CONVERSION OF CAD DATA TO GIS LAYERS Challenges and Techniques Compiled by: Tope Bello Summer 2005 Instructor POEC 6387 GIS Workshop Professor Ronald Briggs

Introduction In a GIS system the most time consuming part is data preparation. Data comes in different formats. It is important to convert these data into GIS formats before complex analysis can be done with them. There are some basic functions in ArcGIS for converting CAD, but they have their limitations.

Background of EPA Waste To Energy Project Environment Protection Agency has embarked on a project to identify possible locations for Waste to Energy (WTE) sites for generating energy. The University of Texas at Dallas GIS department has been employed to execute this project. Environment Protection Agency has embarked on a project to identify possible locations for Waste to Energy (WTE) sites for generating energy. The University of Texas at Dallas GIS department has been employed to execute this project. GIS layers to be used for analyzing possible WTE sites include freeways, waste sites, rail, and power lines. GIS layers to be used for analyzing possible WTE sites include freeways, waste sites, rail, and power lines. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a power line layer. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a power line layer. The original data is in CAD format. The original data is in CAD format.

Objectives Create a GIS layer to be used in performing suitability assessment of waste to energy sites in the North Central Texas Counties. Create a GIS layer to be used in performing suitability assessment of waste to energy sites in the North Central Texas Counties. Create a GIS layer of power lines from CAD data. Create a GIS layer of power lines from CAD data. Explore the sophisticated techniques in ArcGIS for CAD Conversion. Explore the sophisticated techniques in ArcGIS for CAD Conversion.

The Data The Data used was downloaded from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) website. The Data used was downloaded from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) website. It is a CAD dataset for electricity facilities in Texas provided by ERCOT. It is a CAD dataset for electricity facilities in Texas provided by ERCOT.

Examining CAD Data Formats The data type for AutoCAD drawings use the.dwg extension (Drawing), but if you plan on moving this file to a different work environment like ArcInfo, or other CAD workspaces, it should be with a.dxf extension (Data Exchange File). The data type for AutoCAD drawings use the.dwg extension (Drawing), but if you plan on moving this file to a different work environment like ArcInfo, or other CAD workspaces, it should be with a.dxf extension (Data Exchange File). A dxf file is an ASCII ( The American Standard Code for Information Interchange) description of the CAD drawing file. A dxf file is an ASCII ( The American Standard Code for Information Interchange) description of the CAD drawing file.

CAD Feature Datasets CAD Feature dataset

Data Conversion in ArcGIS There is a built in function that converts CAD data to Geodatabase. There is a built in function that converts CAD data to Geodatabase. This is the conventional function included in the ArcGIS desktop. This is the conventional function included in the ArcGIS desktop.

There are tools available for download on the ESRI website to perform more complicated data manipulation functions. There are tools available for download on the ESRI website to perform more complicated data manipulation functions. ESRI has also provided an extension that makes it possible to use more data formats in the ArcGIS environment. ESRI has also provided an extension that makes it possible to use more data formats in the ArcGIS environment. It is the Data Interoperability Extension. It is the Data Interoperability Extension.

Data Interoperability ESRI ArcGIS Data Interoperability Extension enables user to easily manipulate and distribute data in different formats. ESRI ArcGIS Data Interoperability Extension enables user to easily manipulate and distribute data in different formats. It exports to more than 50 different spatial data formats which includes dwg/dxf, gml, xml, MapInfo MIF/MID, Oracle spatial, Intergraph GeoMedia Warehouse It exports to more than 50 different spatial data formats which includes dwg/dxf, gml, xml, MapInfo MIF/MID, Oracle spatial, Intergraph GeoMedia Warehouse It also supports customization using model builder and geoprocessing framework for data format manipulation in a GIS environment. It also supports customization using model builder and geoprocessing framework for data format manipulation in a GIS environment. It is now possible to convert an AutoDesk dwg/dxf files to GIS data formats in Arc GIS. It is now possible to convert an AutoDesk dwg/dxf files to GIS data formats in Arc GIS. In the past this was a major challenge. In the past this was a major challenge.

One of the most renowned software vendors to be involved in data conversion is a company named Safe, with the product FME suite. One of the most renowned software vendors to be involved in data conversion is a company named Safe, with the product FME suite. SAFE FME Suite (The Feature Manipulation Engine) is an integrated collection of transformation tools for data translation SAFE FME Suite (The Feature Manipulation Engine) is an integrated collection of transformation tools for data translation FME ESRI suite is integrated into ArcInfo, ArcSDE, and Geodatabase systems. FME ESRI suite is integrated into ArcInfo, ArcSDE, and Geodatabase systems. There are other customized versions for Oracle, Intergraph, and users of UNIX systems. There are other customized versions for Oracle, Intergraph, and users of UNIX systems.

Data Processing

Processing CAD Data in ArcGIS

Georeferencing

Extracting from the CAD dataset

Converting Annotation to Point

There were four types of feature in the dataset used for this exercise; Arc, Circle, Line, Polyline. There were four types of feature in the dataset used for this exercise; Arc, Circle, Line, Polyline. It would have been easy to get the circles and extract all of them from the data sets, but some of the circles were represented as polyline. So these were deleted individually. Work is still in progress on converting the shape types in the field to the appropriate shape. It would have been easy to get the circles and extract all of them from the data sets, but some of the circles were represented as polyline. So these were deleted individually. Work is still in progress on converting the shape types in the field to the appropriate shape. The repair geometry tool was used to identify these anomalies, but there were no useful results. The repair geometry tool was used to identify these anomalies, but there were no useful results. Also attempted to get the right shapes in the shape field by converting the features from multipart to single part, this also yielded negative results. Also attempted to get the right shapes in the shape field by converting the features from multipart to single part, this also yielded negative results.

Ready for Edits

Identify Errors and connect features using the Topology Tool

Results

Conclusion and Recommendations CAD data is very difficult to clean up depending on the size of the data, for the purpose of this project existing CAD conversion tools will be explored for more appropriate result. CAD data is very difficult to clean up depending on the size of the data, for the purpose of this project existing CAD conversion tools will be explored for more appropriate result. Explore more ArcGIS geoprocessing tools for data conversion. Explore more ArcGIS geoprocessing tools for data conversion. Data preparation is a continuous process and more researches should be done to make it a less painful experience. Data preparation is a continuous process and more researches should be done to make it a less painful experience. Future versions of Arc GIS has been modified to perform some of these tasks using built in CAD conversion tools. Future versions of Arc GIS has been modified to perform some of these tasks using built in CAD conversion tools. Tool creation is a continuous process. Tool creation is a continuous process. Preparation of Metadata for CAD data. Preparation of Metadata for CAD data.

Web References earch='Converting%20CAD%20layer%20to%20GIS%20 Layers‘ earch='Converting%20CAD%20layer%20to%20GIS%20 Layers‘ earch='Converting%20CAD%20layer%20to%20GIS%20 Layers earch='Converting%20CAD%20layer%20to%20GIS%20 Layers ftp://ftp.safe.com/fme/brochures/fme-suite.pdf ftp://ftp.safe.com/fme/brochures/fme-suite.pdf ftp://ftp.safe.com/fme/brochures/fme-suite.pdf eroperability/index.html eroperability/index.html

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