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How to use OS MasterMap in AutoCAD

Options

To use OS MasterMap data downloaded from the Digimap MasterMap Download service in AutoCAD (or another application that uses DXF/DWG format data) there are two main options:

• If you have the latest version of AutoCAD (currently AutoCAD Map3D 2008) then there is a ‘built-in’ importer that will convert OS MasterMap to DXF/DWG.

• If you do not have the latest version of AutoCAD, or wish to use the another drawing or design application that uses DXF/DWG formats, then you will need to use a third party product that will convert the OS MasterMap to DXF/DWG.

To load OS MasterMap using the built-in AutoCAD Map3D 2008 Importer

The built-in importer will import OS MasterMap data in either GML or GZ formats so it is not necessary to uncompress the .GZ files obtained from Digimap. It will also import both Topography and ITN Layers, although additional software may be required to carry out network analysis or other work using the ITN data.

There are comprehensive instructions on how to use the AutoCAD OS MasterMap importer on the Autodesk web site. The first step is to click on File --> New and navigate to the Template folder (this should appear by default when the Files of Type --> 'Drawing Template (*.dwt) are selected). There should be a template file called mastermap.dwt. Select this file and the go to File --> Import.

You will need to download the drawing template file from the Autodesk website at:

http://www.autodesk.co.uk/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=452932&id=7986865

The OS MasterMap data imported in AutoCAD should look like the following:

Tips:

The Import menu can be found under the File menu in Map 3D for Geospatial mode and under the Map --> Tools menu in Map Classic mode.

In AutoCAD Map3D 2008 there are 3 'modes' - Map 3D for Geospatial, Map 3D for Drawings and Map Classic. For most purposes Map 3D for Geospatial can be used, however for some features it is necessary to use the Map Classic mode so that you can access the command line. To change mode go to View --> Menu/Toolbar Layout --> and select the desired mode.

To change the text font used by default for the Cartographic Text, the Text Style can be changed in Setup --> More Formatting Options.. --> Text Style... The font used for the 'Standard' style can be changed e.g. to Arial to improve the appearance of the text.

Once you have loaded the data, you must right-click on 'Topographic Layer' in the Display Manager window and select Update so that the data is represented correctly.

Converting OS MasterMap to CAD format for use in AutoCAD or other drawing/design applications

If you do not have the latest version of AutoCAD or have a version that does not contain the OS MasterMap importer, or if you are using another drawing or GIS package that requires the data to be in either DXF or DWG format then you will need to use a third party conversion package.

The software application from Dotted Eyes called InterpOSe for Digimap Edition will convert OS MasterMap data downloaded from the Digimap service into either DXF or DWG formats (among others). Once it has been converted, the data should look like the following in AutoCAD:

Instructions for using InterpOSe

Full instructions on how to use the InterpOSe software are provided when the software is installed. The following are some additional notes:

• Download the software from the Dotted Eyes website. You will need to register first at: http://www.dottedeyes.co.uk/spatial_data_loading/interpose/digimap.php
• To use the InterpOSe software to convert data downloaded from Digimap you will need to uncompress the ZIP file or other archive file but you do not need to uncompress the .GZ data file(s).
• You will need the ‘contents_order_xxxxx.txt’ file that was supplied with the GML data for InterpOSe for Digimap Edition to work.
• You can select either DXF or DWG as the output format, both of which are commonly read by other applications, however you should check with the software you are going to use the data in to determine what format you need.
• You can select which version of AutoCAD the data should be compatible with; again this will be dependent on the software you are going to use the data in.
• You need to select the Drawing Template file (.dwt) to use to import the data into. This is supplied with the InterpOSe software and normally gets installed in the Program Files\Dotted Eyes\InterpOSe Digimap\ folder and is called MasterMap.dwt
• You can convert only a selection of features if you want to by selecting which output tables to include.
• If you want to process ITN data make sure to select’ Load ITN feature…’ on the ITN Processing page.
• Once the data has been converted to DXF/DWG it can be viewed in AutoCAD or other application.
• In AutoCAD, use File --> Open menu to select the DXF or DWG file to open.
• In AutoCAD, the background colour of the display can be changed by going to Setup --> AutoCAD Options and selecting the ‘Colors…’ button in the Window Elements panel. Select 2D model space and then set your preferred colour.
• The data converted using InterpOSe is styled in AutoCAD according to it’s Layer. All the layers can be viewed by clicking on Setup --> AutoCAD Layer. The Layers table will look like the following:
• Dotted Eyes brings in the Area objects as Closed Polylines. To display these as filled areas they need to be converted to polygons using the MAPPOLYLINETOPOLYGON command.

Displaying Vector and Raster Data in AutoCAD

A common task in AutoCAD is to visualize the data you have downloaded either on it's own or in combination with other datasets. AutoCAD also has the ability to make use of 3D Digital Terrain Models (DTM) which can be used to 'drape' or overlay other data on.

• To drape vector data over DTM, first you need to load your DTM. To use a DTM in AutoCAD the DTM needs to be converted into a format it knows about. A full list of known raster formats can be found by clicking on File --> Connect to Data... --> Add Raster Image or Surface Connection, clicking on the File Open button and then listing the Files of Type by clicking on the down arrow.
• Landserf can be used to convert NTF (DTM) Profile or Panorama data files downloaded from Digimap to ESRI ASCII files (.ASC) files that can be read into AutoCAD.
• Once the data has been converted to a raster format that AutoCAD recognizes it can be added to the current map in AutoCAD by using the 'Connect To Data...' command under the File menu.
• Select the 'Add Raster Image or Surface Connection' and select the .ASC file as the Source file and then click on Connect.
• Select the file and click Add to Map. The image should now appear in the window. If it does not then select View --> Extents (note: you may need to press the Esc key first).
• Other vector data can be added to the window either as DXF/DWG files or as other data connections using the Connect to Data menu. The following shows OS MasterMap data overlaid on the DTM:
• Other raster files (such as 1:25,000 or 1:50,000 colour raster) can be added to the display as TIFF files. Use the Connect to Data --> Add Raster Image or Surface Connection to select other image files to add.
• To view the model in 3D click on the 2D/3D View icon. Vector data added using the Connect to Data menu will appear draped over the DTM by default (although the resolution may appear relatively poor). Vector data added as DXF/DWG files will only appear draped over the DTM if the value for Elevation has been set on the features (and is above the level of the DTM). The following shows the 25K raster draped over the DTM in 3D:
• To convert other vector data downloaded from Digimap, such as Profile Contours, to a format that AutoCAD can read then software such NTF2MIF can be used to convert the NTF data to MIF/MID format (the MapInfo format) which can then be imported into AutoCAD using the File --> Import menu.

Plotting in AutoCad

To get simple plots in AutoCAD, the Plot... menu can be used (found under File). It should be noted that if a plot at a specific scale is desired then the Plot Scale should be set. By default the units of the map are 1mm = 0.001 unit. To get a map at scale 1:1000 (1:1_1) then the Scale should be set so that 1mm = 1 unit, to get a scale of 1:2500 the scale should be set so that 1mm = 2.5 units, to get a scale of 1:10000 (1:1_10) a scale of 1mm = 10 units should be set etc.