This will then give the client a very useful tool for existing and future design and maintenance of their facilities.Īrticle collaborator, Justin Comeau, and I created the steps listed below for export from Civil 3D and import into ArcGIS for Desktop.ġ) Export Civil 3D data to SDF format (I will use 2012).Ī) “AeccExportToSDF” (Civil 3D only) is the command or “Output” from the Civil 3D toolbar, then “Export Civil Objects to SDF” in the “Export” box (this may very per Civil 3D versions). Please note that this should be performed at a late stage in the design process. This will be very important to the design team and maintain the database as designed. This will also mean that you will not have to explode the Civil 3D design. It is at this point you will create SHP files with this data for export and then import into the GIS database.įollowing the steps below will allow all data created by the designer to be incorporated into the GIS program. The line work created in the steps below will also maintain the data associated with it. The first portion of the import will create 2D line work which can then be used for import into a CAD or GIS program. The following conversion technique has been tried on different versions of AutoCAD, from 2008 through 2012, but my suggestion is to export and import using the same version as you would ultimately be using. This doesn’t fall within my idea of keeping everything as simple as possible. All of this would then have to be recreated by the person’s using the GIS software.

The problem with this is that all the data created by Civil 3D’s designers is then lost.

One of many solutions I have read about was to explode the Civil 3D objects and then import the line work into the GIS software. The goal is to create data that can be visualized and analyzed in ArcGIS while maintaining the design information in Civil 3D and maintaining a simple and efficient workflow. The created ArcGIS file can then be imported into ArcGIS for Desktop. The process will extract the line work and data from the Civil 3D drawing (DWG file) and create a Shape file (SHP file) that is compatible with ArcGIS. This article describes the required steps to bring Civil 3D data into ArcGIS for Desktop. Back April 11th, 2013 Convert Civil 3D Data to SHP FilesĪs a certified Autodesk® instructor and a manager within the civil engineering industry, I have been asked many times about using AutoCAD® Civil 3D®-created data within ESRI ArcGIS.

Arcgis convert layer to shapefile