Point Cloud to Contour Plot

[dmm5]

Is it possible using Civil 3D to import a .csv point cloud, Lat, Long, and Elevation in meters (that I collected from Google Earth Pro), and convert it to a contour plot with lines at 0.5 meters?  If so, may I also convert metric elevations to imperial (feet) and Lat, Long, coordinates to Northing and Easting format?  So, I want to go from my .csv file to something resembling a parcel map with contour lines 2 feet apart.  Many thanks.

[Pointdump]

Hi @dmm5,
Let's see what you've got. Can you post your CSV?
Dave

[dmm5]

Sure thing...

Thanks.

[Pointdump · Accepted solution]

@dmm5,
Thanks for posting your CSV file.
There is more than one way to do this. Here's one way:
1. In Excel multiply the Elevation Column by 3.28084 to convert it to feet.
2. In Civil 3D use an Imperial Template and assign CA83-IVF Coordinate System.
3. Create a custom Point File Format to recognize the Lat,Long,Ft CSV file.
4. Create a Surface and add the CSV to the Surface Definition.
Drawing attached.
Dave

[dmm5]

Dave,

Outstanding!  Regarding the conversion of meters to feet in excel - don't know why I didn't think of that.  Regarding the rest, I'll be poring through this for a while but it looks like exactly what I want.  It looks like you did it for me!  Thanks, I'll post a progress report...

Dave (my name as well)

[dmm5]

Dave,

One final question.  Is there a way to improve the quality of the contour fit?  There are sharp angles in the contour lines that are fit-artifacts, and not the result of the actual topology.  Furthermore, if I do this more than once I get different artifacts.  I was hoping for something smoother.  There is, after all, plenty of data.

Many thanks,

Dave

[Pointdump]

Hi Dave,
There's a distinction to be made between smoothing the surface and smoothing the contours. Read >>>Here<<<.
Dave

[dmm5]

Cool enough, Thanks again.