You can use Plex-Earth features to create terrain models from free, quality data you can find online.
One example is Elvis - Elevation and Depth - Foundation Spatial Data for Australia, which
"is a cloud-based system allowing users to easily discover and obtain Australian elevation and bathymetry data available within their area of interest. It is developed as a partnership between participating agencies under the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) and brings together open data from Commonwealth, state, and territory governments, making it accessible from a convenient central source. Data can be quickly accessed through Elvis to support efficient planning, research, and decision-making by government, industry, research communities, and others requiring the data".
In the following article, we are going to use the NSW Government Spatial Services DEM of 1-meter resolution.
Step 1: Download the Data for your Area of interest
Step 2: Use the GeoTIFF to create a Terrain Model
Do you know any source of terrain data that you are interested in using? Share it with us!
Step 1: Download the Data for your Area of interest
1) Visit the following URL:
https://elevation.fsdf.org.au/
2) Locate your area of interest on the map
Select the option Order Data and choose one of the available methods to define your area: Draw, Manual, or Load a File.
Then, click on Search.
3) Select the data you want to download
After searching, a list of other available data will appear on the right palette.
Then, select the data you want - in our case, the 1-meter resolution NSW Spatial Services Digital Elevation Model.
Let's choose the dataset that includes our area, and is from 2020 (2013 & 2020 are available).
Scroll down, add your industry and email address, then order your data.
Note that there is a 15GB limit per request.
You will receive an email with a download link valid for 48 hours to access the dataset.
The data will be downloaded as a zip folder, which you will need to unzip.
Step 2: Use the GeoTIFF to create a Terrain Model
There is already a detailed tutorial on how to create a Terrain model from a GeoTIFF.
Tutorial: Create Terrain from GeoTIFF
Check also the steps below:
1) Start Plex-Earth and use the command Create Terrain from GeoTIFF
Select the respective command from the Plex-Earth ribbon.
and load the GeoTIFF you downloaded.
You will get the following message, where you select Yes, Continue without a coordinate system.
2) Apply a Coordinate System
Since a coordinate system is not recognized automatically, we need to apply one ourselves.
To find more information on which coordinate system we should apply, we visit the Details tab in the GeoTIFF editor palette.
The coordinate system GDA2020 / MGA zone 56 is mentioned there, so go back to the Coordinate System Tab, select Apply Coordinate System, then By Coordinate System, and find GDA 2020/ MGA Zone 56 from the Australia list.
💡Tip: You can find the coordinate system as well as more metadata regarding the dataset from the HTML link accompanying the GeoTIFF file.
3) Select the Area and Resolution, and create a Terrain model
Select the Area of your interest using the preview provided by Plex-Earth and adjust the resolution if needed. After that, select Import Terrain.
4) Select Type of Surface
You have the following options when using terrain data from GeoTIFF:
- Create Terrain Model
- Insert Tin Mesh
- Insert Contour Polylines
- Import Points
For options 2-4, you are directly importing CAD objects, ready to be used in CAD or other software.
With option 1, you create a Plex-Earth terrain model, which can be saved in your DWG, and with the help of Plex-Earth, customize the terrain further and insert the data as CAD objects in the future.
If you create a Terrain model, you can adjust it as any other terrain model of Plex-Earth.
Do you know any source of terrain data that you are interested in using?
Click Here and send us the following details:
Link to the Data provider, Data provider, or any other info you might find relevant.
We hope that you have found this tutorial on using the Elvis - Elevation and Depth - Foundation Spatial Data from the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) for Australia, helpful. Feel free to contact us at support@plexscape.com for any questions you may still have.
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Compatibility includes:
AutoCAD, Civil 3D®, AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD Plant 3D: 2026 , 2025 , 2024 , 2023 , 2022 , 2021 , 2020
BricsCAD (Pro, Mechanical, BIM, Ultimate): V25 , V24 , V23 , V22 , V21