[June 13, 2000] "The LandXML schema facilitates the exchange of data create during the Land Planning, Civil Engineering and Land Survey process. Land development professionals can use LandXML to make the data they create more readily accessible and available to anyone involved with a project. With LandXML, project data is independent of the authoring software, thus overcoming the interoperability problems that have plagued the land development industry. Not only does LandXML provide interoperability between different application software, but also between varying versions of software. As a result, data can be archived and accessed more readily on future projects. Additionally, other web-based tools can be used to view, edit, and report LandXML data. Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) style sheets can be easily created and applied to LandXML data and then run from a project web page. Examples include XSL style sheets that format raw point data into point tables, or format data to match an organization's internal standards, such as legal descriptions for parcel reports. . ."
[January 14, 2000] New Land Development XML Application 'LandXML' Released by Autodesk. A recent announcement from Autodesk describes a new "land development" industry initiative to establish and maintain a 'LandXML' schema. "The LandXML schema facilitates the exchange of data created during the Land Planning, Civil Engineering and Land Survey process." Autodesk, Inc., announced "that it has developed the initial specifications of LandXML, the extensible markup language (XML) for land development professionals, including surveyors, civil engineers and land developers. LandXML is a common, open data format, or schema, that describes industry-specific data such as points, parcels, and alignments. Land development professionals worldwide can use LandXML to make the data they create more readily accessible and available to anyone involved with a project. With LandXML, project data is independent of the authoring software, thus overcoming the interoperability problems that have plagued the land development industry. Not only does LandXML provide interoperability between different application software, but also between varying versions of software. As a result, data can be archived and accessed more readily on future projects. Additionally, other web-based tools can be used to view, edit, and report LandXML data. Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) style sheets can be easily created and applied to LandXML data and then run from a project web page. Examples include XSL style sheets that format raw point data into point tables, or format data to match an organization's internal standards, such as legal descriptions for parcel reports. Autodesk developed the initial specifications of LandXML in close collaboration with several key industry players, who will now serve as the basis for an advisory group to the company as it continues developing the specifications. This group includes Dave Weisberg, publisher and editor of A-E-C Automation Newsletter; software developers Intergraph Civil Engineering, Infrasoft, and Haestad Methods; Nebraska and Florida Departments of Transportation; and consulting organizations including Clough, Harbour & Associates LLP, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., and Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc." See the Web site and the text of the announcement, "Autodesk Advances XML for Land Development Industries."
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[April 25, 2002] "Autodesk Co-sponsoring Workshop at ACSM/FIG 2002 on LandXML in Federal Highway Administration's IHDSM and AASHTOware Projects. Workshop Focuses on LandXML's Role in Improving Road and Highway Design and Safety; Includes Demonstrations, Training, and Open Discussions on the LandXML Schema." - Autodesk, Inc., a "leading design software and digital content company, is co-sponsoring a one-day workshop with LandXML.org at the ACSM/FIG Conference [April 25, 2002, Washington, D.C.] to examine how road and highway safety can be improved and the role of LandXML in that process. LandXML is a specialized XML data exchange standard for the land development, civil engineering, and transportation design industry. Hosted by the Federal Highway Administration, the workshop will examine LandXML's use in the Interactive Highway Design Safety Model (IHDSM) and its benefits to roadway projects managed by the American Association of Street and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The workshop will also include training and software demonstrations and will examine the LandXML software development kit... Sharing surveying and engineering design data across a transportation project with colleagues, clients, and partners is essential to civil engineering. Until recently, however, proprietary vendor formats essentially meant that everybody on a project had to use the same software or recreate information in a compatible format. This reduced customer choices, excluded participation in projects, and limited the potential uses and value of the data. In 1999, Autodesk and the Engineering and Survey Exchange (EAS-E) initiative members started LandXML as an industry-driven data exchange standard specific to the needs of civil engineers and surveyors. The LandXML schema was initially derived from the EAS-E format. Further development is being driven by LandXML.org, a global, open working group of over 130 civil engineering professionals in 80 private and public organizations in Brazil, Egypt, France, India, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, the United States, and Vietnam..."
LandXML Schema on BizTalk. Official LandXML schema, sample data, and support documents (as posted on BizTalk). (Note that in order to access specific schemas on BizTalk, you will need to register with BizTalk).
EAS-E (Engineering and Survey - Exchange) Initiative. EAS-E is an industry-wide initiative that defines an open, ASCII data format for typical highway design projects. The LandXML schema is an evolution of the ASCII-based data format into a broader XML-based land data standard.
