City combines CAD and GIS : Garden Grove's GIS system blends Autodesk Map 3D and MapGuide
EVER SINCE GIS USERS tried to edit shapefiles and CAD users tried to analyze geospatial data, users have wanted to integrate the two technologies. Integrating the drawing and editing capabilities of CAD programs with the data analysis and management capabilities of GIS programs is, in many ways, blending the best of both worlds.
For CAD users, the migration to GIS programs can be amazingly frustrating. A long-time AutoCAD user told me that when he first started using ArcGIS, he couldn't believe how difficult it was to make simple edits to a parcel map showing property boundaries. He was accustomed to the snaps, orthos, grids, dynamic pans and zooms and other tools that made it easy to edit any line or shape. "Why don't GIS programs provide those tools?" he lamented.
There are many reasons, but the biggest one is that GIS programs are not intended for drawing, and they're not designed to have the kind of floating-point accuracy of CAD programs. GIS programs are geared toward compiling, analyzing and synthesizing geospatial data, making analytical tools much more important than drawing and editing tools.
For AutoCAD users, one of the simplest ways to start using GIS capabilities is to transition to Autodesk Map and MapGuide. The recently released Map 3D 2006 integrates CAD and GIS data with creation and editing tools and new geospatial features. Map 3D is a precision mapping application that provides much of the functionality expected in a GIS program. It's intended for designers, planners, cartographers, utility managers and other professionals seeking to add GIS capabilities to their traditional drawing and mapping projects.
One of the biggest strengths of Map 3D and MapGuide is that they take advantage of enhanced interoperability with other Autodesk and competitive GIS products. Map 3D is built on the AutoCAD software foundation so it can leverage all the capabilities of AutoCAD. It also provides productivity and analysis tools not available in AutoCAD. AutoCAD users will find it much easier to edit a shapefile in Map 3D than in a GIS program.
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