GIS and CAD

(computer aided design)

2/11/2008

UT-Dallas Briggs GISC 6382 Applied GIS

CAD and GIS

GIS and CAD have similar data content but have: Different fundamental philosophies
CAD sees the world as a cube GIS sees world as a sphere

Different primary applications

Detailed construction design (larger scale) Real world representation and modeling (smaller scale)

Different data models

As we shall see

Different editing environments

Editing is CADs speciality But ArcGIS editing is becoming more CAD-like

2/11/2008

UT-Dallas Briggs GISC 6382 Applied GIS

ESRI and CAD

ESRI no longer trying to compete as a CAD vendor
ArcCAD product has been discontinued

Goal is now the integration of CAD data and GIS data via 1. Common storage environment
data can be stored in SDE (using ArcSDE Client for CAD) for common access by both CAD and GIS users

2. Use of CAD data in ArcGIS without the need to convert to GIS

Can be displayed
As CAD drawing layer: displays drawing file as it would be seen in CAD As feature layers: which can be processed like GIS, but without conversion

3. Bi-directional conversions between CAD and GIS data

Use ArcToolbox to convert CAD to GIS & GIS to CAD
ArcToolbox>Conversion Tools>To Geodatabase>Import from CAD ArcToolbox>Conversion Tools>To CAD>Export to CAD

not necessarily transitive: cannot always reproduce the original CAD data after converting to GIS cos of inherent differences in CAD/GIS data models
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How CAD Differs

Lacks database environment Lacks spatial analysis Lacks topological information
connectivity, congruency and contiguity (adjacency)

Lacks layering within point, line and polygon classes

All line features (e.g. roads and streams) are in same layer

Features are not segmented

E.g. Belt Line Rd all around Dallas is one feature

Cartographic information is often present in layers, undifferentiated from true geographic features
blowups, symbology, legends, etc..

Limited support for real world positioning (map projections, etc.)

2/11/2008 UT-Dallas Briggs GISC 6382 Applied GIS 4

CAD files in ArcCatalog: 9.2 v. 9.1

In ArcGIS 9.2, a CAD file is displayed in ArcCatalog as a group layer with a triple box blue icon Within this group there are:
multiple feature layers containing annotation, point, polygon, polyline (arc) line data, all with blue single box icons
These can be used for display, query, and analysis as though they were regular, separate GIS layers

A single drawing file,which display all layers simultaneously, as they would appear to a CAD operator,
More akin to an image although its a vector file Potentially useful as a background

You can bring the layers (one, some or all), or the drawing file, or both into ArcMap, as desired. ArcGIS 9.1 and earlier differs. The drawing file is shown as a second layer so you get two layers for every CAD file.
9.1 and earlier
2/11/2008

9.2

UT-Dallas Briggs GISC 6382 Applied GIS

Using CAD files in GIS

A single CAD file can have up to 999 layers of vector data within its point, arc and polygon datasets. These can be separated into homogeneous GIS-type layers by:
Accepting the CAD unique entity value symbology, which is the default in ArcGIS 9.2 Controlling display of drawing layer or feature layers via Properties/Drawing Layers (this is unique to CAD) Separate feature layers (point, polyline, or polygon) into homogeneous GIS layers using the CAD layer variable, or other variables if appropriate
Via Properties/Symbology Via Properties/Definition Query

You can save the results as separate layers in TofC of ArcMap, and as layer files to use in other ArcMap documents

Layers can be displayed, queried and used in many geoprocessing operations in ArcToolbox as though they were regular GIS layers
However, there are exceptions e.g. cant clip them or use as the clip layer

In all cases here you are processing the original CAD data, thus any edits made in CAD will be immediately available to the GIS user. This is the big advantage.
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Converting CAD files

Converting CAD to GIS: three ways
1. Use the standard Data/Export facility in ArcMAP or ArcCatalog
Identify individual layers as per previous slide, then export as separate shapefiles or gdb feature classes
This is by far the easiest conversion method Generally, one CAD file produces multiple GIS feature classes

2. Use the Import from CAD tool in ArcToolbox

Go to ArcToolbox>Conversion Tools>To Geodatabase>Import from CAD Use this if you need access to fancy aspects of the CAD data

See When to Use the Import from CAD tool in ArcHelp

3. Use ArcInfo Workstation commands DXFARC and IGDSARC Converting GIS to CAD:
Go to ArcToolbox>Conversion Tools>To CAD>Export to CAD
Relatively complex issue Other tools in the To CAD toolset are used to set up data appropriately prior to running Export to CAD tool See ArcHelp for more detail

2/11/2008

UT-Dallas Briggs GISC 6382 Applied GIS

Working together
Engineers/designers make limited use of GIS when designing and building
However, the data they create can be very useful for GIS

CAD provides multiple ways of creating data

Adoption of a set of CAD standards can greatly improve the usability of CAD data in GIS Getting the CAD people to do this requires diplomacy!

The ESRI document Creating Compatible CAD Data for ArcGIS, October 2003, provides guidance. Examples include
Use only one geometry type (e.g. line or polygon) for a given feature
CAD people often intermix polygon and line features when drawing

Use CAD blocks or cells to create point features rather than drawing them with lines Differentiate features (e.g. roads and railroads) in a consistent manner
use CAD layer variable, or a standard color, line style or width symbol

Snap features together using CAD snapping tools, especially for networks Avoid splitting lines to insert text or point symbols many, many more!!!

If possible, use the CAD layer in GIS, rather than converting to GIS. Then, any new CAD edits can be captured immediately
If not, be sure to implement a process for update of GIS layers when CAD changes
For this, use a Modelbuilder Application so it can be repeated consistently!!!
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Commonly encountered CAD file extensions

.dxf -

Autocad DXF (digital exchange format) arcdxf also a pseudo standard for the exchange of CAD data (equivalent to a shapefile) .dwg - AutoCAD drawing file format .dgn - Intergraphs Interactive Graphics Design Software (IGDS) and MicroStation Design format

2/11/2008

UT-Dallas Briggs GISC 6382 Applied GIS

Some Useful Reference Documents

ESRI White Papers Using CAD in ArcGIS, June 2003
UsingCADinArcGISJ9059.pdf This is a helpful overview

Creating Compatible CAD Data for ArcGIS, October 2003

Creating_Compatible_CAD_Data_for_ArcGIS.pdf More detailed discussion of how to structure CAD data to maximize/simplify its use in GIS

CAD and the Geodatabase, July 2001

J8687_CAD-GIS_Geodatabase.pdf

Available from www.esri.com and also from http://wilbur.utdallas.edu/gisdata/g6382/Info_materials/

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