Importing Geometry from a .DXF File

Import geometry representing a city from a .dxf file. Convert the geometry to a WinProp format.

  1. Convert the urban database using one of the following workflows:
    • On the File menu, click Convert Urban Database > Vector Database.
    • Press Ctrl+D to use the keyboard shortcut.
  2. Under Format of source file, in the Selection of import filter drop-down list, select AutoCAD (*.dwg, *.dxf).
    Figure 1. The Conversion of Urban Vector Database dialog.


  3. Keep the default settings on the dialog.
  4. Click OK to close the Conversion of Urban Database dialog.
  5. Browse to the location of the file, Frankfurt_modified.dxf1 and click Open.
  6. Specify the file name as Frankfurt.odb1 and click Save.
    The AutoCAD Conversion Settings dialog is displayed.
    Figure 2. The AutoCAD Conversion Settings dialog.


  7. In the LayerName column (second column), select layer 0.
    For this example, there is only a single layer.
  8. Under Select Layer to be Converted, click Convert to walls.
    The icon is displayed in column 1 for layer 0.
    Figure 3. The AutoCAD Conversion Settings dialog with layer 0 converted to walls.


  9. Click Start conversion to convert to WinProp format.
    The 2D object found dialog is displayed.
    Figure 4. The 2D object found dialog.


    Note: The .dxf file for this example only contains 3D objects (no 2D objects).
  10. Click Ignore all 2D objects.
    Note: The option to extrude 2D objects to 3D is not applicable to this example as the file only contains 3D objects.
  11. Click OK to close the 2D object found dialog.
    The Conversion of database finished... message is displayed.
    Figure 5. The Conversion of database finished... message.


  12. Click OK to close the message.
    Figure 6. Top view of Frankfurt (on the left) and 3D view (to the right).


The urban database is converted and saved as an outdoor database binary (.odb) file.
1 Project3_Urban_Scenario\Database\Frankfurt_modified.dxf