points, breaklines) you're working with. In Civil 3D here's the types of data you can add to the definition of the surface:

Dave

[autoMick]

@Anonymous, as you will end up realising, there's a number of different ways to acheive the same result in Civil3d.

One way is to start Civil3d, then File/Open and open up your DXF - so you will probably see your points, lines, etc. collected during the survey. Hopefully you've set up the data collector to store your points in a separate layer to the rest of the objects. The points will probably be just plain AutoCAD points which can be added to the surface as indicated by Dave's post.

In the screencast below, you'll see I've just followed the direct route of hiding the non-point layers and adding the AutoCAD points direct to a surface. Other things to consider are using Quick Select to find the points you're after, playing with surface styles, borders, etc. You probably want to use MAPCSASSIGN to assign a map projection also. I also like to export PENZD files as well as DWG/DXF from my data collector - that way you can import the point file as COGO points which give you a lot more flexibility. If you do a lot of this, then Civil3d has survey database and specialised import functions as well.

Anyway, hopefully this will get you started.

Cheers

- Mick

[autoMick]

@Anonymous, I'm not sure if you wanted an actual slope map or not, but generally I don't find them that useful or visually appealling and would prefer an old fashioned contour map... but the example below gives an intro into setting one up. Note that you can set up a surface style to display multiple elements such as elevation contours as well as slope colour mapping. 

I probably should've added how to set up a legend table as well - basically you click on the surface and click add legend in the contextual menu palette that pops up - that will allow you to get the area occupied by each slope category.

Cheers

- Mick

[Pointdump]

G'day Mick,

Nicely done!

Dave