CompuServe Thread

John, I have accomplished this task using AutoCAD and third party software from Schreiber Instruments, Inc (800.252.1024). The difficult task is converting the paper topo data into a drawing file. I am assuming that the topo data is contours, or spot elevations, or something like that. If there is minimal data, the contours can be digitized into the drawing as Plines by tracing over the paper data on a digitizing tablet. If there is alot of data or large drawing sheets, you can have the entire drawing scanned and formatted as an Autocad drawing file. There are service bureaus around that provide this service for appox. $15/drawing. Once you have the data in the drawing file you will have to adjust the z-value of the plines to be represent the contour elevation. Using either QuickSurf (AutoCAD ADS application) or 3DSurf (IPAS application), both avail from Schreiber, you can extract the topo data into a 3D Surface mesh that is perfectly suited for 3DS. Very simple to accomplish in a short time (most of the time will be converting the data to an AutoCAD drawing file). Hope this helps…Let me know if you need more info. Good Luck… CT.

John: I have done this many many times. I need an idea how big of an area (acres) and the scale of the drawing, or the actual size of the drawing (paper size) and a relative guess on the relief (in other words, is the terrain steep or flat — lots or few contours). We have a very large (48" x 60") digitizing tablet here in our ATC, and my students are always looking for projects to learn from (and work very cheap). Once in AutoCAD as plines (at the correct elevation), I use the Softdesk Civil software to create a TIN and 3D grid drawings. Very easy to do once the drawing is digitized. Once a 3D grid drawing, it can be DXF'ed to 3DS as faces, which render quite well. Keep us in mind, as I'll see it gets done for you. Where are you from, anyhow? -KLF

I just had it done myself. It was a piece of land about 2 miles by 2 miles. I had it done at a CAD place called the Valcon Group in Thousand Oaks, Ca. It was a bit expensive – $640, but the results are real nice. Call around to some local civil engineers, they might be able to do the scanning for you.