Import DAT Command

Description:

In South Africa surveyors often provide designers with surface data in a .dat format.

Location on Compact Ribbon:

Location on Extended Ribbon:

Instructions:

• 1. Run the command.
  2. Browse for the .dat file:

Data from .dat file imported into Civil 3D as 3D lines.

• 1. Create a new surface in Civil 3D
• 1. In the Prospector, go to the surface Definition, right-click on Drawing objects and select Add:
• 1. For the object type select Lines and tick the check box Maintain edges from objects:
• 1. Click OK and select all the 3D lines imported from the .dat file.

The created surface might have a boundary which extends beyond the original objects:

• 1. To fix the surface boundary, switch off the surface (set the surface style to _No Display):
• 1. Use the Linework Shrinkwrap Command, and select all objects:

This command creates a polyline around all the selected objects:

• 1. Use this polyline as a surface outer boundary. Go to the Prospector – Surfaces – Surface Name – Definition, right-click on Boundaries and select Add from the menu:
• 1. As a type select Outer, tick the None-destructive breakline option, click OK and select the polyline:
• 1. Display the surface boundary or triangles to check if the boundary is correct: