This document discusses converting CAD data to GIS formats and some of the challenges involved. It describes problems with representing parcel/block boundaries and attributes when converting CAD data to GIS and shows the workflow and outputs. It also details issues with converting elevation points and lines from CAD formats where the elevation is stored as text not linked to the features. The document proposes solutions like representing the data as 3D points and lines in GIS and meeting specification requirements. Later sections discuss converting GIS data to CAD formats and blending MicroStation and lidar datasets to model 3D buildings.

5. Photo: @cdharrison via Flickr
Problem
Data screenshot
Convert CAD drawing characteristics to GIS

8. Dale’s snap demo
CAD - GIS lego bricks on all the respective
demos (and on the agenda)
Photo: kennymatic via Flickr

10. CAD vs. GIS
CAD GIS
Layers/Levels Complex data structure
No or limited user attributes User attributes
Visual attributes Limited or no visual attributes
Annotations
Coordinate Systems
Photo: mac_filko via Flickr

12. CAD to GIS: Parcels and Blocks: source data
Problems:
● Parcel/block boundaries Parcel/block polygons
● Parcel/block numbers as text features Parcel/block numbers as user attributes

14. CAD to GIS: Parcels and Blocks: workspace

15. CAD to GIS: Parcels and Blocks: output

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17. Photo: pasukaru76 via Flickr

18. Photo: DidWee via Flickr

19. Photo: DidWee via Flickr

20. CAD to GIS: Topo Map: source data
Problems:
Elevation points:
● 2D
● circles
● elevation as text not linked to
the point
Elevation lines:
● gaps
● elevation as text not linked to
the line
Other features:
● all on the same level
● cell names and linestyle
names for classification
● need to meet spec
requirements (e.g. coded
domain)

21. CAD to GIS: Topo Map: elevation points
Elevation points:
● 2D
● circles
● elevation as text not linked to
the point

22. CAD to GIS: Topo Map: elevation lines
Elevation lines:
● gaps
● elevation as text not linked to
the line

23. CAD to GIS: Topo Map: feature classification
Other features:
● all on the same level
● cell names and linestyle
names for classification
● need to meet spec
requirements (e.g. coded
domain)

25. DEMO 4
Source Data
Problem = Representing GIS data in CAD
Data in ArcMap

26. DEMO 4
The process in reverse: GIS to CAD
Converting a Shape dataset of parks to MicroStation
Solution: Uses cells, tags, and text
Maybe a picture of a lego dog?

27. Demo 5
Source Data
A blend of MicroStation and Lidar datasets

28. Demo 5
3D Buildings
A blend of MicroStation and Lidar datasets
Solution: Overlaying building footprints on lidar
and extruding data. Writing to many formats
Maybe a picture of a lego
skyscraper?

29. Photo: avrene via Flickr