Manipulating the Network

Sometimes surveys performed in assumed coordinate systems need to be adjusted to match a known coordinate system. Along with changing coordinate systems, you will probably need to rotate the survey to the correct orientation. Additionally, networks may need to be adjusted from assumed elevations to a known datum.

In this example, the DWG you will be working with contains two known points from the desired coordinate system. The file you will import is initially in an assumed coordinate system. You will use the Translate command to move and rotate the network accordingly.

1. Open the file 0205_Translate.dwg or (0205_Translate_METRIC.dwg).
2. In the Toolspace ➢ Survey tab, right-click Survey Databases and select New Local Survey Database.
   The New Local Survey Database dialog opens.
3. Enter Translate in the text box.
   This is the name of the folder for the new database.
4. Click OK, and the Translate database will now be listed under the Survey Databases branch.
5. Select Networks under the new Translate branch.
6. Right-click and select New to open the New Network dialog.
7. Enter Translate as the name of this new network.
8. Click OK to dismiss the dialog.
9. Right-click the Translate network and select Import ➢ Import Point File.
10. Navigate to the file 0205_Translate.txt or (0205_Translate_METRIC.txt) and click Open.
    The Import Point File dialog opens.
11. Verify that the point file format is PNEZD (Comma Delimited).
12. Verify that the Insert Survey Points option is set to Yes and click OK.
13. Zoom extents to view the points.
    Points 1 and 47 from the newly imported network correspond to 10000 and 10001 from the actual coordinate system. This is all the information needed to perform a translation.
14. Make sure you are able to locate these points for the next steps by panning and zooming with your mouse.
    It will also be helpful to turn on your Node object snap.
15. In the Toolspace ➢ Survey tab, right-click the name of the survey database and select Translate Survey Database, as shown earlier in Figure 1.
16. For Base Point Number, enter 1 and press ↲.
    Civil 3D will pick up the assumed coordinate of this point.
17. Click Next.
18. For the rotation angle, click the Pick In Drawing button in the bottom-left corner of the dialog.
    You will be prompted for an initial direction.
19. For Initial Direction, use the Node Osnap to pick point 1 and then point 47.
    You will then be prompted to specify a new direction.
20. Use the Node Osnap to pick points 10000 and 10001.
    The resulting rotation angle should be 45°.
21. Click Next.
22. In the Destination Point screen, click Pick In Drawing.
23. Use the Node Osnap to select point 10000.
24. Click Next.
25. Verify your translation setup on the Summary screen and then click Finish.
26. Save and close the drawing.

The changes were made directly to the database, and the network can be imported into any drawing.