GIS and CAD Integration: The Bentley Perspective

GIS and CAD Integration
Dave Shearon, P. Eng
Bentley Canada

Agenda
The problem
Bentley’s solution
2 customers examples
Demo

The Great Divide
CAD Department
GIS Department

Why use CAD?
Accurate Drafting Graphical Information
Quick easy to use modeling tools
Design standards
Visualisation / Presentation
2D / 3D model information
Accurate printed documents

Why use GIS?
Capturing of Graphical and Attribute Information
Analysis of Graphical / Meta Data
Simple data review
Spatial analysis
Visualisation / Presentation
2D / 3D model information
Accurate printed documents

Data, Data, Data
Common to GIS and CAD is Digital Data
SHP
TAB
MIF
GML
NTF
DGN ?
DWG ?
DGN
DWG
DXF
ACIS
IGES
CAD
GIS

CAD Files
Complex Geometry (often 3D):
Cell, Line, LineString, GroupData, Shape, TextNode, Curve, ComplexString, Conic, ComplexShape, Ellipse, Arc, Text, Surface, Solid, BsplinePole, PointString, Cone, BsplineSurface, BsplineBoundary, BsplineKnot, BsplineCurve, BsplineWeight, Dimension, SharedCell, MultiLine, Tag, MatrixHeader, MatrixIntegerData, MatrixDoubleData, MeshHeader………..
(All in one file)

GIS Files
Geometry Type (often 2D):Lines, Multi lines, Multi line string, Points, Multi point, Polygon, Multi polygons, Surfaces.
(in individual files)

Exchanging Data
From CAD to GIS
Engineering data
New road, utility alignments, property developments
Survey Data
From GIS to CAD
Mapping Information
Existing property, soils, wetlands, contours, road centerlines

Translate if necessary, but not necessarily translation.
Direct access
CAD
GIS

Bentley’s Approach
Add tools to consume GIS features
Coordinate systems
Attribute data
Tools to read the various formats
(SHP, MID/MIF, ODBC, TAB, WMS, Oracle Spatial)
3D support (set elevation)
Users can now import or reference GIS data directly with on-the-fly coordinate conversion and full access to attribute data

Export to GIS
Export
CAD
GIS

Bentley’s Approach
Add tools to specifically define GIS feature types within the CAD model
Point, line and polygon types as well as collections.
Attribute data
Tools to export the various formats including attributes and coordinate systems
Users can now export CAD data directly.
Basic CAD features or well defined GIS features

Improving CAD-GIS Interoperability
- Transfer only required data
- segregate features destined for GIS on separate level
- make sure only one feature type is on a GIS level
- set a high stroking tolerance that achieves a good result
- if using property data, maintain simple property types

Other tools
Automatic feature recognition
Treats CAD elements as GIS features
Apply symbology based on attributes
Application integration
Tools make GIS data available for civil, building, infrastructure applications
Server level
Integrate directly with Oracle Spatial and ESRI Geodatabase
Publish data as WMS and WFS
Index and manage files spatially

HNTB
Multidisciplinary engineering firm based in Kansas City
Use primarily geocoordination and interoperability tools to support MicroStation projects
Set GCS (geographic coordinate system) for designs
Import or reference SHP data
16

Benefits - HNTB
Define GCS
simplifies output to Google Earth for visualization
Simplifies working with GIS data which invariably has a defined GCS
Interoperability
No need to go to GIS group to import SHP and create DGN
Work in design environment with minimal training
Add on features
Thematic mapping, overlays, buffers
17

Port of Long Beach
Second busiest port in the United States, moving $100 billion annually
Manages all infrastructure for the port
Water, storm water, sewer and lease areas stored in ESRI geodatabase but maintained by Bentley Map using Connector for ArcGIS
Some layers still maintained in DGN
Regular extract from geodatabase to produce up-to-date base map for engineering
18

Benefits – Port of Long Beach
Bentley Map the preferred tool for maintenance
Maintenance tools and base maps all match defined CAD standards
Improved workflow
Similar tools for design and engineering
Can reference as-built drawings in maintenance process
Interoperability with SHP and AutoCAD
Bentley Map part of an enterprise system including ESRI Geodatabase and Geospatial Server.
19

Demonstrations
Import SHP
Bring in GIS data to solve a problem in CAD

Conclusion
GIS and CAD integration does not have to be seen as an impossible task. Through the use of standards and data management, information can travel freely between the two diciplines. This eventually leads to tremendous savings in both software and more importantly time.

Questions/Powerpoint
david.shearon@bentley.com