Volunteers are being sought to take part in a project in Queensland called the CAD File Exchange (CADEx), which aims to assess extending the application of CAD files.
The Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, and Regional and Rural Development notes that “Computer aided drafting (CAD) files are routinely produced by the industry in the course of preparing survey plans for submission to the department or lodgement in the land registry”.
According to the Department, the CADex project aims to “explore the feasibility of utilising these CAD files to update our systems for all types of survey plans and not just CAD files submitted for large-scale land development surveys”.
The Department notes that “Other states and territories are at various stages of implementation of similar programs to utilise CAD files to update their respective departmental systems,” and while the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping is working on a 3D cadastral data model, “this conceptual model is several years away from being implementable”.
“Receiving CAD files now will be a practical and timely step towards receipt of survey information in a digital format,” the Department says.
Thus, the Department is seeking a small number of volunteers (5 to 10) to take part in the development of a standardised file format and submission of sample CAD files for testing. Ideally, those volunteers should come from a range of small and large surveying firms, drafting firms and software companies.
“By being involved in the project from an early stage, you will be assisting the department in delivering a practical solution, suitable for adoption across the surveying industry,” the Department says.
The Department points out that:
- The project will deliver a file format specification (schema and template) which can be used by industry participants to voluntarily prepare and submit CAD files.
- The files submitted for the project will be for the Department’s internal use only and will not be distributed outside the department or to other members of the volunteer group.
It has also made it clear that submission of CAD files “will not replace the current requirements to submit PDF or TIFF survey plans in accordance with the Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act 2003, and CAD files will not be the point of truth for survey information. Similarly, CAD files will not replace TIFF survey plans prepared for lodgement in the land registry.”
The Department plans to be ready by the end of the year to receive CAD files that are voluntarily submitted by industry participants, with the aim being to automatically validate them for compliance with the specified file format at the time of submission. But there are no plans to make submission of CAD files a mandatory requirement.
Those interested in participating should email surveying@resources.qld.gov.au by 2 May 2025, and indicate the type of software they use and whether they identify as being from a small or large surveying firm, drafting firm or a software company.
