Carlson GIS for Surveyors - Professional Land Surveyors of...

Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio 2016 Annual Conference -- Dayton Ohio

Carlson GIS for Surveyors

Presented by

Who Is That CAD Girl?

Jennifer DiBona is a long‐time CAD consultant and trainer doing business as That CAD Girl. She is based in

Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jennifer has a degree in Surveying and spent about 15 years working as an engineering & surveying technician

before leaving to become a Civil 3d Implementation Certified Expert (ICE) for an Autodesk reseller.

Today, as That CAD Girl, she provides sales, support and training for Carlson, AutoCAD and IntelliCAD software

and Carlson hardware and data collection. Jennifer specializes in Field to Finish, Surface Modeling, CAD

standardization and Carlson Software implementation.

Jennifer is one of the charter members of Carlson College, is a member of the Steering Committee for the

National CAD Standard® and serves as Chair of the Survey/Civil Task Team.

Jennifer can be reached at [email protected] or (919) 417‐8351.

Carlson Self‐Study Manuals are available for purchase from my

online store at www.thatcadgirl.com

Overview of Carlson GIS

© 2015 Jennifer L. DiBona. All Rights Reserved tcg_carlsongis_handout.docx, updated 4/26/2015

(919) 417‐8351 [email protected] Page 1 of 20

1 Set GIS Settings

Before creating GIS data in Carlson, you must specify a GIS Features (.gis) file and choose whether to store the GIS data in an external GIS database (.db or .mdb) file or within the Drawing (.dwg) file using Esri Map Specs for CAD (MSC).

For this example, the GIS Features (.gis) file will be a new, empty file and we will be importing shapefile data to a Carlson GIS Database file.

(1‐1) Start a new or open an existing drawing.

(1‐2) Go to GIS Data > GIS Settings

(1‐3) Next to GIS Features File, click the Select button.

(1‐4) Specify a filename and location of the GIS file.

(1‐5) Select the Single File Type Database as the Data Format.

(1‐6) Next to Output Database File, click the Select button.

(1‐7) Click New Access ’97 Format.

(1‐8) Specify a filename and location for the new MDB file.

(1‐9) Click Exit to close the box.




2 Review the GIS Features (.gis) File

A GIS Features (.gis) file can be manually populated with features and associated attributes or can be automatically populated when importing shapefiles.

(2‐1) Go to GIS Data > Define GIS Features

As mentioned above, this example starts with a new, blank GIS file (shown below) and it will be populated from a shapefile we will import.

(2‐2) Close the dialog box without making any changes.




3 Import Shapefile

Importing an Esri shapefile requires a minimum of 3 files: an SHP file (stores linework), a DBF file (stores associated data) and an SHX file (helps connect linework to data). The 3 files must have the same filename and be stored in the same folder.

(3‐1) Go to GIS Data > Import ESRI SHP File.

The MDB file specified in the previous step should be displayed in the To Database File field.




(3‐2) Click the Select button next to From SHP File.

(3‐3) Browse to and select the shapefile to be imported.

The Green River Trails.shp file contains ARC data. The image below shows the options available to assign attribute data to entity properties for this type data.

For this dataset, we are using the attribute “Trail” (which is the name of the trail) to assign the layer for each polyline.

Other types of shapefile data (point or polygon) will make other options available during the import process.

As an example, if a shapefile you’re importing contains point data, the Select button next to To CRD File will be active and you can specify a filename and location of the Carlson Coordinate (.crd) file into which the point data is to be saved.

Also, different types of shapefile data will give you different options of changing entity properties based on attribute values. For instance, you can:

Use attribute to assign Entity ID

Use attribute to assign elevation

Use attribute to assign layer

Use attribute to assign Point Description




The images below show the options available when importing point‐ and polygon‐type shapefile data into Carlson 2015 software.

Options when importing POLYGON‐type SHP file: Options when importing POINT‐type SHP file:

(3‐4) If all entities are to be imported into the drawing on a single layer, select a layer in the list of Layers in Current DWG or specify a new layer in the Layer Used to Create Entities field.

(3‐5) Set the Import Option as either Geometry with GIS Data or Geometry Only.

(3‐6) If needed, select the option to Use Inclusions either by Crossing or Window method. Otherwise, all data contained in the shapefile will be imported.

(3‐7) Click Import Polylines from SHP.




The polylines imported from the shapefile look like this:

And the layers in the drawing correspond to the different trail polylines created:




4 Review the GIS Features (.gis) File Again

(4‐1) Go to GIS Data > Define GIS Features

(4‐2) Double‐click on the Feature name (Green River Trails in this example) to view the attributes associated with the feature.

After importing a shapefile, the GIS Features (.gis) file looks like this:

(4‐3) Close the dialog box without making any changes.




5 Input‐Edit GIS Data

(5‐1) Go to GIS Data > Input‐Edit GIS Data

(5‐2) When prompted to Select, click on any GIS entity in the drawing.

A dialog box is displayed allowing you to view and edit the GIS attributes of the selected entity.




6 GIS Inspector

This command will create a “tooltip” that displays when you hover your mouse over similar features. The first step is to set up which attributes are displayed and in what order.

(6‐1) Go to GIS Data > GIS Inspector

(6‐2) When prompted to Select Entities, select all entities you may want to “inspect”.

The GIS Inspector Quick View Settings box is displayed but, initially, no attributes are displayed.

(6‐3) Double‐click on the Feature name to display the associated attributes.




(6‐4) Next, double‐click on each attribute in the order you want them to be displayed, top‐to‐bottom, in the tooltip.

(6‐5) Click the Select Color button to set the color to highlight the Feature being inspected.

(6‐6) Click Exit.

(6‐7) When prompted to Save Changes?, click Yes.




The Command: line prompts you to: Move pointer over entity with GIS Data

(6‐8) Hover over one of the GIS polylines to have it highlighted (yellow) in the drawing and a tooltip displayed.

(6‐9) Press Enter to end the command.

(6‐10) If you need to make changes to the Quick View settings, go to GIS Data > GIS Inspector Settings




7 Mark GIS Polylines

(7‐1) Go to GIS Data > Mark GIS Polylines

(7‐2) When prompted to Select Entities, select all GIS polylines to be “marked”.

(7‐3) Change the Current field to “TRAIL” to see a list of the different values sorted into Zones.

(7‐4) Click the Auto button.




(7‐5) Unselect the option to Set colors.

(7‐6) Select the option to Set width.

(7‐7) Change the Width to 30.

(7‐8) Click OK to close the box.

(7‐9) Left‐click with your mouse to select all the Values in the left‐hand column.

(7‐10) On your keyboard, press CTRL+C to copy to the clipboard.

(7‐11) Left‐click with your mouse to select all the corresponding Layers in the right‐hand column.

(7‐12) On your keyboard, press CTRL+V to paste.

The list of Layers should now match the list of Values.




(7‐13) Select the option to Draw Legend.

(7‐14) Set the Text height to 50.

(7‐15) When prompted, click the Pick Point? Button and then left‐click a point in the drawing for the legend to be drawn.

(7‐16) Click the Draw button.

The “marked” drawing and legend look like this:

(7‐17) To remove all the markings, go back to GIS Data > Mark GIS Polylines.

(7‐18) When prompted, select all GIS polylines.

(7‐19) Click the Erase Old Marks button.

(7‐20) Click Exit to close.




8 GIS Query/Report

We will use this command to identify and mark only trails that are longer than 2 miles in length.

(8‐1) Go to GIS Data > GIS Query/Report

(8‐2) Name the Current Query: TRAILSLONGERTHAN2MILES. (no spaces allowed)

(8‐3) Set the Field Name to Length.

(8‐4) Set the operator to > (greater than).

(8‐5) Set the Value to 2.

(8‐6) Click the Add parameter button.




The details of the query should be displayed at the top of the table.

(8‐7) Select the option to Mark screen entities.

(8‐8) Click the Select Color button to set the color to be used to identify/mark GIS entities that meet the criteria.

(8‐9) Click the Save button to save the query in the database for future use.

(8‐10) Click the Execute button.

The results of the query are displayed in the drawing as shown below:




(8‐11) To generate a report of the GIS polylines meeting the query criteria, go back to GIS Data > GIS Query/Report.

(8‐12) In the list of Available Queries, double‐click on the saved TRAILSLONGERTHAN2MILES query.

(8‐13) If not already set, click the Generate report option to display Query Result.

(8‐14) Click Execute.




(8‐15) In the list of Available fields on the upper left, double‐click TRAIL to add it to the list of Used fields.

(8‐16) Click once on Length in the list of Available fields then click the Add button to also add it to the list of Used fields.

(8‐17) Click the Display button.

(8‐18) The sample report is shown to the right.

(8‐19) Click the Exit button to close.




9 Label GIS Data

(9‐1) Go to GIS Data > Label GIS Data > Open Polyline Data

(9‐2) When prompted, select all entities to be labeled.

(9‐3) From the list of Fields from current feature, click on TRAIL and then click the right‐arrow > to add it to the list of used fields on the right.

(9‐4) Click on LENGTH and then click the right‐arrow > to add it to the list of used fields on the right.

(9‐5) Set the Text Height to 50.

(9‐6) Select the option to Add Field Names to the Text Label.




(9‐7) Click Draw.

The labels are shown to the right. They will most likely have to be moved, rotated and repositioned to be legible.

Working with Images and Google EarthIn Carlson Software

TCG_ImagesAndGoogleEarth_Handout.docx 9/13/2013

© 2013 Jennifer L. DiBona [email protected]

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1 Attach Images

Note: This example can be used with or without a world (positioning) file but the image file must already be saved on your computer.

This command is available in all Carlson Software programs.

(1‐1) On the Draw menu, click Image and then click Raster Image.

(1‐2) Browse to and select the image to be inserted.

The list of supported image files are shown below:


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(919) 417‐8351


© 2013 Jennifer L. DiBona

(1‐3) Click the right‐arrow button to set the file path control.

Use Relative Path or File Name Only options for best results.




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(1‐4) If a positioning (world) file is available with the image, click the check box next to Use Positioning File and then click the ellipses button to browse to and select the file.

The command supports .jpw, .tfw, .pgw and .bpw files.

(1‐5) Specify X, Y and Z for Insertion Point or click the Specify on screen check box to place the image by clicking a point in the drawing.

(1‐6) Specify the X and Y Scale factor or click the Specify on screen check box to enter the scale factor at the Command: line.

(1‐7) Specify the Rotation Angle or click the Specify on screen check box to enter the angle at the Command: line.

(1‐8) Click the Use transparency and/or Show clipping boundary check boxes if wanted.

(1‐9) Click the OK button to continue.



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2 Convert MrSID File and Place Image by World File

Note: MrSID (.sid) files contain both image and positioning information. The Convert MrSID File command extracts the image portion of the file as either a TIF or JPG file with a corresponding TIF World (.tfw) or JPG World (.jpw) file.

After converting to TIF/TFW or JPG/JPW files, the image can be placed in the drawing using either the Raster Image command on the Draw menu or the Place Image by World File command.

The Convert MrSID File and Place Image by World File commands are available in Carlson Survey and Carlson GIS.

(2‐1) On the GIS menu in Carlson Survey or on the Images menu in Carlson GIS, click Convert MrSid Images.

(2‐2) Click the Select Files button and then browse to and select one or more .sid file(s) to be converted.




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(2‐3) Click the down‐arrow to select the Output Format.

(2‐4) Click the Process Files button.

(2‐5) Once the command has finished, click the Close button.



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(2‐6) On the GIS menu in Carlson Survey or the Images menu in Carlson GIS, click Place Image by World File.

(2‐7) In the Select World File dialog box, select the World file from the list of Files in that Folder or Recently Used Files. If the file isn’t shown in either box, click on the Browse button to browse to and select the file.

(2‐8) Click the Open button.

(2‐9) On the View menu, click Extents to zoom extents and see the newly inserted image.




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3 Place Google Earth Image

Note: This example requires a drawing having entities that are located in real‐world coordinates and Google Earth must be installed on the computer.

This command is available in Carlson GIS.

(3‐1) Open the project drawing.

(3‐2) On the Settings menu, click Drawing Setup.

(3‐3) Click the down‐arrow to set the correct Zone for the project.

(3‐4) Click the down‐arrow to set the correct Projection for the project.

(3‐5) Click the down‐arrow to set the correct Lat/Lon Datum for the project.



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(3‐6) In Carlson GIS, on the Images menu, click Place Google Earth Image.

As soon as this command is executed, Google Earth is launched and the Acquire Google Earth Image box is displayed in Carlson.

(3‐7) Click the button to set the Image Type to either Monochrome or Color.

(3‐8) Type a new Layer name or click the down‐arrow to select an existing Layer on which the image is to be inserted.

(3‐9) Click one of the buttons to define the Extent of the image to be inserted: Current Google Earth View, Current Drawing View or Select From Drawing.




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When the Select From Drawing button is clicked, the Command: line prompt reads:

First corner/Identify Entity <Current view>:

(3‐10) Pick two opposite corners of a window to define the image size and location.



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Once the image view Extent has been set, the Acquire Google Earth Image box is displayed again – with the Google Earth view parameters displayed at the bottom of the box.





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(3‐12) In the Save Image File As box, browse to the correct folder and type a new File name for the image.

(3‐13) Click the Save button to continue.

Note: This document is based on Carlson GIS 2014. There are a couple of extra steps required in previous version of the software that are not shown here. Follow program prompts if you are using an earlier version.



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(3‐14) If the newly inserted image isn’t fully visible, on the View menu, click Extents to zoom extents and view everything in the drawing.




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4 Export to Google Earth

Note: This example requires a drawing having entities that are located in real‐world coordinates.

This command is available in all Carlson desktop programs.








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(4‐6) On the File menu, click on Export then click on Google Earth File.

(4‐7) Click the radio button to set the desired Elevation Option.

(4‐8) Click the check box(es) for the desired Export Options.





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(4‐10) In the Google Earth File to Write box, type a new File Name for the exported .kmz file.

(4‐11) Click on the Save button to continue.

When the Save button is clicked, the Command: line prompt reads:

Select points, polylines, solids, images, lines and arcs to write.

FILter/<Select entities>:



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(4‐12) Pick two opposite corners of a window to select the entities to be exported to Google Earth.




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Google Earth is launched and the view is focused on the project area.

You can use Google Earth commands to zoom into the site, make drawing layers visible or invisible and view with Street View.

The exported .kmz file can be emailed or transmitted to others and opened in Google Earth.



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5 Insert Images with Esri ArcGIS Services

Note: This example requires a drawing having entities that are located in real‐world coordinates.

This command is available in Carlson GIS.









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(5‐6) On the Settings menu, click Carlson Menus and then click GIS Menu.

(5‐7) On the GIS Data menu, click Esri ArcGIS Services and then click Retrieve Map.

(5‐8) Click one of the maps such as World_Imagery (aerial photo) or NGS_Topo_US_2D (quad‐type map) from the list.

(5‐9) Click the Enable check box.

(5‐10) Type a new Layer name or click the down‐arrow to select an existing Layer on which the image is to be inserted.

(5‐11) In the list of Layers and Tables, click one of the available images.



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After clicking OK to close the window, the Command: line prompt reads:

First corner/Identify Entity <Current view>:

(5‐12) Pick two opposite corners of a window to define the image size and location.




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After selecting the window, a progress window will display. The OK button will be grayed out until information is completely downloaded from Esri’s site.

(5‐13) Wait until it becomes active and then click the OK button to insert the image into the drawing.



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When the image is inserted it will come in “on top” of other entities in the drawing. Change the display order to move the image “below” other entities.

(5‐14) On the View menu, click Display Order and then click Send to Back.

(5‐15) Click on the image (pick the frame outline) to allow the drawing entities to show on top of the image.

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