LandXML¶
What is LandXML?¶
LandXML is an open XML schema for exchanging land survey and civil engineering data. It is used in Australia for electronic lodgement of survey plans (ePlan) and is the export format of many survey software packages.
R3Survey supports LandXML import and export primarily for NSW cadastral survey workflows.
Versions supported¶
| Version | Import | Export |
|---|---|---|
| LandXML 1.0 | ✓ | — |
| LandXML 1.1 | ✓ | — |
| LandXML 1.2 | ✓ | ✓ |
| LandXML 2.0 | ✓ | — |
Importing LandXML¶
Use R3IMPORTLANDXML. See Import LandXML.
Typical sources of LandXML files for NSW:
- NSW Land Registry Services (LRS) ePlan portal
- LINZ (New Zealand) — format is compatible
- Survey software exports (12d, MicroStation, Civil 3D)
NSW Digital Plans (ePlan)¶
For NSW cadastral surveys, R3Survey supports the full ePlan workflow — from plan setup and SCIMS control import through to exporting a validated LandXML file for lodgement with NSW LRS. See the NSW Digital Plans section for the complete guide.
Hexagon/Leica XML¶
R3Survey also supports export to Hexagon XML (HeXML) format (versions 1.8 and 1.9) — the data exchange format used by Leica survey instruments and Hexagon office software. This is separate from LandXML.
Coordinates vs legal dimensions¶
NSW LandXML files contain both coordinates (MGA grid positions for each point) and legal dimensions (the bearings and distances as recorded on the lodged plan). These are related but not identical — legal dimensions are the authoritative record; coordinates are a spatial representation derived from them.
R3Survey imports parcel geometry from the coordinates. Legal dimensions are imported as metadata and stored as XData on each entity. In R3PROPERTIES, both the geometric bearing/distance (calculated from the coordinates) and the legal dimension (from the XML) can be viewed side by side.
R3Survey also provides tools to override the displayed geometric properties with the legal dimensions and notations from the plan — useful when the coordinate-derived geometry differs slightly from the recorded dimensions due to adjustment or rounding.
Data stored as XData¶
LandXML metadata (parcel names, plan references, road names, legal dimensions) is stored in the drawing as AutoCAD extended data (XData) on each entity. This data is visible in the R3PROPERTIES panel and is preserved if the drawing is shared with other AutoCAD users (even without R3Survey installed).