AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010

Education Curriculum Student Workbook

Unit 2: Create Ground Data Lesson

Insert Images
Overview
In this lesson, you learn how to insert external image files into AutoCAD® Civil 3D® software.
Image files are typically aerial photographs that show information representing the existing
conditions, and they often complement other base mapping generated from points collected
with total station and GPS equipment. Image files are also generated from other sources such
as Google Earth and USGS (United States Geological Survey) topographical maps.
The following illustration shows an image used to supplement base plan mapping, and an
existing ground surface model for a road reconstruction project in Vancouver, Canada.

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 1

Objectives
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

 Explain different methods for inserting images.

 Insert an image representing an aerial photograph to a drawing.

 Remove an image from a drawing.

 Insert an image representing a USGS topographic map to a drawing.

 Insert an image to a drawing from Google Earth.

Exercises
The following exercises are provided in a step-by-step format in this lesson:
1. Insert an Image Using the Insert Image Command
2. Insert an Image Using the Data Connect Utility
3. Import an Image from Google Earth

Introduction to Images
Images are separate files that contain base mapping information for a particular site or
location. An image can be an aerial photograph, a scanned map saved to an image file, a USGS
(United States Geological Survey) base mapping file, or any other type of raster file that
contains mapping data. Images are also foundation data that you see when using Google
Earth.
Images exist in many different formats and include, but are not limited to, the following:

 JPEG File Interchange Format (*.jpg, *.jpeg)

 Portable Network Graphics file (*.png)

 Tagged Image File Format (*.tif, *.tiff)

 Windows Bitmap (*.bmp)

 Graphics Interchange Format (*.gif)

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 2

Coordinate Systems
A coordinate system is a defined spatial frame of reference used for mapping and coordinating
the location of drawing entities, objects, and images. There are many defined coordinate
systems that can be assigned to a drawing, or an image, for different locations on the earth.
In the United States, the State Plane coordinate system is commonly used. In areas such as
Canada and Mexico, the NAD 83 (North American Datum, 1983) is a commonly used
coordinate system. Drawing files can have assigned coordinate systems, and image files can
have assigned coordinate systems.
When drawings and data are created to reference a specific coordinate system, the drawings
and data are said to be “spatially coordinated.” One of the benefits of assembling data to a
known coordinate system is that you can overlay other data sources on top of one another.
This is useful when you are working with image data that originates from different sources.
Prior to beginning a design, it is very important to understand the extent of existing conditions
by working with multiple data/image sources. This becomes possible when the multiple data
sources are assembled to a known coordinate system.
Civil 3D can address circumstances where the coordinate system assigned to the drawing file is
different from the coordinate system assigned to the image file. If this is the case, a coordinate
system transformation is performed on the image, so that it is inserted in the correct location,
relative to the other base mapping data.

Inserting Images
You can use either of the following methods to insert an image to AutoCAD Civil 3D:

 Insert Image command

 Data Connect utility

Each method offers different options, and you choose the method based on your needs. Both
methods are discussed in the following sections.
Insert Image Command
The Insert Image command is available from either the Tool-based Geospatial or Task-based
Geospatial workspaces, and is located on the Insert tab.

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 3

The Insert Image command is the most common and easiest method for inserting images to a
drawing. When you use the Insert Image command, you can specify image correlation
information (insertion point, rotation angle, scale, and units), or you can reference correlation
information that resides in an external file. For TIFF images, the correlation information is
saved in Tiff World File (TWF), which is a separate file that accompanies the image.
The correlation information inserts the image to the correct location, based on the current
coordinate system assigned. This command, however, does not perform a coordinate
transformation if the coordinate system for the image is different from that of the drawing.
Data Connect Command
You use the Data Connect command to connect with multiple data sources, including images.
If the coordinate system referenced by the drawing is different from the coordinate system
referenced by the image, the Data Connect command performs a coordinate transformation
so that the image and the drawing line up. You can also assign a coordinate system to images
using the Data Connect command.
The Data Connect command is available from either the Tool-based Geospatial or Task-based
Geospatial workspaces.

Key Terms
Image A separate file that contains base mapping information, such as an
aerial photograph or a scanned image of a hardcopy map.
Raster A data structure represented with an array of pixels. A pixel contains
coordinate information (X, Y) and color information.
Coordinate A defined spatial frame of reference used for mapping and coordinating
System the location of drawing entities, objects, and images.
Correlation A means to establish the insertion point of an image that includes
specifying insertion coordinates, rotation angle, and scale.

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 4

Exercise 1: Insert an Image
Using the Insert Image
Command
In this exercise, you insert an image using
the Map 3D Insert Image command.
For this exercise, open …\M_Images-
EX1.dwg.
Begin by changing the workspace. You
load a Map 3D geospatial workspace to
display the commands required to insert
an image.
1. On the status bar, click Workspace
Switching, and change the workspace
from Civil 3D to Tool-based Geospatial.
The workspace, or configuration of the
user interface, changes to display Map 3D
commands on the ribbon.
2. On the ribbon, Insert tab, click Image.
Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images
3. In the Insert Image dialog box:
 Browse to the folder where your
data sets are located. Click
RossStreetVancouver.tif.
 Check Modify Correlation.
The Modify Correlation command
enables you to view and modify the
data that controls how the image is
inserted. You will see the correlation
information in a moment.
 Click the Information button.
The Information button shows a
preview and some data relating to
the image.
 Click Open.
The Image Correlation dialog box appears.
This is because you clicked Modify
Correlation in the previous step.
4. In the Image Correlation dialog box,
notice that the Correlation Source is a
world file. The world file contains the
insertion values for the image, and is
located in the same folder as the image,
and called RossStreetVancouver.tfw.
In the Image Correlation dialog box, click
OK, to insert the image.
The aerial photograph is displayed in the
drawing area, and covers the existing base
plan entities (polylines and points).
Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 5

You now change the display order so that
the image appears behind the base plan
entities.
5. In the drawing area, click the image near
the border to select the image.
6. Right-click. Click Display Order > Send to
Back.
You see the surface and the base plan on
top of the image.
Next, review the image data.
7. In the drawing area, click the image near
the border to select the image.
8. Right-click. Click Image > Information.
Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images
The Image Information dialog box displays
the data for the image.
9. Review the data and notice the
Correlation data near the bottom.
The insertion point, scale, and rotation are
displayed. This information originated in
the world file (TFW) that accompanies the
image.
If no TFW was present when you inserted
the image, you would have been
prompted to enter the image correlation
information.
The next step is to control the way the
image is displayed.
10. In the Image Information dialog box,
click Close.
11. In the drawing area, click the image near
the border to select the image.
The contextual ribbon shows
commands that can be used to modify
the image.
12. On the ribbon, use the Brightness,
Contrast, and Fade Slide bars to adjust
the image display.
13. Notice that you can use boundary
clipping to display a just portion of the
image.
14. Click Show Image to turn off the display
of the image. Just the image frame is
displayed.
15. Click Show image again to display the
image.
The next step is to remove the image.
16. On the contextual ribbon, click External
References.
The External References window
displays. Notice that image
Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 6
 management is controlled in the
External References window.

17. In the External References window,

right-click RossStreetVancouver. Click
Detach.

The image is removed from the

drawing.
18. Close the drawing. Do not save the
changes.

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 7

Exercise 2: Insert a USGS
Image Using Data Connect
In this exercise, you insert an image using
the Map 3D Data Connect utility.

The Data Connect window displays. You

use the commands in this window to
connect with different data sources,
including images.
Notice the different types of data sources
you can connect to.
3. On the left side of the Data Connect
window, click Add Raster Image or
Surface Connection.

For this exercise, open …\M_Images-

EX2.dwg.
Begin by changing the workspace. You
load a Map 3D geospatial workspace to
display the commands you require to
insert an image using the Data Connect
utility.
1. On the status bar, click Workspace
Switching. Change the workspace from
4. On the right side of the window, for
Civil 3D to Tool-based Geospatial.
Connection name, enter USGS Mapping
Image. Click the open icon to the right.

The user workspace, or configuration of

the user interface, changes to display Map
3D commands on the ribbon. 5. In the Open dialog box, browse to the
folder where your data sets are located.
2. On the ribbon, Home tab, click Connect. Click USGS.tif. Click Open.

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 8

Now that you have specified the data
source, you can connect to the data
source.
6. In the Data Connect window, click the
Connect button.
On the left side of the Data Connect
window, the USGS Mapping Image The drawing references a NAD (North
connection is displayed. American Datum) 83 Virginia State Plane
coordinate system.
11. Notice that the drawing setup
references imperial units.
12. Click Cancel to close the Drawing
Settings dialog box.
13. Close the Toolspace window.
The image insertion point references a
NAD 27 Virginia State Plane coordinate
system, in metric units, and needs to have
the coordinate system assigned to it.
The coordinate zone assigned to the
The NAD27 image insertion point is
drawing is different from the coordinate
specified in a separate world file (TFW),
zone that the image references.
located in the same folder as the image.
Review the coordinate zone assigned to
14. In the Data Connect window, click Edit
the drawing. You need to display the Civil
Coordinate Systems.
3D Toolspace.
7. On the command line, enter showts.
Press ENTER.
8. In the Toolspace window, click the
Settings tab.
9. Right-click the drawing name. Click Edit
Drawing Settings. 15. In the Edit Spatial Contexts dialog box:
10. In the Drawing Settings dialog box, Units
and Zone tab, note the assigned  Click the word Default.
coordinate system, and that the code is
 Click Edit.
VA83-SF.
 For Category, select UTM, NAD27
Datum.

 In the Search bar, enter UTM27-17.

Click Find.
Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 9
 The correct coordinate system is transformation occurs to make sure the
selected. image and base plan data line up. In this
example, the drawing entities referenced a
NAD83 State Plane imperial coordinate
zone, and the image referenced a NAD27
UTM metric coordinate zone.
16. Click OK to assign the UTM27-17 20. Close the drawing and do not save the
coordinate system. changes.
17. Click OK to close the Edit Spatial
Contexts dialog box.
The next step is to display the USGS image
in the drawing area.
18. On the right side of the Data Connect
window, click Add to Map.

The USGS Mapping Image is displayed in the

drawing area. The drawing zooms to the
extents of the image.
19. Zoom into the area showing the
AutoCAD entities near the north end of
the site.

Look closely and notice how the USGS

image data provides supplementary
information to the AutoCAD entity data.
When you use the Data Connect command
to connect to an image, a coordinate
Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 10
Exercise 3: Insert an Image
from Google Earth
In this exercise, you insert an image from
Google Earth. This exercise requires that
you have Google Earth installed. You can
install Google Earth by visiting
http://earth.google.com/.
For this exercise open …\M_Images-
EX3.dwg.
The drawing contains the base map with
the surface.
The drawing has a UTM coordinate system
assigned. First, begin by reviewing the
coordinate system.
1. Click the Settings tab of Toolspace.
Note: If Toolspace is not visible, on the
command line, enter SHOWTS and press
ENTER.
2. Right-click the drawing name. Click
Drawing Settings.
Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images
3. In the Drawing Settings dialog box, Units
and Zone tab, note the assignment of a
coordinate system.
This coordinate system is referenced when
importing the image from Google Earth.
You now launch Google Earth and browse
to Ross Street, in Vancouver, Canada.
4. Open Windows Explorer and browse to
the folder containing the data sets.
You see a file named Ross Street.kmz. This
is a Google Earth file, which contains the
location of Ross Street in Vancouver,
Canada. This file is associated with the
Google Earth program.
5. Double-click Ross Street.kmz.
Google Earth launches and zooms to Ross
Street.
The size of the image that you import from
Google Earth to Civil 3D is a function of the
Google Earth zoom scale, which you adjust
next.
6. In Google Earth, zoom out so you can
see Ross Street and some of the
surrounding area.
7. Click back to Civil 3D.
8. On the status bar, near the bottom right
corner of the screen, click Workspace
Switching. Select the Civil 3D workspace.
9. On the ribbon, Insert tab, Import panel,
click Google Earth > Google Earth Image.
Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 11
On the command line, you are prompted
for the coordinate system.
10. Press ENTER to use the coordinate
system assigned to the drawing.
Civil 3D inserts the Google Earth image to
the drawing area.

Notice that the image is in black and

white. If you are working with the full
licensed version of Google Earth, you
would see a color image.
11. Close the drawing and do not save the
changes.

Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 12

Assessment
Challenge Exercise
Instructors provide a master or challenge exercise for students to do based on this lesson.

Questions
1. What are some common sources for image files?
2. Why is it important to consider coordinate systems when inserting images?
3. What is image correlation?
4. How do you specify image correlation data?
5. When would you use the Insert Image command to insert an image? What is the main
limitation with this command?
6. When would you use the Data Connect command to insert an image? What is the advantage
of using this command?
7. What is the primary data type referenced in Google Earth?
Answers
1. Image files can be generated from aerial photography, Google Earth, and USGS and other
government sources.
2. Images are usually used to supplement AutoCAD entity data. If the same coordinate system
is assigned to both the drawing and the image, the image will overly directly on top of the
drawing data. If the image and drawing have different coordinate systems, a coordinate
transformation is performed on the image so the drawing and image data overlay properly.
3. Image correlation is the specification of the image insertion parameters such as coordinates,
rotation angle, and scale.
4. Image correlation data can be specified in either an external file, or you can manually
specify the correlation data when inserting images.
5. The Insert Image command is a simple method for inserting images to a drawing. When you
use the Insert Image command, you cannot perform coordinate transformation on the
image if the coordinate system for the image is different from the coordinate system for the
drawing.
6. The Data Connect command enables you to connect to multiple data sources from a within
a single interface. When you use the Data Connect command to insert an image, you can
perform a coordinate system conversion on the image if the image coordinate system is
different from the drawing coordinate system.
7. Google Earth uses images generated from aerial photographs.
Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 13
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, you learned how to insert images to AutoCAD Civil 3D. You inserted an image
using the Insert Image command. You then inserted an image representing a USGS
topographic map using the Data Connect command. Finally, you inserted an image to the
drawing from Google Earth.

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Unit 2 – Lesson 4: Insert Images Civil 3D 2010 Student Workbook ▪ 14