Export & Import Formats

SiteCAD supports industry-standard formats to ensure your work is portable and compatible with professional tools.

Looking for an overview? Export features & benefits / Import features & benefits

Supported Formats

Choose the right format for your workflow and recipient. All formats preserve georeferencing and metadata.

CSV (Comma-Separated Values)

.csv
Easy

Simple tabular data format, excellent for survey data and entity metadata.

Best For

  • Survey control points
  • Entity metadata
  • Spreadsheet review
  • Command history

Supported Elements

  • Control Points
  • Entity Properties
  • Boundaries
  • Traces

GeoJSON

.geojson, .json
Easy

Geographic data format for boundaries, traces, and spatial features.

Best For

  • Property boundaries
  • Linear infrastructure
  • Survey markers
  • Spatial queries

Supported Elements

  • Site Boundaries
  • Boundaries
  • Traces
  • Control Points

glTF (GL Transmission Format)

.gltf, .glb
Moderate

Modern 3D format with texture support, ideal for visualization and web delivery.

Best For

  • Client presentations
  • Web sharing
  • Model handoff
  • Complete scenes

Supported Elements

  • Solids (as meshes)
  • Textured Models

STEP (Standard for Exchange of Product)

.step, .stp
Moderate

Parametric CAD format for engineering solids, maintains editable geometry.

Best For

  • CAD software exchange
  • Engineering review
  • Manufacturing
  • BIM workflows

Supported Elements

  • Solid Entities
  • Components
  • Assemblies

GeoTIFF (Georeferenced TIFF)

.tif, .tiff
Moderate

Raster elevation and imagery with georeferencing, industry standard for terrain. Import only today — SiteCAD does not write GeoTIFFs.

Best For

  • Bringing in a survey DTM
  • Bringing in an orthophoto
  • Drone mapping output

Supported Elements

  • Elevation Data (import)
  • Orthophotos (import)

DXF/DWG (AutoCAD)

.dxf, .dwg
Moderate

AutoCAD format for 2D plans and limited 3D, widely used in civil engineering.

Best For

  • Contractor deliverables
  • Permit submissions
  • 2D site plans
  • Survey integration

Supported Elements

  • Boundaries
  • Traces
  • 2D Plans
  • Limited 3D

KML/KMZ (Google Earth)

.kml, .kmz
Moderate

Google Earth format for visualization and public sharing.

Best For

  • Public presentations
  • Site tours
  • Marketing
  • Stakeholder review

Supported Elements

  • Boundaries
  • Meshes
  • Traces
  • Placemarks

LandXML

.xml
Complex

Civil engineering standard for survey points, parcels, and alignments. Graded surfaces are not carried in either direction yet.

Best For

  • Civil 3D integration
  • Surveyor deliverables
  • Parcel exchange
  • Alignment design

Supported Elements

  • Control Points
  • Traces/Alignments
  • Parcels

IFC (Industry Foundation Classes)

.ifc
Complex

BIM standard for infrastructure, supports complex site context.

Best For

  • BIM workflows
  • Infrastructure projects
  • Architectural coordination

Supported Elements

  • Components
  • Assemblies
  • Site Context

OBJ (Wavefront)

.obj
Easy

Universal mesh format with material support, simple and widely compatible.

Best For

  • 3D modeling software
  • Rendering engines
  • General 3D exchange

Supported Elements

  • Solid Meshes

STL (Stereolithography)

.stl
Easy

Triangulated surface format for 3D printing, no color or texture.

Best For

  • 3D printing
  • CNC machining
  • Prototyping

Supported Elements

  • Solid Surfaces

PLY (Polygon File Format)

.ply
Moderate

Point cloud and mesh format with per-vertex color support.

Best For

  • Point cloud processing
  • Mesh exchange
  • Survey data

Supported Elements

  • Colored Meshes

Export Workflows by Use Case

Recommended export strategies for common scenarios.

For Contractors

Export parametric solids as STEP for editing, the built scene as glTF for review, and 2D plans as DXF for layout.

  • STEP (solids)
  • glTF (visualization)
  • DXF (2D plans)

For Surveyors

Export survey control points as CSV, alignments and parcels as LandXML, and property boundaries as GeoJSON.

  • CSV (control points)
  • LandXML (alignments)
  • GeoJSON (boundaries)

For Architects/Engineers

Export solids as STEP for parametric editing, complete scenes as IFC for BIM coordination, and glTF for client review.

  • STEP (editable CAD)
  • IFC (BIM)
  • glTF (visualization)

For Clients/Presentations

Export complete scenes as glTF for interactive viewing, KML for Google Earth tours, and render images/videos for presentations.

  • glTF (3D models)
  • KML/KMZ (Google Earth)
  • Images/Videos

For GIS Workflows

Export all spatial features as GeoJSON or Shapefile, and control points as CSV with coordinates.

  • GeoJSON (spatial data)
  • Shapefile (features)
  • CSV (coordinates)

How to Export

  1. Select elements in the editor (or export entire site)
  2. Open the Export menu from the main toolbar or right-click context menu
  3. Choose format based on your recipient and workflow
  4. Configure options (coordinate system, units, detail level)
  5. Export to download file or copy to clipboard

Pro Tip

The AI assistant can help you choose the right format and configure export settings. Just ask "How should I export this for my contractor?" or "What format works best for AutoCAD?"

Import Support

Bring in data from surveys, drones, CAD software, and GIS tools.

Survey Data

Import RTK control points, total station data, and survey boundaries.

CSV, GeoJSON, LandXML

Drone Mapping

Load orthomosaics, DSMs, and 3D tiles from WebODM, Pix4D, or Cesium Ion.

GeoTIFF, 3D Tiles, glTF

CAD Models

Import parametric solids and assemblies from CAD software.

STEP, DXF, OBJ

GIS Data

Load property boundaries, parcels, and spatial features.

GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML

Ready to try it?

Open the editor and start exporting your work in professional formats.