Converting between CAD and GIS is a common requirement for projects involving infrastructure, buildings, city plans, and more. Unfortunately, the workflow presents many challenges, like translating geometry, attributes, annotations, symbology, geolocation, and other elements. So how do you allow data to flow freely between these disparate data types, without losing the precision offered by CAD and the spatial context offered by GIS? This webinar will explore the power of automated data integration workflows for CAD and GIS. First, we’ll discuss challenges and scenarios for CAD-to-GIS translations, and demo how to use FME to power a digital plan submission portal that validates CAD data and integrates it into the central GIS repository. Next, we’ll discuss challenges and scenarios for GIS-to-CAD conversions, and demo how to build an automated FME workflow for requesting CAD data from GIS. At the end of the webinar, you'll know how to achieve harmony between CAD & GIS by automating its integration.

1. Bridging Between CAD & GIS:
8 Ways to Automate Data
Integration

2. Meet the Presenters
Dale Lutz Jovita Chan

3. Agenda for today:
● Migrating CAD drawings to GIS
○ Challenges (complex geometry, annotations)
○ Real-world solutions
○ Demo: Digital plan submission workflow
● Sharing GIS data with CAD users
○ Challenges (coordinate systems)
○ Real-world solutions
○ Demo: Requesting CAD data from GIS workflow
● Q&A

4. Our Mission
To help you maximize
the value of data.

5. FME®
Integration Platform
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FME Desktop FME Server FME Cloud
Build & Run Data Workflows Automate Data Workflows
(on-premises)
Automate Data Workflows
(hosted FME Server)
Mobile Apps
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Wherever You Are
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6. CAD vs. GIS:
Different Perspectives
CAD users have a drawing
perspective:
● Layers & levels
● Styles & Symbology
● Dimensions & Labels

7. CAD vs. GIS:
Different Perspectives
GIS users have a feature perspective:
● Attributes and geometry
● Data structure, model
● Relational tables, domains
● Location (including Coordinate
System)
● Connectivity and proximity
● Analysis

8. Scenario 1: Building Areas
Part 1:
Migrating CAD Drawings to GIS

9. Scenario 1: Building Areas for GIS
The Task
Convert
Microstation drawn
Forest Cover maps
to be used in GIS
analysis
The Problem
Forest Cover maps
store boundary
lines and interior
points to represent
areas. GIS wants
areas with
attributes.
The Solution
Use FME’s
AreaBuilder and
PointOnArea
Overlayer to create
the areas with
correct attributes
The Result
GIS ready data
from a process
easily automated
and able to run
over thousands of
input files.

11. Input

12. Solution

13. Recap: Building Areas for GIS
The Task
Build areas from
CAD linework
Tips for Success
● Discover the names FME assigns to CAD
properties to filter/route data
○ Feature Information Window
○ Feature Type -> Format Attributes
○ Tester
● Use Geometric operations to convert
representation to information
○ AreaBuilder
○ PointOnAreaOverlay
The Solution
Use FME’s
transformation
capabilities to
quickly convert
CAD lines and
points into GIS
ready data

14. Scenario 2: Transforming from CAD to GeoJSON
Migrating CAD Drawings to GIS

15. Transforming from CAD to GeoJSON
The Task
Create a GeoJSON File
containing geometries
and text from original
CAD files.
The Problem
DWG file has rooms
drawn as closed
polylines, all in 1 layer.
Within each polyline,
there are 2 text labels
on different layers.
The Solution
Extract CAD properties
into unique attributes
and combine multiple
entities into one.
The Result
Data where it needs to
be! The rooms are
transformed to
geometries and text
labels are properties of
the geometries.
Scenario 2

16. Thanks to our community
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17. Input:
Township of Langley Open Data

18. Solution

19. Recap: Transforming from CAD to GeoJSON
The Task
Produce a single
GeoJSON file.
Tips for Success
● Extract CAD properties into unique
attributes with
TextPropertyExtractor
● Use PointOnAreaOverlay to
combine multiple entities into one
● Use Tester to do sanity checks
The Solution
Extract CAD
properties into
unique attributes
and combine
multiple entities
into one.

20. Can’t Remember 400+
Transformers?
Find your perfect transformer
safe.com/transformers
You don’t need to!
Use the FME Transformer Gallery.
● Filter by category
● Quick Add aliases (verb + ‘er’)
● Access it in Workbench
(View > Windows > Transformer Gallery)

21. Scenario 3: Moving From Labels To Attributes with Proximity
Migrating CAD Drawings to GIS

22. Scenario 3: Moving From Labels To
Attributes with Proximity
The Task
Transfer label
information to nearby
lines.
The Problem
Containment is not an
option.
The Solution
Proximity matching
with the
NeighbourFinder.
The Result
Label information is
transferred to nearby
lines.

23. Input:

24. Solution

25. Recap: Moving From Labels To Attributes with
Proximity
The Task
Transfer label
information to
nearby lines.
Tips for Success
● Use NeighborFinder to do
proximity matching
● Automate QA using Tester
○ Humans may need to do final
QA
● Consider LineCombiner to join
short lines into longer ones
○ Pseudo-node removal
The Solution
Proximity
matching.

26. Scenario 4: Battling Schema Drift
Migrating CAD Drawings to GIS

27. What is Schema Drift?
Solve more schema drift:
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A change in the source or
target data definition.
Usually accompanied by
frustration and time loss.
“They’ve added yet another column
to my excel spreadsheet – this
schema drift has got to stop!”

28. Schema Drift Example 1:
No naming specification followed
Road, Street, Roads, Streets, StreetLines, ...

29. Overcoming Schema Drift
Example 1: No naming specification followed
The Task
Migrate CAD linework to
a new CAD standard for
use in both CAD and
GIS.
The Problem
No specification was
followed (or it changed)
and the input layers
have a wide range of
names
The Solution
Scan for the complete
set of names and make
a mapping to the
desired CAD/GIS
naming. Apply the
mapping on translation.
The Result
A flexible input process
created with a
minimum of manual
effort and a cleaned up
CAD file ready for
sharing or GIS import!

36. Recap: Moving to a Naming Specification
The Task
Modify CAD data to
conform to a naming
convention for layers
Tips for Success
● Use DuplicateFilter to find unique
layer names
● Track the layer mapping in
spreadsheet
● Apply the layer mapping using a
DatabaseJoiner
● Use Feature Type Fanout to route
data to the new, correct layers
The Solution
Extract existing names,
create a mapping
spreadsheet, apply to
create conformant CAD
files

37. Schema Drift Example 2:
Decode Attribute-rich Layer Names
Layer Name: xxxYYYYMMDDzz
xxx = 3 character code for road type
YYYYMMDD = 8 digits for date of last update
zz = 2 characters to represent collection method

38. Overcoming Schema Drift
Example 2: Decode Attribute-rich Layer Names
The Task
Extract attributes
encoded in CAD layer
names for use in GIS
The Problem
A comprehensive
specification embedded
attributes in parts of the
layer’s name, making it
very hard to understand
or otherwise use the
data.
The Solution
Split attributes to pick
out the parts, then
apply lookups to
decode to useful values.
The Result
Understandable,
GIS-ready dataset.

42. Recap: Decode Attribute-rich Layer Names
The Task
Extract attributes
encoded in CAD layer
names for use in GIS
Tips for Success
● AttributeSplitter to break apart the
layer name
● Expose the resulting list elements
result{}->result{0},result{1}...
● Decode the parts using a
DatabaseJoiner or
AttributeValueMapper
● Route to an attribute-rich GIS dataset
The Solution
Split layer names into
parts, apply lookups to
create understandable
attribute values

43. Scenario 5: Digital Plan Submission
Migrating CAD Drawings to GIS

44. CUSTOMER STORY
“We chose FME for this project because
the interface is easy to use and allows
us to provide an adaptable solution to
enhance interaction with the City’s
partners”
- Erika Provost, City of Henderson
PROJECT
Digital Plan Submission Project
SOLUTION
FME provides self-serve CAD data
upload, validation, and integration
into GIS
RESULTS
● Reduced data integration time by
75%
● Eliminated the risk of manual error
● Removed duplicate work
● Faster processing of submissions
● Ensured CAD data validation
City of
Henderson

45. Scenario 5: Digital Plan Submission
The Task
Create a digital plan
submission to
automatically check
and upload CAD
drawings to ArcGIS
Online.
The Problem
It takes time and
manual effort to
process development
plans (clean up
geometry, and extract
data), to combine into
GIS data.
The Solution
Use FME to validate CAD
submissions before
automatically
uploading to ArcGIS
Online.
The Result
Submissions that meet
requirements are
uploaded to ArcGIS
Online, and ones that
don’t are sent back for
fixing.

46. Input: DWG Parcels

47. Demo CAD Standards:
● Attribution:
○ Layer schema (specific layer
naming)
○ Parcels contain ID
○ Roads have names
● Geometry
○ Layers contain specific geometry
(ex. roads are lines)
○ Parcels are polygons
○ Blocks are points

48. Next stop...
Enable event-driven automations
using a web user interface.
FME Server

49. Results in ArcGIS Online:
Parcels Layer
Roads Layer

50. Recap: Digital Submission Plan
The Task
Create a digital plan
submission from DWG
to AGOL.
Tips for Success
The Solution
Use FME to check
CAD submissions
for criteria before
automatically
uploading to
ArcGIS Online.
● Preserve labels and attribution from text, blocks or dimensions
● Interpret layers, styles or symbols as attributes
● Improve geometry:
○ Creating connectivity
■ Snapper
■ Intersector
○ Forming areas from lines
■ AreaBuilder
● Combine geometry and attributes using proximity
○ PointOnAreaOverlay
○ NeighborFinder

51. Part 2:
Sharing GIS data with CAD users

52. GIS to CAD Challenges
● Creating visually appealing
CAD drawings
● Represent GIS intelligence
● Use expected symbology

53. Sharing GIS data with CAD users
Scenario 6: Applying Styling

54. Scenario 6: Applying Styling
The Task
Produce output
conforming to the CAD
styling specification of
the engineering
department.
The Problem
GIS data doesn’t have
explicit styling
information, but a CAD
styling specification is
available.
The Solution
Use the DWGStyler or
DGNStyler to prepare
data for output to CAD.
Store styling
information in a
spreadsheet and apply
it during translation.
The Result
Happy CAD technicians
and an effortless flow of
data between
departments and
disciplines.

55. Input:
Source: City of Gävle Open Data

56. Solution:

57. Output:

58. Recap: Applying Styling
The Task
Produce output
conforming to the CAD
styling specification of
the engineering
department.
Tips for Success
● Hold styling specifications external
to the FME Workspace
● Use a Template CAD file to provide
symbol and layer definitions
● Apply using a DatabaseJoiner
● Use DWGStyler to set
appropropriate styling format
attributes
The Solution
Store styling
information in a
spreadsheet and apply
it during translation.

59. Sharing GIS data with CAD users
Scenario 7: Self Serve Data Requests

60. CUSTOMER STORY
Project
Automated “One Call” system
Solution
FME automatically extracts information
from GIS and asset management systems
to fulfill underground information
packages.
Results
● Reduced package turnaround time
from 3 days to 3 minutes.
● Re-allocated dedicated staff resource
to other high-value services.
● Removed the risk of manual errors.
City of Burnaby
“Because of FME we were able to process
tickets 24/7 - anytime, anywhere.”
Herman Louie, City of Burnaby

61. Self Serve Data Request
The Task
Deliver data and assets
around the office to the
departments that need it,
whenever they need it.
The Problem
The only way to access
data is by talking with
the stakeholders. This
leaves employees
waiting for responses
and wasting time.
The Solution
Build a self-serve data
portal using FME.
The Result
Improved collaboration
as users can serve
themselves accurate
data whenever they
want to.

62. Solution
Using the Geometry Picker in FME Server

63. Template DWG

64. Recap: Self Serve Data Request
The Task
Deliver data and assets
around the office to the
departments.
Tips for Success
The Solution
Build a self-serve
data portal using
FME
● Use styler transformers to easily set format attributes
○ DWGStyler
○ DGNStyler
● Use labeller transformers to generate labels
○ LabelPointReplacer
○ Labeller
○ MapTextLabeller (extra cost)

65. Achieve harmony between CAD & GIS
by automating its integration.

66. Tutorials in the FME Community
● GIS to CAD: Convert Parcel
Polygons and Lines from
Geodatabase to DGN
● How to Convert DGN to Shapefile
(CAD Levels to GIS Attributes)
● Getting Started with AutoCAD
● Using the Geometry Picker in
FME Server

67. Thank you!
Try FME for free:
safe.com/trial
Please type in your questions.