Integrated CAD and GIS

By David Crowther

Being a ‘Geographer in a CAD World!’ my mission is to better integrate CAD and GIS. In support of this work I recently created a four part video series outlining the software I use and the processes that you can implement to generate a more ‘integrated mapping’ approach.

In video one, we explore a number of Open Source Geospatial tools which allow you to centralise your basemap library, making them available in an interoperable format that both CAD and GIS teams can access, ultimately reducing expensive re-processing tasks for the same data.

AutoCAD Map3D, accessing OS Zoomstack basemapping as a Web Map Service from GeoServer

In video two, we utilise our Open Source Geospatial resources to allow our AutoCAD Map3D and Civils users to access and edit shared geospatial assets from a PostGIS GeoStore. This is a game changer as there is no need to translate datasets from CAD to GIS and back to CAD. The geospatial assets are shared, so CAD users can use the same complex CAD drafting tools to manage assets that are ultimately shared live across the project team.

AutoCAD Civils, accessing OS MasterMap as a Web Map Service and editing Planning Applications via PostGIS

In video three, we build a 3D InfraWorks Model accessing our centralised assets from our PostGIS database. This means that all project stakeholders, from the Architect through to Field Engineers, are seeing the latest asset and environmental constraints within the 3D Model, as it is automatically updated as the centralised datasets are edited by our CAD and GIS teams.

Autodesk InfraWorks, centralising the project teams asset and environmental constraints using a PostGIS Database Connection

In video four, we utilise CAD, GIS and Field applications (such as a webGIS) to access our centralised PostGIS database, updating those assets and creating just One Single Source of Truth.

Cadline's webGIS – MapThat – allowing Field Engineers to manage assets in real time

So why not migrate your shared geospatial datasets into a centralised spatial database and ensure that all project staff have access to the most up to date information, so that you can be confident in the decisions you make.

Below is a link to the full video playlist outlining how you can implement a shared project environment.