CAD Community

This web page is a collection of resources and tips for the use of CAD (computer aided drafting) software for land surveying, GIS, and cartography. This includes how-to-articles, drawing templates, blocks, sample CAD standards, and more.

My History as a CAD User

I've been using CAD software for several years. I was introduced to CAD at Flathead Community College, after a grueling introduction to drafting in a “hand drafting” class. We used AutoCAD 2000 Light in my first drafting class at Flathead Valley Community College. I quickly caught on to CAD, and realized my knack for drawing and sketching would serve me well as a draftsman. This CAD class was one of my most enjoyable classes in college.

Shortly after I started work at KSN, the company migrated its CAD users to AutoCAD 2004. I was taught how to use AutoCAD 2004 Land Development Desktop, AutoCAD 2004 Map, and AutoCAD Raster Design as part my work. It was at this time that I started to explore customization of AutoCAD products with the AutoLISP programming language. I have been through several iterations of AutoCAD at KSN from that time. I am currently using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2010, AutoCAD Map 2010, and AutoCAD Raster Design 2010 in my work as a land surveyor at KSN.

I started looking for an open source alternative to AutoCAD several years ago, but was disappointed in my search. However, I did discover that the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium released several “clones” of AutoCAD. I started working with one of these clones, CADopia. I now currently used the AcceliCAD clone of AutoCAD, which is also based on IntelliCAD. The user interface for AcciliCAD is similar to AutoCAD's and the programs offer the ability to execute AutoLISP code. Although the IntelliCAD program's are limited in their functionality when compared to some of the AutoCAD products, they are much more reasonably priced and represent a good alternative for CAD software to small businesses and government agencies. They also offer some functionality not included in AutoCAD products.

Plotting and Printing Resources

I've created a generic chart for documenting CTB or Pen Table designs in 2000 DXF format. It has a box for every standard CAD layer color. The thickness of the box is a polyline whose width can be edited to reflect the pen width. The fill of each box is set to the true AutoCAD color. There are labels for the color number and pen width for each box. There are labels at the top of the grid of boxes that allow you to orgnize the colors into bands. You can also download the generic chart for documenting CTB or Pen Table designs in PDF format. I'm releasing the chart documents into the public domain, which means you can do just about whatever you want to with them.

Monument Blocks

I've created a number of blocks that can be used to represent Public Land Survey System corners in a CAD drawing. There is also a block for "Search Found Nothing Symbols". Each of the blocks has border for trimming. You can modify the layer names, colors, and hatch for each of the sybmols to suit your use. I'm releasing the blocks into the public domain, which means you can do just about whatever you want to with them. You can download the blocks in 2000 DXF format from the list below.

• Section Corner Block
• East-West 1/4 Corner Block
• North South 1/4 Corner Block
• "Search Found Nothing" Block

Checklists

You can download a short checklist I made for typical CAD drawings produced by land surveyors. I'm releasing the checklist into the public domain, which means you can do just about whatever you want to with it.