SPM for AutoCAD > Features > Coordinate management > Coordinate Reference Systems

Coordinate Reference Systems in AutoCAD

Unified CRS catalog for assigning and transforming coordinates

The unified CRS system allows you to use the same tools to assign a Coordinate Reference System to your drawing or to define the source and target CRS during import and export operations. The catalog contains over 15,000 Projections, Ellipsoids, Coordinate Systems, and Transformations covering all global regions. It also includes helpful tools to filter, search, and access recently used CRSs. The list is continuously maintained and updated.

Editions: Basic Standard Professional
What's included in the feature Coordinate Reference Systems

Discover the full potential of this set of tools designed to enhance GIS data integration and editing within AutoCAD.

Unified CRS system

Use the same tools (the CRS Catalog essentially) to assign the Coordinate Reference System to a drawing, or to define the CRSs to the source and the target when performing the import/export processes.

Unified CRS system<span style='font-size: 1rem;'></span>

Updated Coordinate Systems objects list

The objects list includes more than 15000 Projections, Ellipsoids, Coordinate Systems, Coordinate Transformations, etc. for all the areas and geographic segments of the Earth. This list is often extended, revised and updated. The Catalog includes a set of practical tools to filter, search or group the most recent used CRSs.

Updated Coordinate Systems objects list<span style='font-size: 1rem;'></span>
Resources and Information
links
Coordinates transformation - User manual
Related features
Smart coordinate transformations<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../smart-coordinate-transformations/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

Smart coordinate transformations

Automatic coordinate transformation with selectable accuracy variants

CRS customization<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../crs-customization/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

CRS customization

Load custom grid files and define custom coordinate systems

Transform drawings Coordinate System<span style='font-size: 1rem;'> - <a href='../transform-drawings-coordinate-system/' class='app_color_link'>More info ></a></span>

Transform drawings Coordinate System

Transform the Coordinate System (CRS) of a whole drawing or a set of selected objects, which automatically creates a new drawing including geometrically regenerated objects from the current drawing according to the chosen transformation between two CRSs

* Only available in Professional edition

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frequently asked questions
Current compatible AutoCAD applications:
  • AutoCAD, AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Architecture (Windows Only)
  • Versions: From v.2013 to v.2026 both included. Review the version compatibility page for more details.
Note: AutoCAD LT is not a compatible application because of its intrinsic limitations but you can use Spatial Manager Desktop™ to import/export via DXF files
System requirements:
  • Windows 7 or higher, within the operating system versions supported by the AutoCAD version used
  • 500 MB free disk space, or more
  • Windows Installer 3.1 or later
Spatial files
  • Esri Shape file - (SHP)
  • Google Earth file - (KML, KMZ)
  • OpenStreetMap file - (OSM, PBF, OSC) (1)
  • LiDAR file - (LAS, LAZ)
  • GPS exchange format file - (GPX)
  • Esri ASCII Grid file - (ASC, ASCII) (1)
  • ASCII text file - (ASC, CSV, NEZ, TXT, XYZ, UPT)
  • SQLite file - (SQLITE, DB)
  • GeoPackage file - (GPKG)
  • GML file - (GML, GZ, XML)
  • Raster image file - (TIF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIFF) (1)
  • Autodesk SDF file - (SDF) (3)
  • MicroStation v.7 file - (DGN) (2)
  • AutoCAD DXF file - (DXF) (2)
  • Esri ArcInfo export file (ASCII) - (E00) (1) (2)
  • MapInfo file - (TAB) (2)
  • MapInfo interchange format file - (MIF/MID) (2)
  • GeoJSON file - (GEO.JSON)

Spatial raster files
  • Raster image file - (TIF, PNG, JPG, JPEG, TIFF) (1)
    • Georeference sources - (World files, Google Earth .GEPRINT, etc.)
  • Variable resolution Raster image file - (Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF/COG TIFF) (1) (4)

Spatial data servers and Geo-databases
  • Esri Geodatabase File - (GDB) (1)
  • PostGIS database
  • Microsoft SQL Server Spatial database
  • MySQL database (1) (3)

Image map servers
  • WMS/OGC API Maps Web Map Services (4)
  • WMTS/OGC API Tiles Web Map Tile Services (4)
  • XYZ/TMS Tile Map Services (4)

Other spatial data sources
  • Open Database Connectivity ODBC (1)
  • WFS/OGC API Features data store (1)
  • WFS data store (FDO) (1) (3) (6)
  • WFS data store (OGR) (1) (2) (5) (6)

(1) Read-only
(2) OGR data source
(3) FDO provider
(4) Background Maps technology
(5) OGR for WFS data stores will not be found in the data Provider list under some circumstances (certain AutoCAD Map versions and others). Please, use the native or FDO variants for this data Provider
(6) DEPRECATED - Whenever possible use the native WFS/OGC API Features data provider

Note: certain data Providers are only valid for some Editions of the application