Practical Execution Guide

This guide gives one connected beginner workflow from raw data to final communication outputs.

Primary priority: Plot PDF and KMZ communication outputs.

Secondary priority: editable exchange files for team rework.

Project Scenario

Use a simple project:

• Two-room building, ground floor only.
• One short approach road.
• Total station points in CSV.
• AOI for basemap and terrain analysis.

Handbook Defaults (Do Not Change)

• Working projected CRS: EPSG:32643
• Units for distance/elevation: meters
• Final communication deliverables: PDF and KMZ

Critical Elevation Source Rule

• Preliminary analysis without detailed site survey: use Copernicus 30m DEM.
• Detailed analysis with detailed site survey: generate DEM from detailed survey and use that DEM for contours, slope, and profiles.
• For detailed checks, do not rely on Copernicus 30m DEM if survey-derived DEM is available.

Expected Outputs

Primary Outputs

• Civil 3D plot PDF.
• QGIS map PDF.
• KMZ for Google Earth Pro.

Supporting Editable Outputs

• Excel cleaned survey workbook/CSV.
• Reprojected basemap GeoTIFF (EPSG:32643).
• Reprojected Copernicus 30m DEM GeoTIFF (EPSG:32643) for preliminary analysis.
• Survey-derived DEM GeoTIFF (EPSG:32643) for detailed analysis.
• Contour vector layer (GeoPackage/Shapefile).
• CAD/GIS exchange layers.

Workflow Overview

flowchart TD
    subgraph BuildData[Data and GIS Build Workflow]
        A[Prepare dataset and folders] --> B[Clean survey CSV in Excel]
        B --> C[Import points in QGIS]
        C --> D[Download basemap]
        D --> E{Detailed survey available?}
        E -->|No| F[Use Copernicus 30m DEM]
        E -->|Yes| G[Convert survey points to DEM]
        F --> H[Reproject rasters to EPSG 32643]
        G --> H
        H --> I[Generate contours and map layout]
        I --> J[Export QGIS map PDF]
    end

    subgraph CadDraft[CAD Drafting Workflow]
        C --> K[Export vector for CAD]
        K --> L[Civil 3D MAPIMPORT and drafting]
        L --> M[Create layout and export plot PDF]
    end

    subgraph EarthQA[Google Earth Review Workflow]
        I --> N[Export communication KMZ]
        N --> O[Google Earth Pro review]
    end

    subgraph Publish[Unified Delivery Workflow]
        P[Publish in OneDrive]
    end

    J --> P
    M --> P
    O --> P

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    classDef process fill:#fff8e1,stroke:#ef6c00,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#e65100;
    classDef decision fill:#ffebee,stroke:#c62828,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#8e0000;
    classDef output fill:#e8f5e9,stroke:#2e7d32,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#1b5e20;

    class A input;
    class B,C,D,F,G,H,I,K,L,N,O process;
    class E decision;
    class J,M,P output;

Step 1: Prepare Project Folder

1. Create a project folder with subfolders: 01_raw, 02_excel, 03_qgis, 04_civil3d, 05_exports.
2. Copy starter CSV and GeoJSON files into 01_raw.
3. Keep raw files unchanged.
4. Store project root in your OneDrive synced location for version-safe work.

Step 2: Clean Survey CSV in Excel

1. Open CSV and verify PointID, Easting, Northing, Elevation, Code.
2. Convert range to table.
3. Run text cleanup and duplicate checks.
4. Save cleaned survey file in 02_excel.
5. Keep a v1, v2 naming pattern for major changes.

Step 3: Build Base GIS Layers in QGIS (Select Elevation Source)

flowchart TD
    A[Set project CRS EPSG 32643] --> B[Add cleaned points]
    B --> C[Load basemap]
    C --> D{Detailed survey available?}
    D -->|No| E[Download AOI basemap and Copernicus 30m DEM]
    D -->|Yes| F[Create DEM from detailed survey points]
    E --> G[Warp rasters to EPSG 32643]
    F --> G
    G --> H[DEM optional cleanup 0 to NoData]
    H --> I[Generate contours]

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    classDef output fill:#e8f5e9,stroke:#2e7d32,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#1b5e20;

    class A input;
    class B,C,E,F,G,H process;
    class D decision;
    class I output;

1. Set QGIS project CRS to EPSG:32643 before processing.
2. Import cleaned CSV as points.
3. Load basemap with QuickMapServices and download AOI raster if needed.
4. Decide terrain source:
5. Preliminary analysis: download Copernicus 30m DEM.
6. Detailed analysis: generate DEM from detailed survey points (TIN/IDW interpolation in QGIS).
7. Reproject basemap and DEM with Warp to EPSG:32643 if required.
8. Optionally set DEM zero values to NoData.
9. Extract contours using practical interval.
10. Record DEM source in output layer metadata/file name.

Step 4: Draft and Plot in Civil 3D

1. Start drawing with layer discipline.
2. Assign MAPCSASSIGN to UTM84-43N (workshop CRS target).
3. Import required GIS vector using MAPIMPORT.
4. Draft two-room plan, wall thickness, and openings.
5. Add dimensions and annotations.
6. Build one layout and export plot PDF.

Step 5: Prepare Communication Outputs

1. In QGIS, style contour and key layers for readability.
2. Build map layout (title, legend, north arrow, scale bar).
3. Export QGIS map PDF.
4. Export final communication layer to KMZ.
5. Open KMZ in Google Earth Pro and verify labels/geometry.

Step 6: Compact Data Exchange Across Tools

1. QGIS point/vector -> Civil 3D via GeoPackage/Shapefile and MAPIMPORT.
2. QGIS raster -> Civil 3D via GeoTIFF and MAPIINSERT.
3. Civil 3D -> GIS via MAPEXPORT.
4. QGIS -> Google Earth Pro via KMZ.

Step 7: Save and Share with OneDrive

flowchart TD
    A[Finalize PDF KMZ and editable files] --> B[Move to OneDrive project folder]
    B --> C[Share with specific people]
    C --> D[Set view or edit permissions]
    D --> E[Use Version History after milestones]

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    classDef output fill:#e8f5e9,stroke:#2e7d32,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#1b5e20;

    class A input;
    class B,C,D process;
    class E output;

1. Publish final files in OneDrive project folder.
2. Share PDF/KMZ as view-only by default.
3. Share editable files only to required editors.
4. Use Version History after major edits.
5. For detailed collaboration settings, use OneDrive Reference.

Daily Quick Check (Before Closing Work)

• Files saved in OneDrive synced folder.
• No active sync warnings.
• CRS remains EPSG:32643 for all GIS/CAD exchange outputs.
• DEM source selection matches objective (Copernicus 30m preliminary, survey-derived detailed).
• Latest PDF and KMZ open correctly.
• Major edits are version-labeled.

Final Quality Checks

• Geometry is clean and readable.
• Units and CRS are consistent.
• Tables have no duplicate critical IDs.
• CAD, GIS, and Google Earth outputs align spatially.
• Communication deliverables (PDF + KMZ) are present and verified.

Related Pages

• Excel 365 Reference
• QGIS Reference
• AutoCAD Civil 3D Reference
• Google Earth Pro Reference
• Interoperability Workflow
• OneDrive Reference