Importing Surface Data

00:03

When you begin working in info

00:05

drainage importing background surface information is

00:08

not required but it does provide a good starting point for your project

00:13

to import existing surface data. You could use the import tab on the ribbon

00:17

but you can also do it from the tree view.

00:20

In the tree view, right click surface and select load surface

00:26

in the surface data dialog box

00:28

from the create surface panel,

00:30

choose which data type you want to import.

00:33

There are a variety of choices including spreadsheet files, cad files,

00:38

X Y Z coordinate files, land xmL files and A S. C. Or P W. F. Files.

00:45

You may even see other file types here

00:47

depending on your local standards and location.

00:50

Essentially all of these file types provide East ng northern and level

00:55

or elevation point data that creates a surface that you can work from

01:01

for this exercise, click the load from option,

01:04

then browse to the info drainage data files which have the file extension dot I D S X.

01:10

Select the file surface one dot I d S X. And then click open

01:15

this,

01:15

simply loads the data because it is

01:17

already formatted correctly rather than importing it,

01:20

which requires a file conversion process during the import

01:24

back in the surface data dialog you can see that

01:27

the points have been loaded under the elevation points columns

01:32

at this point it is good practice to save the surface

01:36

from the toolbar click save as

01:38

and then browse to the save work here folder and open it

01:42

name the file such as imported surface for this exercise and then click save

01:49

back in the surface data dialog, click OK

01:54

now that the surfaces in the info drainage format,

01:56

you can see it listed in the tree view

01:60

from the tree view, click the surface box to see the surface in the plan view.

02:05

If you cannot see it, you may have to zoom and pan the view until you can see it.

02:10

Or in the tool box, click view extents

02:14

Keep in mind that your view of the surface may not look exactly like

02:17

it does in this example because the default view settings can be changed.

Video transcript

00:03

When you begin working in info

00:05

drainage importing background surface information is

00:08

not required but it does provide a good starting point for your project

00:13

to import existing surface data. You could use the import tab on the ribbon

00:17

but you can also do it from the tree view.

00:20

In the tree view, right click surface and select load surface

00:26

in the surface data dialog box

00:28

from the create surface panel,

00:30

choose which data type you want to import.

00:33

There are a variety of choices including spreadsheet files, cad files,

00:38

X Y Z coordinate files, land xmL files and A S. C. Or P W. F. Files.

00:45

You may even see other file types here

00:47

depending on your local standards and location.

00:50

Essentially all of these file types provide East ng northern and level

00:55

or elevation point data that creates a surface that you can work from

01:01

for this exercise, click the load from option,

01:04

then browse to the info drainage data files which have the file extension dot I D S X.

01:10

Select the file surface one dot I d S X. And then click open

01:15

this,

01:15

simply loads the data because it is

01:17

already formatted correctly rather than importing it,

01:20

which requires a file conversion process during the import

01:24

back in the surface data dialog you can see that

01:27

the points have been loaded under the elevation points columns

01:32

at this point it is good practice to save the surface

01:36

from the toolbar click save as

01:38

and then browse to the save work here folder and open it

01:42

name the file such as imported surface for this exercise and then click save

01:49

back in the surface data dialog, click OK

01:54

now that the surfaces in the info drainage format,

01:56

you can see it listed in the tree view

01:60

from the tree view, click the surface box to see the surface in the plan view.

02:05

If you cannot see it, you may have to zoom and pan the view until you can see it.

02:10

Or in the tool box, click view extents

02:14

Keep in mind that your view of the surface may not look exactly like

02:17

it does in this example because the default view settings can be changed.

Video quiz

What is the difference between loading in an InfoDrainage file, versus importing a CAD or LandXML file?

(Select one)
Select an answer

1/1 questions left unanswered

Step-by-step Guide

When working in InfoDrainage, importing background surface information is not required, but it does provide a good starting point for a project.

To import existing surface data:

  1. On the ribbon, Import tab, Background Data panel, click Surface Data.

A closeup of the InfoDrainage ribbon, Background Data panel with Surface Data called out.

  1. OR, from the Tree View, right-click the Surface node and select Load Surface.

The Tree View with Load Surface shortcut menu displayed.

  1. In the Surface Data dialog box, from the Create surface panel, you can choose which data type you want to import.

There are a variety of choices, including spreadsheet files, CAD files, XYZ coordinate files, LandXML files, and ASC or PWF files. You may even see other file types here, depending on your local standards and location. Essentially, all of these file types provide Easting, Northing, and Level (or Elevation) point data that creates a surface that you can work from.

  1. Click CAD.

The Surface Data dialog box with the CAD import command called out.

  1. In the Load CAD Wizard, on the Select Source page, click Select.
  2. Browse to InfoDrainage > data files and select Surface1.dxf.
  3. Click Open.
  4. Back in the Load CAD Wizard, click Next.

On the Select Layer page, the preview of the surface appears, and the table shows two layers included in the file.

The Load CAD Wizard, Select Layer page, showing the preview of the model and the number of layers in the Surface Data Layers table.

 

  1. Click Finish.

Back in the Surface Data dialog, you can see that the points have been loaded under the Elevation Points columns.

The Surface Data dialog box with the Level Points now showing in the table after the surface has been imported.

  1. Save the surface. From the toolbar, click Save As.
  2. In the Save dialog box, browse to the Save work here folder.
  3. Name the file, such as “imported surface” for this exercise.
  4. Click Save.
  5. Back in the Surface Data dialog box, click OK.
  6. Now that the surface is in the InfoDrainage format, you can see it listed in the Tree View.

The Tree View with the new Surface highlighted

  1. Click the Surface checkbox to see the surface in the Plan View.

The Plan View, showing the new surface.

IMPORTANT: Your view of the surface may not look exactly like it does in this example because the default view settings can be changed.

  1. If you cannot see it, you may have to zoom and pan the view until you can see it, or, in the Toolbox, click View Extents.

The Toolbox with the View Extents command called out.

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