Importing surface data

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.

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

3. 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.

4. Click CAD.

5. In the Load CAD Wizard, on the Select Source page, click Select.
6. Browse to InfoDrainage > data files and select Surface1.dxf.
7. Click Open.
8. 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.

9. Click Finish.

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

10. Save the surface. From the toolbar, click Save As.
11. In the Save dialog box, browse to the Save work here folder.
12. Name the file, such as “imported surface” for this exercise.
13. Click Save.
14. Back in the Surface Data dialog box, click OK.
15. Now that the surface is in the InfoDrainage format, you can see it listed in the Tree View.

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

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

17. 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.