Atlasly + AutoCAD
Export site constraints, topography, and planning data from Atlasly directly into AutoCAD as a clean, layer-structured DXF file.
The Atlasly DXF export is the fastest way to get a complete site base plan into AutoCAD. One analysis, one export, and you have flood zones, topographic contours, building outlines, road network, and planning constraints — all on correctly named layers, in British National Grid coordinates.
No manual tracing from PDF planning portals. No screenshotting and scaling. No separate downloads from five different government mapping services. The DXF opens directly in AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Civil 3D, Map 3D, and Rhino.
How to export to AutoCAD
- Go to atlasly.app/generate and enter the site address
- Draw the site boundary or accept the auto-detected plot
- Click Analyse Site — the analysis completes in ~30 seconds
- Click Export → DXF in the site intelligence panel
- In AutoCAD, use File → Open (not Import) and select the DXF file
- All Atlasly layers appear in the Layer Properties Manager with their original names
DXF layer reference
| Layer name | Contents |
|---|---|
| building | Building footprint polygons |
| roadHighway / roadPrimary / roadSecondary / roadMinor | Road centrelines by classification |
| roadPath | Footpaths and cycleways |
| roadRail | Rail lines |
| water | Water body polygons |
| waterway | River and canal centrelines |
| greenspace | Parks, gardens, woodland |
| tree | Individual tree points |
| contourMajor / contourMinor | Topographic contour lines (10 m / 2 m interval) |
| contourText | Elevation labels |
| constFlood | Environment Agency flood risk zones 1, 2, 3 |
| constConserv | Conservation area boundaries |
| constHeritage | Listed building curtilages |
| constTpo | Tree Preservation Orders |
| constArticle4 | Article 4 directions |
| constEnviron | Environmental designations (SSSI, Green Belt, National Landscape) |
| constLandfill / constGround | Historic landfill and ground contamination zones |
| meta | Site boundary polygon |
Using in Civil 3D
In Civil 3D, set the drawing coordinate system to British National Grid (BNG / OSGB 1936) after opening the DXF. This ensures the site geometry aligns with any survey data brought in later. The contour layers can be used to build a Civil 3D surface — import contourMajor and contourMinor as Civil 3D contour lines and create a TIN surface for preliminary earthworks estimates.
Accuracy
Topographic data is sourced from OS Terrain 50 (5 m resolution, ±2–5 m vertical accuracy). Constraint boundaries come from Environment Agency, Historic England, and Natural England authoritative datasets. Suitable for feasibility, pre-application, and planning submissions. For construction, commission a licensed topographic survey.