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Terrain Elevation Import Wizard

Applies to: Plus Pro Architect

The Terrain Elevation Import Wizard imports terrain elevation points from CAD files in DWG and DXF format, as well as elevation points in XLS, XLSX, and CSV format. This is useful for importing elevation data from other CAD software or from files generated by GPS survey equipment.

Once the elevation data has been imported, the wizard will automatically create contour lines that can be edited normally.

To import terrain elevations:

  1. Before using the wizard, we recommend you either start with a new design or delete all contour lines and other terrain-modifying objects. This will make it easier to verify the newly imported elevation data.
  2. From the Tools menu, click Terrain Elevation Import Wizard.
  3. Click Next.
  4. Browse to the file you want to import and click Open.
  5. DWG/DXF only: Specify which layers you want to import and click Next. XLS/XLSX/CSV only: Specify which columns contain the XYZ elevation data (where Z is the elevation). The wizard can usually do this automatically, but you can override the default settings if needed. Then click Next.
  6. Select the desired drawing units. You can also enter a scale factor if you want to resize the drawing during import.
  7. Enter the desired Slice Distance (described below) and then click Next.
  8. Click Finish to complete the wizard.

Important: Importing and working with complex terrain may significantly impact performance.

Terrain Import Process

If the terrain includes elevation points, they are converted into contour lines using the steps below. For terrain with only contour lines, the contours are imported directly.

  1. A high-resolution terrain model is temporarily created from the elevation data.
  2. The terrain is sliced vertically from top to bottom, with the Slice Distance controlling the spacing between slices.
  3. Contour lines are generated at each slice based on the elevations within that layer.
  4. The contour lines are then grouped together, completing the process.

Tips:

  • When importing DWG or DXF files, be sure to first use your CAD software to explode any proxy entities that contain elevation data.
  • If you change the imported file, then you will need to re-run this wizard if you want the changes to appear in Realtime Landscaping Architect.

See also: