Design Surfaces
Uploading DXF Files
SiteView accepts DXF files exported from CAD software such as AutoCAD, Civil3D, and 12d Model. Upload your engineering designs and they are parsed, geo-referenced, and displayed as layers on the CesiumJS 3D globe — giving you a direct visual comparison between the design and the as-built survey data.
Supported CAD Software
DXF is a universal CAD exchange format supported by virtually all engineering design software. Common sources include:
- AutoCAD — export as DXF from File > Save As
- Civil3D — export surfaces, alignments, and linework as DXF
- 12d Model — export design strings and surfaces as DXF
- MicroStation — export as DXF via File > Export
- Any software that supports the DXF format
💡 Tip
When exporting from your CAD software, use a coordinate system that matches your survey data (MGA2020 or NZTM2000). This ensures the design overlays align correctly with your drone survey on the globe.
Supported Entity Types
SiteView's DXF parser extracts and renders the following entity types:
| Entity | Description |
|---|---|
| LINE | A single straight line segment |
| POLYLINE | A connected sequence of line segments (2D or 3D) |
| LWPOLYLINE | Lightweight polyline — the most common polyline type in modern DXF files |
| CIRCLE | A full circle defined by centre point and radius |
| ARC | A partial circle (arc) defined by centre, radius, and start/end angles |
| ELLIPSE | An elliptical shape |
| POINT | A single coordinate point |
| TEXT | Single-line text labels |
| MTEXT | Multi-line text blocks |
| 3DFACE | A three- or four-sided 3D surface face |
| SOLID | A filled triangular or quadrilateral shape |
| INSERT | A block reference (inserted block definitions are expanded) |
| SPLINE | A smooth curve defined by control points |
Entities that are not in this list are skipped during parsing. The upload summary shows how many entities were extracted and how many were skipped, so you can verify that the important geometry came through.
ℹ️ Did you know?
Most construction design files use LWPOLYLINE, LINE, ARC, and TEXT as their primary entity types. These cover the vast majority of linework, boundaries, and annotations in civil engineering designs.
Coordinate System Detection
When you upload a DXF file, SiteView attempts to detect the coordinate system automatically. Detection is based on the coordinate ranges found in the file geometry:
| Coordinate System | Detection Method |
|---|---|
| MGA2020 Zones 49-56 | Easting values in the range typical for Australian map grid zones |
| NZTM2000 | Easting/northing values in the range typical for New Zealand |
If the coordinate system is detected, it is displayed in the upload confirmation so you can verify it is correct. If detection fails (e.g., the coordinates are in a local grid with no geo-reference), a warning is shown.
⚠️ Watch out!
DXF files using a local or arbitrary coordinate system (e.g., site-local grid with coordinates starting near zero) cannot be positioned on the globe automatically. Ensure your CAD export uses a recognised projected coordinate system such as MGA2020 or NZTM2000.
Layer Extraction
DXF files organise geometry into named layers (e.g., "DESIGN-SURFACE", "BOUNDARY", "CONTOURS", "SERVICES"). SiteView preserves this layer structure during parsing:
- Each DXF layer becomes a separate toggleable layer in the Layers tab
- Layer names are taken directly from the DXF file
- You can show or hide individual layers on the globe
- Each layer can have its own colour and opacity settings
![[Screenshot: Layers tab showing a DXF design surface expanded into its component layers — DESIGN-SURFACE, BOUNDARY, EXISTING-CONTOURS, PROPOSED-CONTOURS — each with a visibility toggle and colour swatch]](/images/placeholder.png)
Layer Naming
Layer names come directly from your CAD file's layer table. Clear, descriptive layer names in your CAD software translate to clear, descriptive toggles in SiteView. If your DXF has layers named "Layer1", "Layer2", etc., consider renaming them in your CAD software before exporting.
The Upload Process
To upload a DXF file:
- Open a site and navigate to the Layers tab in the floating panel
- Click Upload Design Surface (or use the quick action on the Overview tab)
- Select DXF as the file type
- Drag and drop your DXF file into the upload zone, or click to browse
- SiteView parses the file, detects the coordinate system, and extracts layers
- Review the upload summary — entity count, layer count, detected CRS
- Confirm to add the design surface to your site
The parsed geometry is rendered on the CesiumJS globe immediately after upload. There is no lengthy processing step — DXF parsing and display is near-instant for typical design files.
Viewing on the Globe
Once uploaded, the DXF geometry appears on the CesiumJS globe overlaid on the terrain and any survey layers. Polylines, arcs, and other linework are rendered as coloured lines. Text entities appear as labels. 3D faces and solids are rendered as surfaces.
Use the Fly to button on the design surface in the Layers tab to animate the globe camera to centre on the design bounds. This is the quickest way to navigate to where the design sits on the map.
For detailed information on managing layer visibility, colours, and opacity, see Layer Management. For information on DXF default colours and style overrides, see Styles & Popups.
What's Next?
- Uploading KML/KMZ Files — an alternative format for design and reference data from Google Earth
- Layer Management — control visibility, colour, and opacity of design layers
- Styles & Popups — understand how DXF colours and styling work on the globe