Online terrain import

Introduction

The PVcase Import terrain feature enables you to bring in fundamental topographical data directly from the GPXZ* terrain database. You can start preliminary project design, even if the final topographic data for your site is not yet ready.
You can use Import terrain regardless of whether your drawing is already geolocated or not. 

To access it, click the Import terrain button in the PVcase ribbon. 

Importing online terrain data 

You can use Import terrain function in two distinct scenarios:

• When the drawing is already geolocated
• When the drawing is NOT geolocated

Drawing already geolocated

1. Click the Import terrain button.
2. The software will prompt you to either:

• Select a predefined polygon.
• Press Enter and draw a polyline around the desired working area.

3. Press Space or Enter to finalize the area selection.

The terrain data will be imported and automatically set as the active surface in PVcase.

Drawing not geolocated

1. Click Import terrain.
2. The location selection tab will appear. Specify the location, or enter the name of the nearest town to the site.
3. Click OK to confirm the location.
4. Specify a reference point by clicking on the map. The default coordinate system is UTM84, which can be modified by advanced users in the AutoCAD Geolocation ribbon tab.
5. Finally, the software will ask you to either:

• Choose a predefined polygon.
• Press Enter and draw a polyline around the working area.

6. Press Space or Enter to finalize the area selection.

The terrain data will be imported and set as the active surface in PVcase.

Suggestions

Regardless of the Import terrain functionality from PVcase, you can geolocate your project, modify the current point of reference, GIS Coordinate System or the north direction anytime in AutoCAD with the GEO command. 

1. Write the command on the command bar and press Enter.
2. When prompted, drop a marker on a reference point (e.g., a nearby house or a specific corner of your parcel).
3. Click Next.
4. Choose the desired GIS Coordinate System.
5. Define the north direction in your drawing.

Keep in mind that the location where the marker was placed (the red circle) using the GEO command may not align with the internal origin of coordinates (X, Y axes) within your AutoCAD project. 
To change the origin of coordinates for your AutoCAD drawing, which sets the Coordinates displayed in the Properties of your AutoCAD objects, use the UCS command. 
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As a final step, draw the polyline around the chosen area. The terrain will be imported and set as the active terrain in PVcase. After the terrain has been imported, the Terrain mesh can be used to visualize the terrain surface. 

*Note: The GPXZ data source has different terrain density for different locations around the world. For consistency, PVcase Ground Mount extrapolates the data for all locations to a density of 20 meters.