Autodesk InfraWorks – Inserting a 2D Overlay

By Trevor Clayton

Most of us are familiar with building models and developing basic proposals within InfraWorks, but functionality that is often overlooked is the ability to overlay 2D drawings on top of your model. This can give some real design, or existing conditions data, that can become invaluable. It is also a very simple workflow.Figure 1 Typical model in plan viewFigure 2 Simple 2D CAD layout

The great thing about this workflow is that the CAD drawing doesn’t need to be geo-referenced. This can save a lot of time because it will then be easier to turn them into InfraWorks objects and then export back out to AutoCAD Civil 3D should the need arise.

 Start by exposing the Data Sources Dropdown and select “AutoCAD DWG as 2D Overlay”.Figure 3 Data Source selection

You will notice that to make use of this workflow you have to be connected to the internet and also have an active Autodesk 360 Account.

This has some advantages when it comes to sharing drawings and data.

Once you have selected the required file you will see that it uploads the cloud for processing.

It will then be listed in your data sources as a “Terrain Overlay”,  it will of course need to be configured.

You will see that the DWG I am using is not geo-referenced, but that doesn’t pose any issues as we are going to position this manually using information already contained within the InfraWorks Model.           

Simply select “Interactive Placing” and  double click on the InfraWorks model near to where it will sit. You will notice that it comes in at a very small scale. Simply select and grab one of the vertices and pull out so it gets to a size so that you can recognise the features contained in the drawing.Figure 4 Data Sourse Configuration

Figure 5 2D DWG inserted and enlarged ready for placement

It is now a simple case of selecting the DWG overlay and right clicking. You will be presented with the option to “place by reference points”.

When prompted select a point on the dwg by double clicking and then double click on the corresponding point in the model. We repeat this a further 2 times after which your overlay should be in the correct location.igure 6 Correctly positioned 2D dwg overlay