Learn how to apply transformations to an assigned coordinate system or other applied georeference in Plex-Earth 2026 using Site Area tools. This tutorial explains how to set a coordinate system or custom georeference, create a Site Area, apply transformations such as align, move, rotate, or scale, and then apply those changes to the drawing so the georeference is updated. The modified georeference affects all Plex-Earth imports made afterward, while existing drawing objects must be moved manually or reimported if needed.
Learn how to apply transformations to realign, rescale, or correct existing georeference settings.
There are cases where your drawing is already georeferenced, but you need to adjust the georeference to better match your design objects or the real-world data you import (imagery, terrain, etc.).
With Plex-Earth, you can apply transformations such as align, move, rotate, or scale, and then apply these changes directly.
Step 1. Apply Georeference
Georeference is needed for Plex-Earth to know where to place the items. If your drawing is not georeferenced yet, start with one of the following:
Step 2. Create a Site Area
To proceed with transformations, you need to create a Site Area. Check out the following article on how to do so: Site Area.
Step 3. Apply Transformations
Open the Site Area Editor and use the Transform tools to apply the adjustments you want.
The available transformations are:
Align
Move
Rotate
Scale
Step 4. Apply Transformations to the Drawing
After finalizing the transformations, the option to Apply to Drawing will be available. To apply the transformations to your coordinate system, using this option is necessary.
To further confirm the transformation, go to the Plex-Earth ribbon → Assign Georeference, and you will see the label Modified next to your coordinate system.
What Changes After You Modify the Georeference?
Once the coordinate system/georeference is modified:
✅ Affects future Plex-Earth imports
All objects you import after applying the transformation will be inserted according to the modified georeference.
⚠️ Affects existing imported data differently
If you already imported objects before applying the transformation (such as imagery or terrain), the transformation will only affect the imagery/terrain inside the Site Area you transformed and will NOT affect other prior existing imports.
FAQs
What is the difference between this and "Aligning Plex-Earth Imagery with Your Drawing Objects"?
This article is for adjusting the coordinate system or georeference itself — for example when your drawing's georeferencing is off and you need to shift, rotate, or scale it so that all future Plex-Earth imports are placed correctly. The Aligning article is for when your georeference is correct but your imagery appears rotated or offset relative to your design objects, and you want to fix the imagery placement directly using CAD's ALIGN command without touching the coordinate system. See Aligning Plex-Earth Imagery with Your Drawing Objects for that workflow.
I applied the transformations but nothing changed — what did I miss?
You need to click Apply to Drawing after setting up your transformations in the Site Area Editor. The transformations are not committed until this step is completed. You can confirm the change was applied by going to the Plex-Earth ribbon → Assign Georeference, where your coordinate system should now show the label Modified.
Will the transformation update my existing imported imagery and terrain, or only new imports?
The transformation only affects future Plex-Earth imports made after it is applied. Objects imported before the transformation will not be automatically repositioned, except for imagery and terrain that falls within the Site Area you transformed. If you need previously imported objects to match the updated georeference, you will need to reimport them or move them manually.
Related Questions
This article explains how to apply transformations such as align, move, rotate, or scale to an existing coordinate system or georeference in Plex-Earth to correct or adjust positioning. You may have searched for:
- How to adjust or correct the georeference of my drawing in Plex-Earth
- How to shift or rotate the coordinate system in AutoCAD using Plex-Earth
- How to fix a misaligned georeference in AutoCAD
- How to apply a coordinate system offset or correction in Plex-Earth
- How to make future imagery imports use a corrected coordinate position