Plex-Earth allows users to import GPS-enabled camera photos into AutoCAD, Civil 3D, BricsCAD drawings, accurately placing them based on georeferenced coordinates. The process involves georeferencing the drawing, verifying the photo’s GPS data, and using the Import Camera Photo command. Imported images aid project assessment but may require manual scaling.
Introduction
With Plex-Earth 2026, you can import photos containing GPS data that would be placed on the correct coordinates in accordance with the georeference applied. These photos can be taken using GPS-enabled camera devices such as smartphone cameras, drone cameras, etc. Modern digital camera devices nowadays usually automatically record information like camera settings and other relevant data right into photographs, which are called EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data. This information can then be later used to organize/categorize photos and provide vital information that can be deemed useful to a project. This includes GPS information such as latitude and longitude.
In this tutorial, you can see how to easily import camera photos into your AutoCAD drawing.
Step 1. Georeference your drawing
To begin with, the drawing needs to be georeferenced to ensure that any imported elements will be placed on the correct coordinates.
To accomplish that, use Plex-Earth's georeferencing features, or if the drawing is already georeferenced via AutoCAD's Geolocation, Plex-Earth will automatically recognize and adapt the applied georeference settings.
Click here for a step-by-step tutorial on how to georeference your project using Plex-Earth.
Step 2. Check if the photo has GPS data
Make sure that the photo to be imported contains GPS data, which can be found in its properties.
To check it, locate the photo to import, right-click on it, and click on Properties.
In the Details tab, scroll down and find the GPS section. In this section, you will see the latitude, longitude, and sometimes, altitude.
Step 3. Import Camera Photo
To start importing the camera photo in CAD, in the Raster Tools panel, click on the Import Camera Photo command. Alternatively, type in the PXV_IMPORT_PHOTO command in the command line.
You will be prompted to locate the photo you want to import.
Once selected, the photo will be imported into your drawing on the appropriate coordinates.
Notes
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No GPS data in the photo: If the photo does not have GPS data, an error message will appear when you try to import it above the command line.
Scaling: The imported photo is not scaled, so it may need to be scaled accordingly to fit in the drawing.
FAQs
I get an error saying there is no location data when I try to import my photo — why?
The photo does not contain GPS data in its EXIF metadata. To check, right-click the photo file in Windows → Properties → Details tab → scroll to the GPS section. If no latitude and longitude are listed, the photo was taken without GPS tagging enabled. Enable location services on your device before taking photos, or use a GPS-enabled camera.
My photo imported but it appears much too large or too small in my drawing — how do I fix it?
Camera photos are imported at their original pixel dimensions without any automatic scaling to match your drawing units. You will need to scale the image manually in CAD after importing using the SCALE command. Use a known reference distance in your drawing to scale it accurately.
What types of photos and devices are supported?
Any photo that contains GPS EXIF data is supported, including photos taken with smartphone cameras, drone cameras, and GPS-enabled digital cameras. The photo must be in JPG/JPEG format and have latitude and longitude recorded in its metadata at the time of capture.
Related Questions
This article explains how to import GPS-tagged camera photos into AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or BricsCAD using Plex-Earth. You may have searched for:
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- Import photo with EXIF GPS data into AutoCAD or Civil 3D