How to set coordinates system based on two points?

[chriskozak627]

Hi all,

So I'm working on a project with 3 other companies. When we took over, Drawing Units and Units didn't match between different DWGs, coordinates and UCSs were all out of wack, etc.

Is there a way to set coordinates for two points in a drawing so that it is in the correct location / rotation? When I XREF in the new survey, it appears in a different location and at a different rotation. The thing is, I can't move and rotate my entire drawing to match the XREF (because of the type of labels, surfaces, etc.), and I need to call out coordinates. The coordinates in my current UCS are correct but when I change to World UCS, everything is wrong. And when I create reference a data shortcut, it appears in World UCS, so not in the correct location as per Current UCS. So can I change World UCS based on two points? Or can I set coordinates based on two known points? 

[ChicagoLooper]

@chriskozak627 wrote

<<The coordinates in my current UCS are correct but when I change to World UCS, everything is wrong….>>

Do the ORIGINAL drawings have an assigned coordinate system? Even though the x,y’s are not consistent with the coordinates systems you are normally familiar with, it doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t georefeferenced. Depending on who created the drawings and ther geospatial background, the dwg’s may, or may not, be in a ‘custom coordinate system’ and still maintain their their Lat/Longs. 

Take a screen shot of modelspace. Include the UCS symbol in the lower left corner. Enter MAPCSASSIGN and take another screenshot of the next window that pops up, ‘CURRENTLY ASSIGNED’ is in top left and that’s important. 

The lat/longs are independent of the x,y’s so it’ll be interesting to know what the lat/longs are for random points on your site. If you know how to check the lat/longs in modelspace, there are several ways, the forum can get a better idea on the best way to proceed. 

[Pointdump]

Hi Chris,
Welcome the the Autodesk Forums.
If you have both Units and UCS problems, that's not gonna be an easy fix. Prepare for some head scratchin'.
A lot of people here have seen it all, so maybe if you posted some drawings we can help you get things sorted out.
Dave

[chriskozak627]

@ChicagoLooper @Pointdump 

So we have 3 older surveys which were not setup with a coordinate system (See Capture-Image1).

2 other engineering companies started the project before us. When we XREF'ed their drawings into the original 3 surveys, they appeared 12x scale and in a different location / rotation (Drawing Units was set to inches).  

The latest/new survey we have is setup in a proper coordinate system and datum. The only thing I can think of is to move my entire drawing into the proper place within World UCS and then rotate it. I will lose lots of labels and flow arrows this way because they cannot be rotated in a group. I will also have to move the entire surface and all my manually inserted points in the Z axis. I would like to avoid this because it will be tons of work that I will have to redo and we have a tight deadline. I have attached the requested photos also. Unfortunately, I cannot attach the DWG. I also accidentally reset the Current UCS to something else and even Current UCS is not in the proper coordinates anymore. 

[chriskozak627]

Another thing I can do is draw Polylines along the X and Y axis from 0,0,0 in the new correct survey and then XREF it into my drawing, define UCS based on the origin and axis. But this only changes Current UCS. Is there a way to do this for World UCS?
@ChicagoLooper @Pointdump 

[ChicagoLooper]

What is the location (city) of your site? It would be better (and faster, much faster) to upload the two drawings in question. 

[Pointdump]

Chris,
Biggest hurdle is going to be the UCS. It looks like you're already in World, but the View Cube is rotated. I sure don't know what to do about that.
I can't think of any way to use the ALIGN Command without losing your labels and flow arrows.
Sorry I can't be more help.
Dave