A Guide To Autodesk Infrastructure Data Sources

Data Sources

Many projects require some form of Digital Data, whether that be background maps, tree locations, Local Authority assets or environmental data. There are many sources for the Data that can be used in the various Autodesk products.

AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil 3D and Infraworks all have geospatial engines that can import and export geospatial data. In addition to this they also have FDO (Feature Data Objects), an open source project that can read huge amounts of data many formats. In the case of Map 3D and Civil 3D they can also write to these formats.

The library of formats that they can read can be expanded to include additional data formats that are not included in the standard installation. For example, MapInfo .tab files. For more information speak to your Graitec account manager or alternatively the open source project can be found at the OSGeo website.

Infraworks Model Builder

Roads, Buildings and coverage areas are from OpenStreetMap (OSM). This can also be downloaded directly from the website for use in other software (or indeed Infraworks for use offline). It uses a format the Autodesk products can’t read (.osm) natively so some conversation will be needed.

The Data format is vector 2D polygons, Lines and Points. Infraworks downloads Lines for Roads, and polygons for Buildings and coverage areas such as recreational parks.