Opening ASC files

[dana.akba]

Hi there,

Previously I have managed to open point cloud survey files when they are in PNEZD (or similar) format by the 'Transfer Points' option on AutoCAD 3D however I have a new file which doesn't seem to be in PNEZD format.

I have pasted the first few lines of the ASC file below FYI Your help will be much appreciated:

ncols 2000
nrows 2000
xllcorner 555000
yllcorner 170000
cellsize 0.5
NODATA_value -9999
27.601 27.621 27.631 27.641 27.661 27.671 27.691 27.711 27.731 27.741 27.761 27.781 27.801 27.821 27.841 27.851 27.871 27.881 27.881 27.901 27.911 27.931 27.941 27.971 27.981 27.991 28.001 28.011 28.031 28.051 28.061 28.071 28.091 28.101 28.121 28.131 28.141 28.161 28.181 28.201 28.221 28.241 28.251 28.271 28.291 28.301 28.321 28.341 28.351 28.371 28.391 28.431 28.461 28.471 28.491 28.511 28.531 28.541 28.561 28.591 28.601 28.631 28.651 28.671 28.691 28.721 28.741 28.761 28.791 28.801 28.821 28.841 28.861 28.891 28.921 28.951 28.981 29.001 29.021 29.061 29.091 29.111 29.151 29.181 29.211 29.241 29.271 29.301 29.331 29.361 29.381 29.401 29.421 29.441 29.451 29.471 29.481 29.491 29.511 29.531 29.561 29.591 29.611 29.641 29.661 29.681 29.711 29.751 29.811 29.881 29.991 31.111 31.401 32.991 29.971 31.831 29.761 29.771 29.791 29.821 29.791 29.821 30.101 30.101 29.951 29.901 29.941 29.881 30.601 29.981 29.841 29.831 29.811 29.811 29.801 29.791 29.781 29.771 29.751 29.741 29.731 29.721 29.711 29.701 29.691 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.691 29.691 29.701 29.701 29.691 29.691 29.681 29.671 29.661 29.651 29.651 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.651 29.661 29.671 29.671 29.681 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.671 29.671 29.671 29.671 29.661 29.661 29.651 29.651 29.651 29.651 29.661 29.661 29.671 29.681 29.681 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.681 29.671 29.671 29.671 29.661 29.661 29.661 29.671 29.671 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.681 29.671 29.681 29.671 29.681 29.681 29.691 29.701 29.701 29.701 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.691 29.681 29.681 29.671 29.671 29.681 29.681 29.671 29.671 29.661 29.651 29.651 29.651 29.651 29.661 29.661 29.661 29.651 29.651 29.641 29.641 29.631 29.631 29.621 29.621 29.621 29.621 29.631 29.631 29.641 29.641 29.641 29.651 29.661 29.671 29.671 29.691 29.691 29.701 29.711 29.721 29.721 29.721 29.711 29.711 29.711 29.711 29.721 29.741 29.741 29.741 29.731 29.731 29.721 29.711 29.721 29.721 29.721 29.721 29.711 29.701 29.741 29.851 29.911 29.891 29.841 29.691 30.301 30.111 33.211 36.421 36.541 35.591 35.361 32.601 31.661 31.601 29.701 29.721 29.721 29.721 29.711 29.691 29.671 29.641 29.621 29.601 29.581 29.561 29.541 29.541 29.531 29.531 29.531 29.531 29.531 29.531 29.531 29.531 29.521 29.521 29.511 29.511 29.501 29.501 29.491 29.481 29.481 29.461 29.451 29.441 29.431 29.431 29.431 29.441 29.441 29.431 29.431 29.421 29.421 29.421 29.421 29.411 29.411 29.401 29.401 29.401 29.401 29.391 29.381 29.371 29.371 29.361 29.351 29.341 29.341 29.331 29.331 29.321 29.321 29.301 29.301 29.301 29.301 29.281 29.271 29.261 29.251 29.251 29.251 29.261 29.271 29.261 29.231 29.251 29.261 29.251 29.261 29.261 29.261 29.261 29.271 29.271 29.281 29.291 29.301 29.311 29.211 29.141 29.081 29.051 29.051 29.051 29.061 29.071 29.081 29.091 29.111 29.131 29.131 29.151 29.161 29.181 29.181 29.181 29.181 29.191 29.191 29.201 29.201 29.201 29.211 29.211 29.211 29.221 30.941 31.881 31.901 31.901 31.891 31.891 31.931 31.971 31.891 31.851 31.801 31.551 29.481 29.601 29.411 29.481 29.561 29.351 29.511 29.571 29.541 29.501 29.231 29.171 29.141 29.101 29.061 29.011 28.961 28.931 28.891 28.861 28.841 28.811 28.791 28.781 28.781 28.761 28.751 28.741 28.731 28.721 28.691 28.671 29.831 30.111 31.381 31.381 31.371 31.371 31.371 31.381 31.381 31.381 31.391 31.391 31.401 31.411 31.431 31.441 31.461 31.471 31.501 31.521 31.541 31.571 31.591 31.611 31.631 31.651 31.671 31.681 31.721 31.721 31.561 31.731 30.471 29.691 29.511 29.581 29.481 29.231 29.331 30.321 30.421 30.541 30.431 30.351 30.301 30.121 30.021 28.681 28.841 29.151 28.831 28.991 28.291 28.261 28.261 28.241 28.191 28.111 28.041 28.001 27.971 27.951 27.931 27.921 27.911 27.891 27.881 27.871 27.871 27.881 27.891 27.901 27.921 27.931 27.941 27.941 27.941 27.931 27.921 27.911 27.911 27.901 27.901 27.911 27.941 27.991 28.041 28.111 28.151 28.171 28.171 28.151 28.201 28.261 28.041 28.021 28.011 28.001 27.981 27.971 27.971 27.961 27.951 27.951 27.941 27.931 27.931 27.921 27.911 27.931 27.971 28.021 28.081 28.121 28.161 28.971 29.211 29.151 28.331 28.131 28.301 28.381 28.011 27.891 27.831 27.761 28.081 27.801 27.461 27.441 27.291 26.851 26.641 26.531 26.291 26.091 25.881 25.711 25.451 25.161 24.891 24.801 25.191 25.511 25.861 25.391 25.041 24.561 24.491 24.411 24.361 24.331 24.301 24.271 24.261 24.241 24.231 24.221 24.201 24.201 24.191 24.181 24.171 24.151 24.131 24.121 24.111 24.101 24.101 24.091 24.081 24.071 24.051 24.031 24.031 24.021 24.011 24.001 23.991 23.981 23.971 23.951 23.941 23.931 23.911 23.901 23.881 23.861 23.851 23.831 23.811 23.801 23.781 23.771 23.761 23.741 23.711 23.691 23.671 23.641 23.621 23.591 23.581 23.561 23.551 23.541 23.531 23.521 23.501 23.481 23.461 23.441 23.431 23.411 23.391 23.381 23.361 23.341 23.311 23.291 23.271 23.251 23.231 23.211 23.191 23.161 23.131 23.101 23.071 23.041 23.001 22.981 22.951 22.931 22.901 22.871 22.841 22.801 22.761 22.741 22.711 22.691 22.651 22.611 22.581 22.561 22.541 22.511 22.481 22.451 22.431 22.401 22.371 22.341 22.311 22.281 22.251 22.211 22.181 22.151 22.121 22.091 22.061 22.031 22.001 21.971 21.951 21.941 21.921 21.901 21.881 21.861 21.841 21.821 21.801 21.781 21.761 21.731 21.711 21.691 21.681 21.671 21.661 21.641 21.621 21.611 21.601 21.591 21.571 21.551 21.531 21.521 21.511 21.501 21.491 21.471 21.461 21.451 21.431 21.421 21.411 21.391 21.371 21.341 21.331 21.301 21.281 21.281 21.271 21.261 21.241 21.221 21.211 21.201 21.181 21.191 21.191 21.181 21.161 21.121 21.101 21.101 21.101 21.101 21.111 21.101 21.101 21.091 21.091 21.081 21.081 21.071 21.051 21.041 21.031 21.031 21.031 21.021 21.011 21.001 21.001 21.001 20.991 20.991 20.991 20.991 20.981 20.971 20.961 20.951 20.941 20.921 20.891 20.871 20.841 20.811 20.811 20.831 20.851 20.881 20.871 21.691 22.621 23.391 23.121 22.531 22.261 21.151 20.531 20.361 20.201 20.061 19.931 19.811 19.721 19.661 19.611 19.581 19.551 19.541 19.531 19.521 19.521 19.521 19.511 19.501 19.491 19.481 19.471 19.461 19.461 19.471 19.471 19.471 19.471 19.471 19.471 19.461 19.451 19.451 19.451 19.461 19.471 19.481 19.491 19.491 19.481 19.471 19.441 19.401 19.371 19.331 19.281 19.241 19.211 19.181 19.141 19.101 19.071 19.041 19.011 18.991 19.081 19.031 18.901 18.871 18.851 18.831 18.821 18.821 18.811 18.801 18.801 18.811 18.811 18.811 18.811 18.811 18.811 18.801 18.791 18.791 18.781 18.771 18.761 18.761 18.751 18.741 18.741 18.731 18.721 18.701 18.691 18.691 18.691 18.681 18.671 18.661 18.641 18.631 18.611 18.591 18.571 18.531 18.511 18.491 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.481 18.491 18.531 18.601 18.671 18.731 18.751 18.761 18.791 18.931 20.411 21.571 26.431 26.081 25.941 25.751 25.631 25.531 25.581 25.811 26.331 26.891 24.911 27.211 18.831 23.001 18.841 18.791 18.761 18.751 18.741 18.741 18.731 18.721 18.701 18.751 18.861 18.651 18.591 18.361 18.371 18.331 18.281 18.241 18.201 18.181 18.161 18.151 18.141 18.131 18.111 18.101 18.081 18.071 18.051 18.031 18.011 18.001 18.001 18.661 18.511 19.081 19.291 18.541 20.201 18.351 18.171 17.821 17.801 17.781 17.761 17.741 17.731 17.711 17.701 17.681 17.641 17.601 17.561 17.541 17.511 17.491 17.471 17.451 17.441 17.431 17.431 17.421 17.431 17.551 17.641 18.241 18.261 18.031 17.711 17.361 17.321 17.311 17.321 17.421 17.531 17.531 17.371 17.261 17.231 17.831 18.461 18.561 18.711 18.891 19.031 19.111 19.201 19.251 19.171 19.071 19.001 18.691 17.811 17.401 19.111 19.141 19.151 19.141 19.141 19.141 19.151 19.161 17.501 17.661 17.181 17.181 17.181 17.181 17.181 17.191 17.191 17.191 17.191 17.181 17.181 17.181 17.181 17.191 17.201 17.211 17.221 17.231 17.251 17.261 17.281 17.321 17.371 17.421 17.471 17.501 17.531 17.541 17.621 17.721 17.151 16.431 16.431 16.391 16.381 16.381 16.381 16.381 16.371 16.371 16.371 16.391 16.401 16.421 16.431 16.441 16.451 16.441 16.441 16.431 16.421 16.411 16.401 16.411 16.441 16.581 16.411 16.391 16.391 16.381 16.361 16.351 16.341 16.331 16.331 16.321 16.321 16.311 16.311 16.311 16.301 16.291 16.281 16.281 16.271 16.271 16.271 16.261 16.261 16.251 16.241 16.241 16.241 16.241 16.241 16.241 16.231 16.231 16.231 16.231 16.231 16.231 16.241 16.241 16.251 16.251 16.211 16.361 16.281 16.041 16.021 15.981 15.961 15.951 15.951 15.951 15.951 15.951 15.951 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.951 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.941 15.931 15.931 15.931 15.931 15.931 15.931 15.931 15.921 15.921 15.921 15.921 15.921 15.911 15.911 15.901 15.901 15.901 15.921 15.911 15.881 16.011 16.211 16.391 16.181 15.871 15.861 15.861 15.871 15.881 15.891 15.901 15.901 15.901 15.901 15.901 15.881 15.871 15.861 15.861 15.881 15.921 15.941 15.971 15.991 16.011 16.051 16.101 16.171 16.231 16.291 16.311 16.601 16.851 17.811 16.051 16.001 15.981 15.981 15.971 15.971 15.971 15.971 15.961 15.951 15.921 15.891 15.861 15.831 15.811 15.781 15.761 15.741 15.721 15.721 15.711 15.711 15.701 15.711 15.711 15.711 15.731 15.731 15.721 15.711 15.701 15.691 15.681 15.671 15.671 15.671 15.681 15.701 15.721 15.741 15.761 15.791 15.821 15.861 15.911 15.971 16.231 16.881 17.301 17.701 18.811 17.701 18.861 18.361 18.221 16.871 16.901 17.301 21.771 24.061 22.141 22.211 19.661 21.351 17.261 15.771 15.691 15.581 15.491 15.441 15.411 15.401 15.391 15.401 15.421 15.471 19.591 17.351 16.001 15.481 15.361 15.281 15.211 15.171 15.141 15.101 15.081 15.051 15.031 15.011 15.011 15.011 15.021 15.031 15.031 15.021 15.011 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 15.001 14.991 14.991 14.981 14.981 14.971 14.971 14.971 14.971 14.961 14.961 14.951 14.941 14.921 14.901 14.881 14.861 14.841 14.821 14.811 14.811 14.811 14.811 14.821 14.821 14.821 14.811 14.811 14.801 14.791 14.781 14.771 14.761 14.751 14.741 14.741 14.741 14.731 14.721 14.721 14.731 14.731 14.731 14.721 14.721 14.711 14.711 14.701 14.691 14.671 14.651 14.631 14.611 14.601 14.591 14.571 14.561 14.551 14.541 14.521 14.511 14.511 14.511 14.501 14.501 14.501 14.491 14.491 14.491 14.501 14.511 14.521 14.521 14.531 14.541 14.551 14.561 14.561 14.571 14.581 14.581 14.591 14.601 14.601 14.611 14.621 14.631 14.631 14.631 14.631 14.631 14.631 14.631 14.631 14.641 14.641 14.651 14.651 14.651 14.641 14.641 14.631 14.631 14.621 14.611 14.601 14.601 14.601 14.601 14.591 14.581 14.581 14.581 14.571 14.571 14.581 14.581 14.581 14.581 14.591 14.601 14.601 14.601 14.601 14.591 14.591 14.571 14.551 14.521 14.501 14.481 14.471 14.471 14.481 14.471 14.451 14.431 14.421 14.551 14.751 14.591 14.451 14.441 14.981 15.361 14.501 14.511 14.521 14.511 14.501 14.481 14.461 14.461 14.491 16.731 15.991 18.181 15.541 14.511 14.901 14.901 14.621 17.311 18.371 16.791 16.781 16.711 15.921 15.221 14.181 14.261 14.371 14.501 14.641 19.271 20.421 14.691 20.001 25.571 23.181 23.811 23.891 17.831 14.511 14.451 17.481 22.051 22.041 19.941 19.111 22.451 20.791 20.711 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 14.421 14.391 -9999 -9999 14.131 14.151 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 13.991 14.041 14.101 14.151 14.181 14.151 14.161 -9999 -9999 -9999 14.261 14.261 14.231 14.161 14.161 14.151 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 14.231 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 14.401 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 14.381 14.331 14.281 14.121 14.261 14.391 14.901 15.141 14.601 14.671 14.791 14.801 14.771 14.731 14.731 14.731 14.741 14.791 14.861 14.951 15.011 15.051 15.081 15.161 15.311 16.251 17.091 15.071 14.901 14.831 16.821 14.761 14.751 14.741 14.731 14.711 14.691 14.661 14.611 14.521 14.811 16.221 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 18.581 18.671 18.481 18.011 19.521 19.651 19.601 18.881 19.191 19.261 16.361 20.311 20.561 20.411 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 -9999 22.261 22.151 21.811 21.531 21.431 20.801 19.871 22.571 18.471 20.981 22.511 23.001 20.291 19.911 20.351 17.781 14.361 14.361 16.151 14.661 14.631 14.671 14.651 14.621 14.631 14.631 14.601 14.651 14.761 15.011

[jefflambert9091]

It is for/from a DEM (surface).  The header tells the tail. It has 2000 columns, 2000 rows, gives the starting corner and each elevation listed is 0.5' apart/0 .5' x 0.5' grid. So its a 1000' x 1000' area, They usually have a .txt and may be associated with a .prj and .xml.

[dana.akba]

Many thanks for your reply Jeff. Does AutoCAD Civil 3D have an option to import/transfer this directly into CAD or do I need to do some processing with the file first (arranging the text file on Excel based on what you said and convert the figures into a format I'm familiar with e.g. PNEZD and then convert back to a text file that AutoCAD can read)?

I am hoping for the former!

[samir_rezk · Accepted solution]

Hi @dana.akba,

since this is a DEM, you should be able to generate a surface from the file directly with out the need to import as a point file first.

Under the home tab/ create ground data panel/surface drop down choose Surface from DEM and proceed through the wizard to create a surface from the .asc file you have.

This AKN Article might help as a good reference:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/civil-3d/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/Civi...

hope this helps,

[jefflambert9091]

Sorry for the delay, did not have my laptop with me last night. samir.rezk has you going in the right direction. You can't really think of this file as a "point file". It is a file that extracted elevations from a surface on a grid. 

[dana.akba]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

Is there now a way to convert these into DWG so people with AutoCAD non-Civil can open it and make measurements from it?

I tried to save the file as a DWG and the file size was reduced dramatically, not to mention when I opened it in AutoCAD there only seemed to be a border saved with all the information lost within...

[samir_rezk]

Hi @dana.akba

@I am glad it worked out for you. Now that you have a civil 3d surface, you have two options to shared with AutoCAD.

1- users who wish to view your civil 3d objects in AutoCAD can install a free object enabler from Autodesk. The civil 3d object enabler once installed on top of autocad will enable people to see your surface. It can be downloaded at:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/downloads/caas/downloads/content/civil-3d-2019-object...

2- onother option which I never like to do is to simply explode it using the autocad explode command (be sure to be on the style you like first) This will produce autocad polylines of your contours, note that this will destroy the surface as a smart terrain model and you will end up with polylines that resemble contours. However AutoCAD will be able to open the file easily.

hope this helps,