OptiSurface Designer V2 Basics

1.4 Importing Survey and Background Files

Difficulty:  Beginner       Video Duration:  4:08
Description:  This video tutorial discusses how to import topographic survey files into OptiSurface Designer and add the background image to enhance your design experience.

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2 Comments

  • JSF

    May 8, 2025

    a) Please sent me a sample.txt file of a drone survey that can be imported into Optisurface.
    b) Can the Optisurface Design File of the drone survey be exported as a .agd file?
    c) Can a .kmz file be imported to be used as a background of a surveyed area?

    • OptiSurface Webmaster

      May 8, 2025

      Hi JSF,

      Thanks for the comments. See answers below:

      a) OptiSurface Designer needs the easting and northing in meters on the UTM coordinates system and the elevation in meters above the WGS84 ellipsoid, which is the same as the altitude that comes directly from standard GPS output. Filter the data to no more than 1 point per square meter, or the data can get too dense and slow the software down.

      Save as a text file in ANSI ecnoding with easting, northing, elevation, code then replace the extension from .txt to .xyz. Read this article in our knowledgebase for more info: Can Drone Or LIDAR Surveys be used with OptiSurface?

      Here’s an example survey file: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/elmll6p8vut2yla0gjx73/GenericSurvey.xyz?rlkey=11dr5d81sy68hw44ou9ucht1p&dl=0

      b) Yes, the design can be exported as .agd file.

      c) You can import a background image as .png. Read more info here: Background. You can also use Tools > Satellite Image > Import Google Map…