AutoCAD Map 3D: Analyzing Geospatial Data

Many AutoCAD Map 3D users do not have a need to do much geospatial analysis, and so analysis tasks are often left to specialists. However, there are a few types of analysis that most users perform fairly frequently. The most common of these tasks is to create a thematic map. Most geospatial analysis involves creating a thematic map of some kind. Whether you are interested in the property values of a set of parcels, crime statistics in a neighborhood, or the year of installation of telephone poles, the workflow is very similar in all cases. You query spatial data and attribute data from the same source or from multiple sources, and then use the values of the attribute data to change the display characteristics of your map. The thematic map that results from this process gives you new information, allowing you to see patterns or trends that would not be visible in any other way.

AutoCAD Map 3D has always had powerful query tools for working with the content of DWG files. The addition of FDO providers has extended the scope of those tools and made a much wider range of data available for query directly into the program. You can use complex spatial queries with location-based criteria or SQL statements to find exactly the data you want from the data source. The styling and theming functions of Display Manager in AutoCAD Map 3D have been redesigned to make them easier to use and more flexible. If you are creating thematic maps for distribution over an intranet or on the Internet, you can publish maps directly to MapGuide Enterprise or MapGuide Open Source. A web page and the tools to interact with the map are generated for you automatically.