The tools needed to georeference a CAD dataset in ArcGIS Pro are located on the CAD Layers tab. You can use these interactive tools to reposition the data and register control points at specific geographic coordinates.
To view the tools, select a CAD feature layer in the Content area and click on the CAD Layer tab. Click on georeferencing in the Alignment group
.
The following sections are structured like a typical georeferencing workflow. The methods to use and the order in which you run them may differ depending on the data.
Selecting a georeferencing layer
All commands and tools on the CAD layer tab affect the CAD feature layer that is selected in the Content area. Georeferencing a single CAD feature layer takes care of the transformation to the whole dataset. After you have georeferenced a CAD feature layer, you can add the other feature classes of the dataset in question to the map. These are limited by the same control points.Hint:
The CAD layer tab is not visible when a CAD group layer is selected. To display the tab, select a child feature layer in the CAD group layer.
Assigning a spatial reference
If no coordinate system is defined for the CAD dataset, you can define one in the Alignment group under CAD Layers on the Tools tab using the Define Projection tool
assign one. Assigning a room reference is recommended to get an accurate transformation.
Moving the dataset to the current view
If the original coordinate of the CAD drawing (0,0,0) deviates significantly from the map projection in the data frame, the CAD dataset may be added outside the data extent. In this case, zoom in on the target area and click Move to Display in the Prepare group under CAD Layers on the Tools tab. This will move the dataset regardless of its position and adjust it to the current view. The file retains its original scale. If you need to scale the file further to fit your map, see the section below.
Rotating, moving, or scaling the dataset
In most cases, positioning the dataset before adding control points can help make the task easier to perform. Turning with the tools
, Move
and scaling
you can edit the dataset without the use of control points. In the Prepare group, on the CAD layer tab, on the Tools tab, there are the following tools.
Adding control points
Adding control points is recommended to optimize the accuracy of the georeference. Using control points, you can snap specific CAD features in your dataset to the corresponding features in the control point data.
To add control points, click Add Control Points in the Customize group on the CAD Layers tab on the Tools tab
. To update the map display based on the pass points created, click Apply
.
In the control point table, you can change the numeric values of the control points as you create them. To open the control point table, click Control Point Table on the Tools tab in the Review group under CAD Layers
.
Saving the transformation
After you have added passpoints manually or have extracted them from a World-File (.Wld), you can use one of the three options to save the transformation and georeference the dataset. You can find these options on the tab CAD-Layer in the group Save.- Using the Save command
the control points are generated in a .Wld-File saved in the CAD-Workspace; afterwards the transformation is applied.