Add elevation data to existing points in DWG/DXF

Spatial Manager has utilities for working with terrains and elevations. One of them lets you search elevations for existing points. By following a few steps, it is possible to create a data field and store the elevation value in it, even adding it to other existing fields.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD.

1. Existing points with data without elevation

If you have points with X-Y coordinates but no elevation values, the goal is to add a data field with the elevation value (Z coordinate).

2. Create a layer and download elevations

Create a new layer and set it as the current layer.
Execute the SPMTERRAIN command.
Select the “Select points from drawing” option and select the existing points in the drawing.
When asked if you want to download elevations from online services, click Yes.
In the “Objects to create” section, check “3D points” and click OK.
A new set of points will be created in the current layer.

3. Create table and field for elevation values

These new points have elevation/Z position, but they have no data attached.
Execute the SPMDATATABLEDEFINE command and create a new table with a field of type decimal number.

create table and field for elevation

4. Attach table with points with elevations

Select all the points created in step 2.
Execute the SPMDATATABLEATTACH command.
Select the table created in step 3 and the “Attach to the current selection” option.
Now the points have the table attached but with empty values.

5. Set elevation value from geometry

Execute the SPMDATACALCULATOR command.
Select the new empty table as the source table.
In the expression panel, select Geometry/ElevationZ.
For “Save value in”, select “Update existing field” and the empty field created in step 3, then click OK.

calculate elevation value to field

Now the points have the elevation value both in the Z position for the geometry and in the attached data table.

6. Join previous data and elevation data

In the last step, original points and new points with height values will be joined.
Execute the SPMOVERLAY command.
As source, select the original points layer.
As overlay, select the new points layer.
For operation, keep Intersect selected.
Set the desired name of the final resulting layer and table.

join data fields

Review the final result; the created points have both source data fields and a new field for elevation/height.

Note: Some features are available only in the Standard or Professional editions.

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