# Generate contours from las file using autocad civil 3d

**URL:** <https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817>\
**Category:** PIX4Dmapper Questions/Troubleshooting\
**Created:** [January 16, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817 "2017-01-16T03:46:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ramesh\_Singh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Ramesh\_Singh](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Ramesh_Singh)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817/1 "2017-01-16T03:46:46Z")

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Hi,

Does anyone here know how to generate contours from las file using autocad civil3d? A step by step guide would be greatly helpful!

Regards,

Ramesh.

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**Author:** ![Blaine\_Schiess](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/pix4d/user_avatar/community.pix4d.com/blaine_schiess/32/196_2.png) [@Blaine\_Schiess](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Blaine_Schiess)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817/2 "2017-01-18T15:44:26Z")

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Yes. You would bring it in, or rather attach it as any other point cloud. The easiest and quickest way is to create a Recap project, then add the .rcp file as a surface definition. Pix4d is very unfriendly with Civil3D as far as useful files that you can import. After a couple of years finding workarounds I have found it much simpler to generate contours with Pix4d at 0.1’ interval, export a .shp file of those, then amport those into Civil3d and use them as surface definitions. Hope that helps.&nbsp;

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**Author:** ![Christina](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/pix4d/user_avatar/community.pix4d.com/christina/32/303_2.png) [@Christina](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Christina)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:35am UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817/3 "2017-02-09T06:35:38Z")

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Hello all,

Here you can find more information about how to generate contour lines with Pix4Ddesktop:&nbsp;

[How to generate the Contour Lines](https://support.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/articles/202560639-How-to-generate-the-Contour-Lines#gsc.tab=0)

@Blaine: Please give us more information about the output files that would be useful for you and your Civil3D workflows. I will pass your ideas to our Product Development Team. You could write us filling this form: [form](https://community.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/requests/new#gsc.tab=0).

Best regards,

Christina

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**Author:** ![John\_Brady](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/pix4d/user_avatar/community.pix4d.com/john_brady/32/359_2.png) [@John\_Brady](https://community.pix4d.com/u/John_Brady)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817/4 "2018-10-29T21:21:39Z")

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I have also run into getting data into Civil3D efficiently, while I have been using the contour method (at 0.1ft interval) as well it is not working for my most recent site which is about 140acres/57hectares. Civil3D keeps crashing so I am wondering what would be a good format to import into Civil3D that won’t crash it?

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**Author:** ![Jorge\_Santos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@Jorge\_Santos](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Jorge_Santos)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/generate-contours-from-las-file-using-autocad-civil-3d/2817/5 "2018-10-29T22:07:43Z")

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John when you import a las file to civil3D you can put the file “lighter” choosing a less densify import. That would allow less points to be imported and the computer wont crash as much.