Follow the GIS Brick Road—Data Sharing Workflows Between GIS and AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016

Often engineers and designers are asked to provide preliminary designs for roadways, utilities, and infrastructure with minimal existing data. An advantage of using AutoCAD Civil 3D software for preliminary design is its ability to access and use data available through geographic information system (GIS). Before ground survey is available, you can retrieve surface data, political boundaries, roadways, and water feature information directly from GIS and reference it in to AutoCAD Civil 3D software. With the preliminary design complete, move straight into production once the ground survey and other data becomes available by swapping out the GIS data and using the design information generated in AutoCAD Civil 3D software. Complete the "round trip" by exporting design and record data from AutoCAD Civil 3D software back to GIS, making it available for the next project.