TPC 2026 - Using GIS

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Using GIS

TPC interfaces with GIS (Graphical Information Systems) via shape and CAD files, but this topic will focus primarily on shape files.

Import Shapes with Projection Files (3:17) - TPC now looks for the corresponding projection (.prj) file when import shapes

What are Shapes?

A shape is a set of vector coordinates or geodetic positions that define a feature. TPC supports a number of shapes, including Points, Polylines and Polygons and their Z and M variants.

A hard and fast rule of shape files is that a shape file can contain only one kind of shape. So all the shapes in a file must be of just one shape type.

What are Shape Files?

Shape files store GIS data. More specifically, they store non-topological geometry and attribute information for the spatial features in a GIS data set. Shapes define positions, boundaries and areas. TPC supports some, but not all of the shape definitions defined in ‘ESRI Shape File Technical Description – An ESRI White Paper – July 1998'.

Shape Files Sets

Shape files come in sets of four –

1.a Shape file (.SHP) that includes the shapes themselves

2.an Index file (.SHX) that stores the locations of the individual shapes in the Shape file

3.a Database file (.DBF) that stores the attributes of each shape

4.a Projection file (.PRJ) that defines the parameters that transform geodetic positions to coordinates

These files always share the same file name, as in Phase1.SHP, Phase1.SHX, Phase1.DBF and Phase1.PRJ.

Every Shape file must also have an Index file and Database file. Therefore, when TPC writes a shape file, it also writes the corresponding index file and database files.

Compressed Shape Files

Many GIS applications import a .zip file that contains the four shape files TPC exports.

Beginning with TPC Desktop 2026, TPC automatically creates the compressed .zip file from the shape files you just exported.

See Compressed (Zipped) Shape Files.

Exporting Shape Files

TPC can export Points, Traverse and Drawings as shape files. You'll want to consider which export option is best for you.

See Exporting Shape Files.

Importing Shape Files

TPC can import shape files into the survey, creating points and traverses in a survey or into a drawing, creating points and polylines in a drawing.

See Importing Shape Files.

Coordinate System

TPC supports three coordinate systems used with shape files by reading and writing their corresponding projection (.prj) file.

Geographic

TPC imports / exports geodetic positions for all shapes using a projection file (.prj) that includes the GEOGCS[] information.

The following is in example of what it will look like.

GEOGCS["GCS_North_American_1983",DATUM["D_North_American_1983",SPHEROID["GRS_1980",6378137.0,298.257222101]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0],UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]]

You must have a CRS (Coordinate Reference System) selected for your survey in order to export geographic shapes.

Projected

TPC imports / exports coordinates for all shapes using a projection file (.prj) that includes the PROJCS[] information.

The following is in example of what it will look like.

PROJCS["NAD_1983_StatePlane_Washington_South_FIPS_4602", GEOGCS["GCS_North_American_1983", DATUM["D_North_American_1983", SPHEROID["GRS_1980",6378137.0,298.257222101] ], PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0], UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433] ], PROJECTION["Lambert_Conformal_Conic"], PARAMETER["False_Easting",500000.0], PARAMETER["False_Northing",0.0], PARAMETER["Central_Meridian",-120.5], PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_1",45.83333333333334], PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_2",47.33333333333334], PARAMETER["Latitude_Of_Origin",45.33333333333334], UNIT["Meter",1.0] ]

You must have a CRS (Coordinate Reference System) selected for your survey in order to export geographic shapes.

Local

TPC imports / exports coordinates for all shapes without the use of a projection (.prj) file.

ArcGIS My Map

Esri has a free GIS web browser app called ArcGIS My Map available at https://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html.

See Using ArcGIS My Map.

QGIS

QGIS is a free GIS application. Spatial without Compromise · QGIS Web Site

TPC works with QGIS through both esri Shape files and CAD files.

See Using QGis.

Sharing CAD Files with GIS

Some GIS programs, like QGIS, are able to exchange data with TPC via CAD files, like DWG. TPC both imports and exports CAD files.

See Using CAD.

Recorded Demos

GIS Interface (25:57) - In this web seminar we show you how to work with ESRI .SHP files along with how the projections and coordinate reference systems work with them and your data.