Realize the Full Potential of Your Investment in AGTEK Software

☰ Menu
Latest News & Information

The Fall 2022 - Summer 2023 Seminar Schedule is out!
View Schedule  »

Our seminars apply to AGTEK's site earthwork modeling and takeoff software.
Read More  »

Takeoff and GPS modeling are two sides of the same coin . . .
Read More  »

Receive seminar reminders . . .
Join Mail List  »

Working With CAD, Vector PDF & Survey Data

2022 - 2023 Day 2 Seminar Handbook Table of Contents (Final)

  • Cover
  • Note to Self-Paced Users of the Day 2 Seminar Handbooki
  • Notices1
  • Day 2 Quick Reference2
  • Day 2 Table of Contents3
  • Day 2 Seminar Class Outline16
  • Program and Vector Data Overview19
  • Modeling with Vector Data Step-by-Step44
    • Sample Site Grading Plan44
    • Street Details, Location Map and Plan Abbreviations/Notes45
    • New Job for Setup for PDF Data46
      • Import First PDF Plan Sheet47
        • Multi-Page Preview Dialog48
        • Adjust Display and Note PDF Data Type49
        • Set Scale for First PDF Plan Sheet50
        • Verify and Correct PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 4D Method51
        • Extract and Transfer Vector Plan Data52
        • Verify PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 3D Method53
        • Correct PDF Plan Scale - AGTEK 3D Method54
      • Translate Job File to Designer's Coordinates55
      • Match Point Selection for Aligning Next PDF Plan Sheet56
        • Direct Coordinates or Selected (Common) Points?56
      • Import and Align Next PDF Plan Sheet (Common Points)57
        • Adjust Display, Note PDF Data Type, Set Scale58
        • Align Next PDF Plan Sheet (To Previous Sheet)59
          • AGTEK 3D (Dialog Method)60
          • AGTEK 4D (Shortcut Method)61
        • Extract Next PDF Plan Sheet's Vector Data62
        • Unrecognized Vector PDF Plan Sheet Problem63
        • Transfer Next PDF Plan Sheet's Vector Data64
      • Some Points About Vector PDF Plan Data65
        • Only 2D Data From Vector PDF Plans65
        • Missing or Overlapping Vector PDF Line Work65
        • "Horizontal Shift" Error With Next PDF Sheet65
        • Correcting Next PDF Sheet's "Horizontal Shift" Error66
      • Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - AGTEK 3D67
      • Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - Earthwork 4D68
      • Re-Loading PDF Plan Sheets - Gradework 4D69
      • Manual PDF Realignment (Align Matching Edges)70
    • Starting New Job With CAD Data72
      • Incompatible AutoCAD File Versions72
      • External/Block References and Locked/Off/Frozen Layers73
      • Widely-Separated Data74
        • Arbitrary and State Plane Coordinate Data74
        • Crop Rectangle74
        • Document SPC Translation Point(s)75
      • Troubleshoot Missing CAD Data78
    • Selection and Transfer of Vector Data80
      • Existing and Design Data on Same Layer80
      • Pre-Transfer Data Settings and Functions81
        • Compression (Point Reduction)81
        • Crop Rectangle81
        • Imported Elevation Min/Max Filter81
        • Transfer Units (Feet/Meters/Architectural)81
        • Join Selected Data (AGTEK 4D)81
      • Vector Data Display Options82
        • Layer Display Control (Alt-B)82
        • Hide/Hide All But/Show All/Gray Hidden Lines82
        • Label Display Options82
          • CAD Text82
          • Elevations82
          • Rotated Text (AGTEK 4D)82
      • Vector Data Selection Options83
        • Area Select83
        • Layer Select/Deselect (Ctrl Key, Left Click)83
        • Object Select/Deselect (Shift Key, Left Click)83
        • Delete Unwanted Data83
      • Vector Data Transfer Options84
        • To Existing or Design Surface (Right Click or Menu)84
        • To Specified Surface and Layer (Send To Button)84
        • Cut/Paste Function (AGTEK 4D)84
      • Importing and Transfering CAD TIN Surface85
      • Importing and Transfering LandXML Surface Data86
    • Selecting and Transferring Step-by-Step Exercise Data87
      • CAD Elevation Text Labels87
      • Line Work Layers88
    • Use PDF Plan Sheet to Verify CAD Data90
      • Import and Align PDF Plan Sheet90
      • Check CAD Line Work92
      • Check CAD Elevation Text Labels92
    • Find and Correct Spiked CAD Elevations93
      • Job File Min/Max Elevation Report93
      • Find Elevation Function95
    • 2D-to-3D Conversion Techniques96
      • Existing Surface Data Lines96
        • Contours in Edit Mode96
          • F9 Elevation Snap96
          • Bridge Gap (Join) Utility97
          • F8 Auto-Increment Snap98
          • Spot Elevations in Edit Mode99
          • Point Compress Existing Contours100
          • Conform Selected Utility101
          • Spot Elevations and Break Lines in Entry Mode102
      • Design Surface Data Lines105
        • Landscape and Pond Contours105
          • Cleanup Pond's CAD Contour106
        • Building Lines107
          • Bridge Gap (Join) Utility107
          • F9 Elevation Snap107
          • Auto Pad Utility108
          • Trim and Remove Overhanging Contours111
          • Top-of-Wall Landscape Grade Lines113
            • Snap Circle Setting114
          • Varying Landscape Spot Grades at Building115
          • Level Landscape Grade Lines at Building (Offset)116
        • Street Line Work117
          • Edit Mode Method117
          • Entry Mode Method120
        • Lot Grade Line123
          • Lot Line Prep with Swap Ends, F7 Extend, F6 Insert123
          • Assign Lot Line Elevation by Conform123
          • Assign Lot Line Elevation by Slope124
          • Assign Lot Line Elevation by Daylight124
    • Checklist to Complete the Earthwork Takeoff125
    • Translate Job File Data to State Plane Coordinates126
    • Geo-Reference Job File with State Plane Coordinates128
    • Identify State Plane Coordinate Zone131
      • NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool131
      • Gradework 4D State Plane Lookup Utility132
    • Reminder of Useful Functions (Edit Mode)133
    • Reminder of Useful Functions (Entry Mode)134
  • Additional CAD Data Manipulation Examples135
    • Check and Adjust for Architectural Units135
      • Adjusting Import Transfer Units (Prevention)136
      • Scale Correction in AGTEK 4D (Repair)139
      • Scale Correction in AGTEK 3D (Repair)140
    • Data Prep for Auto Pad Utility141
      • Import Layer Selection (Alt-B) to Filter Transfer Layers141
      • Create Missing CAD Line Work143
        • Prep CAD ROW Lines for Pad Setback Offsets143
          • Label Select, Hide All But, Join and Compress143
          • Swap Ends Utility145
        • Offset ROW Pad Setback Lines145
        • Prep CAD Rear Lot Lines for Pad Setback Offsets146
          • Label Select, Deselect, Join and Compress146
          • Change Line Label of Isolated Rear Lot Lines149
        • Offset Rear Pad Setback Lines150
        • Prep and Offset Partial Rear Pad Setback Line152
      • Cleanup Conflicting CAD Line Work153
        • Label Select for Hide or Delete154
      • Run Auto Pad Utility156
        • Label Select Pad Elevation Text Labels156
        • Auto Pad Offset Value156
        • Auto Pad Data Line Errors157
        • Manual Select Pad Elevation Text Labels159
        • Fix Non-Responsive Pad Elevation Text Label160
        • Create Artificial Pad Elevation Text Label161
      • Cleanup for Auto Pad Data Line Errors and Conflicts163
        • Horizontal Spikes in Auto Pad Data Lines163
        • Gaps in Bounding Annotation Line Work164
        • Trim CAD Contours Extending Into Auto Pad Area165
    • Street Model from "Conformed" Centerline167
      • Join Lines Before Conforming Centerline169
      • CL High-, Low-, and Match-Point CAD Text Grades170
      • Conform Centerline173
      • Fixed Horizontal EP Offset Lines174
      • Intersection Cleanup with Ctrl-X, F5, F7175
      • Tapered Horizontal EP Offset Line175
      • Line Snap Entry of EP Radius Lines177
        • Alt-V to Hide Background Layers177
      • Interpolating EP End-Point Existing Tie-In Grades178
      • Final EP Line Work Cleanup179
      • TBC Offset Lines179
      • Shoulder Offset Lines180
      • Conflicting Offset Lines and CAD Street Contours181
        • Prep for Removal of CAD Street Contours182
        • Trim and Delete CAD Street Contours183
      • Conform Other CAD Lines to Final Street Surface185
      • Identify and Correct Interpolation Errors185
  • Modeling with ASCII Text Survey Data187
  • Appendix A: How to Get Help, Training, Program Updates233
  • Appendix B: Keyboard Shortcuts249
    • Import (CAD Transfer) Mode249
    • Edit Mode251
    • Entry Mode256
    • Profile Mode260
    • Planview Mode262
    • 3D View Mode265
    • Volume Report Mode268
    • Haul Report Mode269
    • Print Preview Mode270
  • Appendix C: Download and Use Day 2 Seminar Training Files271
  • Appendix D: Exporting AGTEK Data277
    • Overview of Exportable File Types277
    • File Preparation Tips for Field Data279
    • Manage Export Colors (AGTEK 4D - Before Export)281
    • Modeling Colors Display Option (Gradework 4D)281
    • Manage Export Colors (AGTEK 4D - During Export)282
    • Data for CAD Systems283
    • 3D Surface for Autodesk Revit BIM284
    • 3D Surface for SketchUp286
    • Data for Google Earth287
    • Data for Transfer between AGTEK Job Files290
    • Data for Leica Grade Control293
    • Data for Topcon Grade Control294
    • Data for Trimble Grade Control297
    • Data for Stringless Curb Machines299
  • Appendix E: Prepping CAD Files for AGTEK301
    • Bind External Reference With DWG TrueView302
    • Bind External Reference With AutoCAD LT304
    • Convert DWG to Vector PDF With DWG TrueView305
    • Convert Architectural Units With TurboCAD Deluxe306
    • Convert Architectural Units With AutoCAD LT307
    • CAD Spot Elevation Formats309
    • Check for Geolocation Info (SPC Zone) with AutoCAD LT310
  • Appendix F: Catalog of Day 2 Handbook Web Resources311
  • Appendix G: Horizontal Translations Exercise323
  • Appendix H: CAD Spot Elevation Topo Exercise329
  • Appendix I: Geo-Reference Job File with Google Earth337
  • Appendix J: Design and Drafting Tools343
    • Example Base Map with Existing Contours344
    • Circle Utility347
    • Point Compression Utility348
    • Trim Lines Utility349
    • Station Generator Utility353
    • Copy vs. Cut for Pasting Surface Layer Data (AGTEK 4D)354
    • Auto Pad Utility357
    • Wildcard Label Selection358
    • Assign Elevations by Daylight Function360
    • Assign Elevations by +/- Edit Function362
    • Assign Elevations by Slope Edit Function363
    • Assign Elevations by Conform Utility364
    • Fillet Line Utility366
    • Establish Limit of Grading by Slope Intercept369
    • Contour Surface Utility371
  • Appendix K: Scaling Multiple Paper Sheets with CAD Data - AGTEK 3D373
  • Appendix L: Verify CAD Data and Paper Plan Match - AGTEK 3D375
  • About the Author and Seminar Instructor377
  • Seminar Attendee Survey379
  • Tear-Out Grading Plan Sheet for Modeling with Vector Data Exercise381
  • Tear-Out Street Details Sheet for Modeling with Vector Data Exercise382
(Click for Seminar Training Files)
(Click for Day 2 Seminar Outline)
Click here to register now!