Export Cross Sections to AutoCAD DXF Format
After a sounding has been completed, it is possible to export both the background map (vector maps only) and the regularly spaced soundings (matrix) to an AutoCAD DXF file for further processing.
In addition to these objects, you can also export the side views of a channel, also called cross sections. The software will export all generated cross sections to a single DXF file.
These cross sections can then be modified and plotted or copied to another DXF file, for instance, the exported DXF matrices.
Example of an exported file in AutoCAD 2020
Defining the cross section locations
To generate cross sections, you have to set the locations of the cross sections. There are various ways to do this:
- Placing sections manually;
- Generating sections using a boundary;
- Importing cross sections from AutoCAD.
Generating the cross sections
You can generate the cross sections using the cross sections volume calculation tool in Hydromagic. To start the cross sections volume calculation tool, select the "Volumes (Sections)" option from the "Tools" menu.
The following dialog will be shown:
Data selection
The data to be selected depends on how you use the tool. Use the pre- and post-soundings to select the soundings for the calculation.
When you want to calculate the amount of sediment, select the same sounding in both input boxes, and select different frequencies. If you end up with negative values, swap the selected frequencies or the values selected in the "Pre-Sounding(s)" and "Post-Sounding(s)" fields.
For dredging volumes, select the soundings created before the dredging operations in the "Pre-Sounding(s)" field field and the soundings created after the dredging operations in the "Post-Sounding(s)" field.
Using boundaries is optional. The same boundaries will be used for the pre- and post-soundings.
View cross sections
Once the data has been loaded, you can check the result in the graph using the "Prev" and "Next" buttons. If "NO DATA" is displayed in the graph, it means that there are no soundings or shorelines near the cross section.
The pre-sounding will be displayed in red, the post-sounding in green, and the channel design is displayed in blue.
You can click the "Depth Mode" button to switch between depth and elevation. When all sections are displaying correctly, you are ready to export the data as an AutoCAD DXF file.
Starting the export process
When everything has been set up correctly (including soundings and boundaries), you can export the cross-sections data in CAD format. To do so, click the "Save CAD" button and supply a valid DXF file name.
A popup will indicate whether the export was successful. The DXF file can be opened in AutoCAD or other CAD programs that support the DXF file format.
Layout of the exported file in AutoCAD 2020
Video Tutorial
The following YouTube video tutorial shows how to export cross section data as AutoCAD DXF files, so you import them into your CAD package. Click below to play the video. When you like the video, please click the like button and subscribe so you will receive an update when new video tutorials on Hydromagic are uploaded.
This video demonstrates how to export cross sections as AutoCAD DXF drawings.