Guides
Workflows for getting terrain and site context into CAD, BIM and GIS, and for judging how far the data can be trusted. For the studio itself, see the user guide.
How to export contour lines to DXF for AutoCAD and other CAD software
A step-by-step workflow for getting contour lines of any site into AutoCAD, BricsCAD, Rhino or Vectorworks as a DXF at their real elevation, and how to choose interval, smoothing and coordinates.
· 7 min read
DEM to DXF: how elevation data becomes CAD contours
What a digital elevation model is, the difference between surface and terrain models, how contours are traced from a grid, and how to turn a DEM into DXF contours yourself in QGIS or in TOPOLUMA.
· 8 min read
Bringing site terrain into Revit and ArchiCAD with IFC and DXF
Two reliable ways to get a site's terrain and surroundings into Revit and ArchiCAD: link an IFC with the terrain mesh and context buildings, or build a toposolid or mesh from DXF contours.
· 7 min read
Choosing a contour interval for a site plan
How drawing scale, slope and data accuracy decide the contour interval of a site plan, with a quick way to check line spacing on paper and typical intervals for common scales.
· 6 min read