e-survey Forum

The following thread has been transferred from the messageboard.

Matt Suddaby
C Hughes and Associates Wanaka
14/08/2006

Can you give any tips on the optimal way to do XML edits in e-Survey, particularly with large plans that have numerous parcels to be linked?

Jan Lawrence
LINZ
15/08/2006

The question of the optimal way to do XML edits in e-survey recently came up in several visits to NZIS branch meetings. A LINZ e-survey specialist advises that errors can be edited manually in Landonline but this is a choice the user makes. The application does not force edits to be completed in e-survey. If errors in large plans (e.g 50 lots or more) are identified at capture, parcel linking or plan generation (ie attempting to open Plan Generation but it fails with errors) or even after generating images for QA purposes, the method used would depend on what needs to be edited or added. It would also depend on whether or not you work with 3rd party software.

Ideally, to minimise topology errors in large plans after doing these edits, the optimal way is to carry out the edits or amendments in 3rd party software and to re-import the data. The newly edited XML file imports the correct XML file into e-survey and reduces the time required to edit and relink parcels. Upon importing, the Pre-validation rules will determine the amount of work required to remove any remaining fatal errors reported. Landonline does not support partial imports of XML files so when you re-import your amended XML file it will overwrite the previous XML file and all data associated with it. Completing amendments this way (especially prior to laying out sheets in plan generation) may well be a quicker operation than editing and adding data in Landonline.

Riki Wi
Davis Ogilvie & Partners Ltd (Nelson)
23/08/06

I agree that carrying out major edits in your 3rd party XML-creation software (if possible - depends which software you are using) then reimporting is often the easiest way - unless you've already done extensive plan generation work.

Jan Lawrence said: "Ideally, to minimise topology errors in large plans after doing these edits, the optimal way is to carry out the edits or amendments in 3rd party software...."

A query - based on the implications of the above statement - how would one go about minimising topology errors after (or during) significant manual edits within Landonline itself, after an initial XML import? Unlinking and relinking all affected marks and parcels (which will in the case of a significant manual edit, will often mean basically all marks and parcels in the job)?

Jan Lawrence
LINZ
28/08/2006

Further to the earlier comments on XML edits, our e-survey specialist advises that if you choose not to edit your XML file back in your 3rd party software, then you need to look at what it is you are editing and what that edit affects before doing the edits in Landonline.

Landonline is very structured in how capture and edits are performed.

For instance, if you are editing data that is related to Primary, Secondary, Tertiary or Strata layers then you need to look at how many parcels (no matter what layer) are being affected by the edit. Below are simple steps to take for basic editing of data in Landonline.

NOTE: these steps may vary depending on what edits are being carried out, but can be used as a general guide.

Simple steps:

1. Unlink all the parcels that are affected by the change
2. Highlight the 'Captured Parcel Bdy Lines' layer from the Current Layers tab and then select the line you are editing spatially from the window - right click the mouse and select 'delete'
3. Spatially select the line to be edited - right click the mouse and select 'edit'
4. Make your changes on that line
5. Refresh the Traverse bdy capture screen and refresh the Spatial window
6. Re-link all affected parcels.

NOTE: If your capture has a donut parcel in it (an island parcel consisting of an inner ring and outer ring where the inner ring is not connected to any other linework i.e. a floating parcel) anywhere in your XML file, and you are editing your data in Landonline, then there are steps you also need to take to ensure that the re-linking of your parcels don't fail.

Steps to take:

a. Unlink all the parcels that are affected by the change
b. Unlink the inner and outer rings of the donut parcel
c. Highlight the 'Captured Parcel Bdy Lines' layer from the Current Layers tab and then select the lines that form the inner ring to the donut parcel - right click the mouse and select 'delete'
d. Continue with Step 2 to Step 5 above
e. Re-link the inner ring of the donut parcel BEFORE re-linking the outer ring
f. Re-link all remaining affected parcels.

The reason we carry out donut parcels this way is because Landonline is structured when it comes to carrying out capture of parcels and linking of parcels. 3rd party software allows capture to be carried out in any particular order. Donut parcel topology/geometry relies on identifying the inner ring before the outer ring so that its correct topology/geometry shape can be determined, if this is not carried out correctly within Landonline the topology/geometry of these parcels is compromised.

Tony Nikkel
Nikkel Surveying
27/09/2006

Unless you are a real wizz I would suggest not editing the XML file. Get and use a good third party software package. It is a really good idea to get your dataset as complete as possible prior to export to LoL to minimize the amount of manual edits.

We are implementing a pre-export to LoL check list to eliminate unnecessary editing once within LoL. We also do a quick check and pre-validation as soon as the data is imported into LoL to make sure that all the topology is correct, mandatory missed marks are captured and that there is nothing in our imported data that will crash LoL.

We do this as we see no point in spending many hours tidying up data inside LoL, only to find there is something critical of fatal. If we identify a problem early we just go back to the third party software, tidy up the data there and re-import.

Tony Nikkel
Nikkel Surveying
27/09/2006

XML Edits and difficulties with Plan Generation

With LoL a lot of the problems relate to lack of experience and learning the ropes. Believe me we have lost a lot of hair over the past few years. With Mandatory lodgment looming on the horizon the sooner one gets up to speed the better.

Not easy when workloads are heavy. My suggestion is to have a progressive planned approach to converting to a 100% e-survey environment. Why not choose some easy jobs to learn on, while contracting out some of your other data-sets to external contractors. The benefits will be that you will keep up with your workload, you will glean and learn valuable skills form your external contractor and you will move away from the manual environment in a less stressful manner.

There are several parties already offering external contracting services. Check out News-link or the like for details. Some contractors can also convert your existing SDR traverse blocks or DXF graphical data directly into LoL acceptable data via third party software, thus minimizing the amount of manual input. You can then get them to finish the digital plans or do this yourself.