SHP and .dgn not importing at the same location

[thinkdesign_liesl]

Hello,

I am using “mapimport” command to bring in contours as shp files. They are NOT 3D, but I have the elevation annotations as a .dgn file. I use the "import" command to bring in the .dgn text. The problem is that these two sets of information come in at different locations. (They are about 230 000 metres apart)

I would think that both these should come in at the same location since they come from the same source.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks


AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011

[BlackBox]

I am using “mapimport” command to bring in contours as shp files. They are NOT 3D, but I have the elevation annotations as a .dgn file. I use the "import" command to bring in the .dgn text. The problem is that these two sets of information come in at different locations. (They are about 230 000 metres apart)

I would think that both these should come in at the same location since they come from the same source.


The mapimport dialog has the option for you to select which coordinate system to import the GIS Shape file (see attached image).

Who sent you the files?

Perhaps you might inquire as to which coordinate system they were using, if different from the SHP file.

Hope this helps!

[thinkdesign_liesl]

The mapimport dialog has the option for you to select which coordinate system to import the GIS Shape file (see attached image).

Who sent you the files?

Perhaps you might inquire as to which coordinate system they were using, if different from the SHP file.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the response. This is the information sent with the files:

UTMZ12Nad83

Coordinate system type: Projection
Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator
Zone: 12 Northern
Longitude Of Origin: -111:00:00.000 (d:m:s)
Latitude Of Origing: 0:00:00.000 (d:m:s)
False X: 500000.00 m
False Y: 0.00 m
Scale Reduction 0.9996

Geodetic Datum: North American 1983
Reference Ellipsoid: GRS80

Horizontal storage unit: 1 m
Vertical storage unit: 1 m
Storage center:
X: 0.00 m
Y: 0.00 m
Height: 0.00 m

How do I set up my drawing to have the proper coordinate system? I thought having the units set is all I need. Sorry for the stupid questions - I am fairly new to Civil 3D.

[Jmurphy]

More likey the dgn doesn't have a coordinate system assigned to it. If you open the DGN with the attach command or import it does it have objects close to 0,0 or out in space somewhere?

[thinkdesign_liesl]

More likey the dgn doesn't have a coordinate system assigned to it. If you open the DGN with the attach command or import it does it have objects close to 0,0 or out in space somewhere?

Thanks for the reply.

It's actually out in space somewhere, not too far from where the shp contours come in. (230 000 metres)

[Jmurphy]

Sounds like the dgn is in a different coordinate system than the shp file is. When you import the shp file does it display a coodinate system in the dialog?(input Coordinate System) And if so does it show as NAD83-12?

[thinkdesign_liesl]

Sounds like the dgn is in a different coordinate system than the shp file is. When you import the shp file does it display a coodinate system in the dialog?(input Coordinate System) And if so does it show as NAD83-12?

No, it has no coordinate system. I chose the same one that the shp files are supposedly in but still no luck.

[Jmurphy]

When you import the shp file are you creating the object data for it from the shp attributes? Even if its 2D if the elevation data is with it you can create a surface from it. Have you tried creating a surface from GIS data in Civil3D? That may allow you to do away with the dgn file.

[thinkdesign_liesl]

When you import the shp file are you creating the object data for it from the shp attributes? Even if its 2D if the elevation data is with it you can create a surface from it. Have you tried creating a surface from GIS data in Civil3D? That may allow you to do away with the dgn file.

This sounds great - how do I do this? The contours have no z value ... are you saying that I can extract this information from these .shp files? They sent me four shp files: bf_contour_arc.shp, bf_contour_index_arc.shp, bf_contour_index_elev_anno.shp, and bf_contour_spt_height_anno.shp. (I realize these are just names but perhaps this will be a clue for you.) I am importing these using map import out of the tool-based geospatial workspace.

As an aside, I have tried bringing my Microstation .dgn file into its 10TM coordinate system and converting it to the NAD83 UTM coordinate system, then bringing it into the file with the shp file contours but I am obviously doing something wrong.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

[Jmurphy]

Either the bf_contour_arc.shp or the bf_contour_index_arc.shp should have an attribute field with the elevation of the contour lines. In Civil3D 2011 you can create a surface form those, just select the field that contains the elevation value in the shp file. You do have the dbf and shx files that do with the shp files right?

[thinkdesign_liesl]

Either the bf_contour_arc.shp or the bf_contour_index_arc.shp should have an attribute field with the elevation of the contour lines. In Civil3D 2011 you can create a surface form those, just select the field that contains the elevation value in the shp file. You do have the dbf and shx files that do with the shp files right?

Ah! Yes, I do! I will go and try this and let you know how I fare. Thanks again. :-)

[thinkdesign_liesl]

Either the bf_contour_arc.shp or the bf_contour_index_arc.shp should have an attribute field with the elevation of the contour lines. In Civil3D 2011 you can create a surface form those, just select the field that contains the elevation value in the shp file. You do have the dbf and shx files that do with the shp files right?

OK, so I used the .shp file with elevation values. Under "surface styles" I now have several styles, I am assuming that they created ... "contours 2m and 10m", "contours 5m and 25m" etc, and their settings correspond with the style name. i.e., 2m and 10m contours has contour intervals set to 2m and 5m, etc. HOWEVER, even though those layers are on in the the display tab, none of the contours show up. I purchased these files from a local geomatics place and they specifically state that their shp files do not have elevation annotations, hence the .dgn file that you have to import, which has only annotations and is in a different coordinate system. WTF?

I could only upload shp and shx files, not dbf and idx. I also attached the notes that came with the downloads. If this is to much trouble don't worry - I was hoping for a quick answer.

Thanks very much for the help so far.
Liesl

[Jmurphy]

Can you zip the files into one zip file and upload them? The shp files with "anno" will more than likely be just a point type and no contours, the file named bf_contour_arc.shp may have the ployline type of data.

[Jmurphy]

Ok I went to the AltaLIS site and if you only have the same as the samples then you are working with "my opinion" dumb files. I do not see any elevation data in those files at all. The only elevation files are the DEM files (http://www.altalis.com/prod_ter_dem.html) and then with the xxx_gnp.shp files. That file is a point type with X,Y and Z data that I used to create a raster surface from im MAP3D 2011. So I would ask about getting those files and sent the others back.

[thinkdesign_liesl]

Can you zip the files into one zip file and upload them? The shp files with "anno" will more than likely be just a point type and no contours, the file named bf_contour_arc.shp may have the ployline type of data.

Here is the entire folder they sent me.

You are probably right that they are "dumb" files ... that's why I paid only $25 for them. It's $100 to get the full meal deal.

I really appreciate your help.

[Jmurphy]

The only shp that even has any type of an elevation is the two anno shp files, those have a text field that looks like the elevation but with out a lot of manual work there's no easy way to get that value assigned/attached to the contour files. I didn't see a command key field between the two to join them together and using a buffer and overlay would work on some of them but a few of the anno lines run over two or more contour lines. The time it would take to fix it all is worth more than the cost of getting another set of files with the data, the DEM files.

[thinkdesign_liesl]

The only shp that even has any type of an elevation is the two anno shp files, those have a text field that looks like the elevation but with out a lot of manual work there's no easy way to get that value assigned/attached to the contour files. I didn't see a command key field between the two to join them together and using a buffer and overlay would work on some of them but a few of the anno lines run over two or more contour lines. The time it would take to fix it all is worth more than the cost of getting another set of files with the data, the DEM files.

Yep - I think paying $100 for the complete file is a lot cheaper than all this monkeying around. Thanks again for your time.

Liesl