ArcGIS for AutoCAD provides various ways to create, access, and work with GIS data in the Autodesk AutoCAD environment.
GIS data from web layers
You access GIS data by selecting layers from ArcGIS Enterprise or ArcGIS Online, or by adding a URL to an Enterprise Server connection. ArcGIS for AutoCAD provides an interface to add map layers, imagery, and feature layers to accomplish the following:
- Interact with map image layers to visualize and identify geographic features.
- Interact with imagery layers by overlaying raster and analyses published as imagery layers.
- Use feature layers to edit, modify, and query vector data in the AutoCAD environment.
A map image layer is a collection of map cartography based on vector data. Vector data includes points, lines, and polygons. Map image layers are dynamically rendered image tiles. Multiple map and imagery layers can be added to the drawing. Interact with map image layers using display properties such as dynamic behavior and transparency and by identifying map attributes.
An imagery layer is a collection of map cartography based on raster data. Raster data is a grid of cells commonly used to store imagery and other information captured by remote sensing devices. Map and imagery layers published with ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online are accessed by adding a connection. Multiple imagery layers can be added to the drawing and interact using display properties such as dynamic behavior and transparency and by identifying map attributes.
A feature layer is a grouping of similar points, lines, or polygons geographic features that share the same schema of attributes. Features are represented in ArcGIS for AutoCAD as standard AutoCAD entities and can be edited using a combination of the standard AutoCAD editing tools and the attributed editing tools provided by ArcGIS for AutoCAD.
Interact with the data
Visualization is a key component of CAD and GIS interoperability. Multiple layers can be added to a drawing, and you can work with layer interaction tools to adjust properties. You can also do the following:
- Interact with GIS data to identify geographic features.
- Adjust the visibility of layers based on your drawing requirements.
When you add GIS data to a drawing, it maintains the connection to the server, which affects the layer's rendering property. Adjust the dynamic layer properties so the layer loads faster.
Create and modify GIS data
You can create and modify feature layers in Autodesk AutoCAD. This is one approach to maintain CAD and GIS data interoperability standards. You can create and modify GIS data by importing GIS schema, creating a document feature layer, converting CAD entities and layers to GIS feature layers, and so on.
GIS features added from web feature layers are represented as Autodesk AutoCAD objects, placed on distinct drawing layers, and organized as feature layers. Document feature layers are established in the drawing using standard AutoCAD entities identified by graphic entity properties that you specify. You can define the feature attributes you want to manage on these document feature layers. You can edit the features using standard AutoCAD commands and synchronize changes back to the connection if you have write permission.
Schema
A schema refers to the data structure of the ESRI feature layer that stores metadata about rules, relationships, and properties to create a specific feature layer. It's nongraphic information that is embedded in the drawing at the dataset (or drawing) level. The information is stored as native DWG Xrecords in a standardized framework of DWG object dictionaries.
Features
A feature is an object that stores its geographic representation—which is typically a point, line, or polygon—as one of its properties (or fields) in the row. Feature layers contain both the geometric shape of each feature as well as descriptive attributes. In ArcGIS, feature layers are homogeneous collections of features with a common spatial representation and set of attributes stored in a database table, for example, a line feature layer for representing road centerlines. Each feature geometry is primarily defined by its feature type (point, line, or polygon).
Create a document feature layer from CAD entities and a layer
One of the benefits of CAD and GIS interoperability is the Esri mapping specification for CAD (MSC), which you can use to interact with GIS data in Autodesk AutoCAD. It allows you to create a GIS feature layer or convert existing CAD layers, entities, and blocks into a feature layer.
Add document feature layer definitions from feature layer template files
The Create option of the Add Data user interface includes a gallery of Esri-defined and user-defined feature layer template files that allow you to quickly add document feature layer definitions with their attribute schema, and symbology to your drawing for popular GIS workflows. You can also add customized templates to the gallery for quick access to your own feature layer template files.
Supported GIS service properties and capabilities
Each layer type provides read-only and data extraction capabilities. Layers can be added, exported as .png files, or extracted as feature layers. The following table describes the interactive properties of associated GIS content:.
| GIS layer | Add | Export | Extract |
|---|---|---|---|
Esri basemap | Yes | Yes | |
Map image layer | Yes | Yes | |
Imagery layer | Yes | Yes | |
Web feature layer | Yes | Yes |
GIS data in the AutoCAD environment
ArcGIS for AutoCAD supports access to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, and GIS layers published on ArcGIS Server. You can add one or more map, image, or feature layers. You can also do the following using GIS layers:
- Assign an Esri coordinate system and draw CAD entities in a real-world location.
- Interact with GIS layers by identifying and querying features in the Autodesk AutoCAD environment.
- Modify and create GIS features as CAD entities and synchronize them with ArcGIS Enterprise.