California Surveyors Forums

I am curious to know what people's opinions are regarding a requirement to submit autocad 2000 compatible drawing files that have been cleaned up to facilitate review by the county surveyor, along with paper hardcopies of the map being reviewed.

Are there city and counties that now require this across the state?

Never heard of such a thing. But I'm in Siskiyou Co. As far as I know, none of the surrounding counties (Shasta, Lassen, Modoc, Humboldt, Trinity, Del Norte) require submital of a CAD file either.

I don't like the idea of giving someone the opportunity to make changes to a file I still consider a work in progress. Until it's submitted for filing, there is the possibility that there will be changes pursuant to CS comments, and there is the possibility that I may decline to make changes per some comments.

It is my strong opinion that the surveyor who conducted the survey and prepared the map should have sole authority and control of what information is actually changed. The CS has statutory authority to add notes pertaining to matters of disagreement, but not to make any substantive changes nor to require them.

My concern with submitting at time of review is that it will open the door for those counties presuming to require CAD files at review to also presume authority for a greater level of review than statute gives them. I can see "check files" coming back from some jurisdictions with renamed layers, changed colors, linetypes, text styles, and/or symbols, altered line locations, inane comments regarding CAD drafting techniques, etc.

I would not have a problem with providing linework in CAD or shape file format after review is complete to facilitate upgrading a GIS parcel base. Nor would I object or view it a burden to provide an image file of the final reviewed map in PDF, TIF, or other image file format, subject to comparison to the hard copy original containing my signature and filed with the Recorder.

I can foresee jurisdictions wanting to make electronic "red marks" on an electronic file. I guess I could be OK with that if the file were an image file or PDF that they add marks to rather than the CAD file. The CAD file has become the base file for calculations and analysis. The CS can comment all he or she likes on my map, but hands off my working files!

I don't know of any local jurisdictions requiring CAD files for RS, but recall hearing something about it for subdivisions in one of the local jurisdictions. I don't recall which jurisdiction and it may have been only that they were considering it but not yet requiring.

raster files yes, vector files no.

We require an electronic file of the final/parcel map at the end of the map check process just prior to recordation. It is used to efficiently expand our County-wide precise mapping database and has helped us develop our Land Records Website which makes an abundance of mapping records available to the public and the surveying community for free.


21.44.055 Digital graphic file.
The following shall be required upon submittal of final tract maps and final parcel maps for recordation:
A. Submittal of the final map to the county engineer in a digital graphic file format which the county engineer determines is acceptable for direct entry into the county-wide precise mapping database; or
B. Payment of the applicable data conversion fee to the county engineer pursuant to Section 21.44.077 of this code. (Ord. 99-0080 § 1, 1999.)


21.44.056 Warning regarding use of digital graphic files.
Any person using the county-wide precise mapping database (CPMD) or any computer data media generated by the CPMD to produce a map and any person copying a map so produced, shall cause the following to appear prominently on the face of any such map or copy:

WARNING: This map was created from the Los Angeles County County-wide Precise Mapping Database, which is designed and operated solely for the convenience of the County and related public agencies. The County does not warrant the accuracy of this map, and no decision which might create a risk of economic loss or physical injury should be made in reliance thereon.

(Ord. 99-0080 § 2, 1999.)

I highly prefer .pdf files for redline comments and submittals.

IMO it's time for County Surveyor's OfficesOon this great state to start implementing PDF submittal for said maps. City of Santa Monica, Singapore to name a few has already implemented such submittal format. It's time to go greener with today's technology.

San Mateo County has done this for several months and it is great.

Think about the amount of paper we use for old fashion paper submittal; think about those originals CR & RS Maps that County has to store; think about the submitting surveyors who need to either drive to post office or county offices...
Anyone know who has the authority to make such change?

Subman, you should have the authority to lead Los Angeles County :)

Yes we ought to take advantage of technology, no question about it. But that is not the question I am asking. The question is whether or not cad files are the best medium to facilitate the communication between the checker and the person submitting documents for review.

CAD files are rarely being sent out of my office. These files especially during reviews stages, are my working/calcs files, no one can touch them.

Plus in general I think it is kindof funny to spare paper by eliminating an ROS plot. What generates a ton of paper is the requirement that architects submit multiple copies of a plan set. It seems like sometimes I have to plot up to 10 copies of a topo for someone's plan submittal. That is a hell of a lot of paper being used depending on the plan.

Last year I started using pdf files via email with Yuba County on my maps. They loved it. I love it. The only way to go.

I have to submit CAD files to the City of Santa Barbara for submission into their GIS system. This is done after they approve the final submittal. Otherwise it's the paper submittal they review.

I think that all makes sense. Submitting CAD files for review vs. paper/ PDF will open the door to more scrutiny that really isn't necessary for a professional review.

hello all
Have any of you ever used a dwf format ?
Review this option i think you might all like it
Plus most of you already have purchased this option from autodesk.
Plus autodesk has a free dwf,PDF,dwg viewer thats free
with that program you can markup (not manipulate) the dwf file ??
just an option ??

thank you Shotgun checking it out now.

Another problem I have with requiring DWG files is that not everyone has a CAD program that can read/write/use ACAD dwg files.

Most of us do, but there are still a few surveyors working with COGO programs they bought in the 80s, or using handheld calculators to do their calcs and hand drafting their maps. Those surveyors are working within their areas of competence by using a system that works for them. It would not be right (and probably not legal) to force them to buy software in order to submit their maps, which to the rest of us, are just as usable in their final form as any map produced in CAD.