Import elevations from an AutoCAD file

  1. Open a job in the Manage Earthwork Estimates screen.
  2. Select the Takeoff tab, if it is not already active.
  3. In the Active Layer field on the toolbar, select the layer to which you want to import the AutoCAD file.
    This step is not necessary because you can choose the layer within the import window. By choosing the layer first, it will default to that setting in the import window itself.
    Note: You cannot import into a substrata layer.

    Data imported from an AutoCAD file will not overwrite any existing data in the selected layer, but will be added to the existing data. Therefore, if your project contains existing data in the selected active layer and this existing data is not expressed in world coordinates, you must first select Set Orientation from the Takeoff menu before importing the data.

    For more information on setting orientation, see Add New Paper Plan Using Northing/Easting Screen.

  4. Select Estimating > Earthwork > Import > AutoCAD in the All Tasks pane.
  5. In the CAD File field, select Browse and browse to the AutoCAD file you want to import.
  6. Select the file and select Open.
    Tip: You can resize the AutoCAD import window by selecting any of the window's corners and dragging the mouse in the appropriate direction. Additionally, you can resize the layer list on the right side.
  7. Under Layers, select the layers you want to import or select All to select all layers. As you select the layers you want to import, a preview of the layer appears in the preview window. Select None to deselect all layers, if needed.
  8. In the Layer field, select the layer into which you want to import the layers:
    • Existing
    • Proposed
  9. In the Window field, select the option button for the tab into which you want to import the layers:
    • Takeoff
    • Area
    • Trench: You can only import the Proposed layer into the Trench tab.
  10. In the Importing AutoCAD units as area, the application selects the unit of measure. To change the units, select one of the following option buttons:
    • Feet
    • IN (inches)
    • m (meters)
    • cm (centimeters)
    • mm (millimeters)
  11. To import the layers that are currently selected, select Import.
    Tip: You can move the AutoCAD import window to view and work with the newly imported data in the Earthwork module. Select the title bar at the top of the window and drag it out of your way. You can then use Earthwork as normal. You can return to the AutoCAD import window and continue importing layers and files.
  12. Repeat steps 7 - 11 if there are multiple layers to import.
  13. Repeat steps 5 - 11 if there are multiple files to import.
  14. Once you have completed the import process of all relevant files and layers, select Close.
If the layers didn't import the way you expected, you could set the elevations of items, delete unnecessary items, and join items that should be connected within the Earthwork module. For more information, see Takeoff Tab.