Import assets (substations, line routes, parcels) or site boundaries from a Shapefile or GeoJSON into a project in PVcase Prospect.
Before you start
The files must be downloaded on your computer for this process to work. Export the file if it's still in ArcGIS or download files saved as email attachments.
Have multiple layers in a single file? Import them one-at-a-time to create multiple layers (unzip files with multiple layers and import them separately). In the future, we plan to add support for importing multiple files at once.
A Shapefile is actually a folder with multiple files that when imported as a group work together to display data. There are a wide variety of files that can be included in a shapefile but for imports in the AO platform the following file extensions are the minimum requirements for a successful import:
.shp .shx .dbf .prj. These files can be imported by selecting and dragging all of them at once onto the map. You can also drag and drop a zip folder, provided it contains a single shapefile.
Import assets
If you haven't created a new project, see how to do so from the Portfolio View (homepage) in Create a new siting project. Then follow the steps described in the sections below.
Drag and drop a Shapefile or GeoJSON onto the map
- Find the file in your computer's file directory (file will be in whichever folder it was saved to - e.g. Downloads). Zip files will work provided they only contain a single shapefile layer.
- Click on the file name in the file directory and then drag and drop the file name over the map. The map will be slightly grayed out as you drag the file onto the map.
Enter layer name
- Enter a custom name for your layer and click Run.
The layer will show up in the Layer Catalog as an unsaved layer, and the layer will appear on the map.
Import objects as assets/save features to the map
From here, you can save the layer and/or copy objects to the project map.
- Save the file as a saved layer through the three-dot menu.
- Select a parcel from the layer and do one of the following
- Copy the object as a drawing
- Add the object as an asset to your project
Copy the object as a drawing
Once you've copied a feature to the map, you can add it to your project by selecting Create and then Land.
Once the copied element has been added to your project, you can edit asset details (name, site control status, etc.). You can also add notes similar to any other parcel by clicking on the pencil icon.
Add Asset to project
Select Add to Project to add the asset to your project.
This will bring up a short Import wizard to help you finish importing the data.
Import wizard
In the pop-up window, go through each of the steps to finish configuring how the data is imported.
Step 1: Asset Mapping
- Choose Asset Type. In the original file, what does the specified geometry relate to? (E.g. In the example below, polygons in the KML file represent land/parcel boundaries).
- Polygon = Land
- Point = Substation
- Polyline = Power Line
- Click Save & Proceed
Step 2 (Optional): Data Field Mapping
Use the Data Field Mapping tab to map attribute fields from the original file to the equivalent field/column in the parcel data in PVcase Prospect.
If you skip this step, we'll still name the assets based on the asset name in the original file and all other data will be saved in the Notes/Description field.
It may take a moment to load in, but the newly imported asset(s) will be listed in the respective list below the map.