If an ArcGIS dataset has associated raster data, you can insert it into a drawing using the Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS. Use the Import Raster Data from Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS dialog box to specify a folder for the downloaded raster data and to specify the resolution of the imported raster data.
An image with elevation data can be imported as imagery or a surface can be created from it, but an image without elevation data can only be imported as imagery. When you select raster data to import, the Import Raster Data from Autodesk Connector for ArcGIS dialog box will be displayed so you can specify parameters.
You can import the same raster data multiple times into a drawing so that you can specify different resolution settings and areas of interest.
- Raster Data Folder
- Specifies the folder for the imported raster data. When you import raster data from ArcGIS into a drawing, the raster file is also saved to this location.
Tip: If the drawing will be uploaded to Autodesk Docs, using the default Raster Data Folder may result in the path being too long for Desktop Connector, which will result in the raster data not being loaded correctly into the drawing. To work around this issue, specify a shorter path for the Raster Data Folder. For example, set it to be the same folder as that in which the current drawing is located.
- Raster Data Resolution
- Specifies the resolution for the imported raster data. If the selected resolution is higher than what is available for the raster data, the source resolution will be used.
Best Practices for working with ArcGIS raster data
- Import the raster data using a suitable area of interest and resolution.
There are tradeoffs between performance and image quality because they are inversely related. Higher-quality images will be larger files and may affect performance speed. Performance is also dependent on your connection speed. For example, the following options for the area of interest and resolution are recommended for importing the raster data:
- Level 18: 0.5972 meter/pixel, area of interest: 20km x 20km
- Level 19: 0.2986 meter/pixel, area of interest: 10km x 10km
If you import a Nearmap image with 0.074646 meter/pixel, the recommended area of interest is 2.5km x 2.5km or 3km x 3km.
For more information, see Cell size of raster data.
How to find the source resolution in ArcGIS Online data
At the following image server, https://gis.cupertino.org/cupgis/rest/services/Public/2016Aerial_ImageService/ImageServer, you can find the following information about the spatial reference and pixel size:
- Spatial Reference: 103005 (6420)
Note: 6420 is the Well Known ID.
- Pixel Size X: 0.25 (0.25 feet/pixel)
- Pixel Size Y: 0.25 (0.25 feet/pixel)
- It is recommended to check the raster file spatial reference and then set the best matched coordinate system in the drawing before importing the raster file so that the image can be positioned in the correct location.
For more information, see the image coordinate system's Well Known ID: https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/services-reference/projected-coordinate-systems.htm.