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ESRI Shape

ESRI Shape files are exported by the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) ArcView or ArcInfo software developed by ESRI Corporation (USA).

Possible import options are:

  • Object Layer (see Allocate Object Type to Layer): Consider that in the column „Layer“ multiple file names, even using wild cards, can be specified to import several SHP files at once. If - for example - the string "trains*" is entered in line „Railway“, all files the filenames of which start with the string "trains" will be imported (e.g. SHP-files "trains1.shp", "trains2.shp "etc.).
  • Transformation (see Coordinate Transformation)
  • Unknown Attributes to Memo-Variable (see Unknown Attributes to Memo-Variable)
  • Process Ring Polygons (see Process Ring Polygons)

The GIS system is based on layers and themes. These themes are labeled and contain objects to be specified by the user. The themes "Buildings.shp", e.g. might comprise all buildings in a city, or "Traffic Systems.shp" might include all roads.

Via the ESRI Shape format, CadnaA is capable of exporting shape files and importing these files, while at the same time allocating the GIS objects to the appropriate CadnaA objects by entering the themes in the allocation list (Options button).

Lines (ISO-dB) and areas with equal sound sources (noise map) and the calculated receiver grid can also be exported to ArcView or ArcInfo.

In total you will get three files with the same name but different extensions:

  • the shape file with the extension „shp“ which comprises the geometrical object data;
  • the database file with the extension „dbf“ with object attributes like, e.g., object height, MDTD of a road (Mean Daily Traffic Density), SCS/Distance of a road (Standard Cross Section) or the sound emission level etc.;
  • and a so-called index file with the extension „shx“.

To import from ArcView all three files have to be in the same directory.

In the dialog Import Options enter the file name without the extension „shp“ as the layer name for the appropriate object type without extension but with an asterisk *. The data being imported is then allocated to that object type under CadnaA. You may select several files to be imported at once.

Example

The file name is "xyz.shp", but you write in the layer line of the corresponding property xyz*. Thus, the topics to be imported in CadnaA to this object type. After you exit the dialog with OK, the import is executed.

unknown attributes

Attribute names unknown to CadnaA can be imported into a text variable by activating the option „Unknown Attributes to Memo-Variables“.

Note

A maximum length of 256 characters applies to attributes.

ESRI Ascii Grid

ESRI Ascii grids can be loaded via the menu Grid|Open.

Bitmap files

If Bitmap files also being delivered by ArcView, and if they are geo-referenced, these files can be imported using the file format Bitmap not requiring a recalibration.

Objects of type 31 (MultiPatch)

If the shp file contains building data of type 31 (MultiPatch), all vertical/horizontal surfaces are imported as individual polygons. A building with a rectangular floor plan is then imported as 6 polygons (4 wall surfaces, ground, roof). We recommend the following post-processing here:

  • Deletion of all polygons with area 0 (all wall surfaces), e.g. via " Modify objects" with action "Delete" and condition "PO_AREA==0".
  • Deleting the ground surface via "Modify objects" and action "Delete duplicates" with following settings:
    • Name and ID = inactive
    • Geometry = active
    • Polygons bidirectional = active
    • 2D only = active
    • Keep Object with max. Weight = PO_HABS to always delete the ground surface and keep the roof surface.