Giving CAD files to Architects/Engineers?

I think hold-harmless agreement verbiage on a signed release form is a must. Also, I think it has a precedence of holding up in court. Legal zoom may have templates for sale. A quick search title CAD release form shown several pertinent-looking results.

Usually the biggest headache when sharing CAD data is when the recipient isn't able to intelligently digest or convert the data, and then they plague you with questions. I always treat it as an opportunity to develop a potential return client at first, if it drags on and on I try to politely curtail the annoyance.

This topic has been beat to death here by very many experienced and knowledgeable surveyors (and engineers).

It's all about scope. Your liability is the same regardless of if they have the files or not, it's all about the map you sealed. The buck stops right there, unless you send a sealed copy of your coordinate file. Don't do that unless it is scoped out.

Me, I tend to share them with my original client only. What they do with it is out of my control, but I do tend to think I'll be called back. Third or 4th parties.... not so. Municipalities I'll share with because it's important to get along with them.

Remember we're in business to make money, not share data. Good luck.

If you want to make this smooth with your client, ask him first and then make them sign a digital data release. You can search the Internet for examples.

You can also make it a license with whatever restrictions you want.

It's all called intellectual property (you own it) and you should be able to negotiate any how it gets used and distributed.

Don't ever give anything away to a third party without your clients permission first, though.

Link to sample release:

http://andrewwarren.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/cad-release-form/

More are out there - just look hard.

I do it all the time and I expect it in return. A CAD file is infinitely more usable than a piece of paper (or PDF, which is essentially paper.)

Of course we have controls in place to clearly show that 'X' data was given on 'Y' date to ensure that they cant change it then claim it was our mistake.

As long as they're the client, or part of the clients design team, not only do they always get my cad file, but they get it in their cad standards.

It's standard for me to release a CAD DWG to my client as a finished product. We do take safeguards to insure our data doesn't miraculously "change" down the road. The digital world is where most everyone is at. In return, it's always nice to get a full CAD set for a construction project so to me it's scratch their back so my life is easier for calcs.

Been there, done that many times. Will continue to do so until some twit creates a problem.

I do it a lot.
I always request that the signed, sealed pdf of the paper survey that I send with the file be included on a page in any plans that are prepared from the survey. This was made SOP after an Architect changed a setback on a lot to fit his design.

Well, I guess I'm the A-hole... again. o.O

Your question was "how do you all feel about..." I don't like doing it, and make every effort not to do it when asked. And if push comes to shove, I'll put a price tag on it, in addition to the project fees that I've allready charged.

A couple reasons:
1. I have hundreds of man-hours wrapped up in my drawing template, with all my C3D styles, layer schemes, and all kinds of proprietary code that makes my life easier and more productive. Why would I want to give that edge away to a competitor?

2. I own the data. I charge my client for the service that I provided him or her to get their project to their successful end. The (usually) pay me for the service - not the data.

3. As stated prior by others, 9 times out of 10 a sharee will call/email me with "how do you..." or "I think your lines are wrong..." or "blah blah - I don't know how to run CAD correctly, so will you spend hours on the phone with me to try and get your drawing to interface with my 10-year old system?"

4. Does a carpenter give a new homeowner his hammer when he builds them a house? Does your mechanic give you his tire balancer after you pay him to balance your tires? Does your physician give you his Xray machine after he takes a picture of your broken arm?

5. there is value in the data.

I don't mind sending them a PDF.

Sure - when I am asked to stake out some project, or construction job, they will generally send me their CAD files. but half the time I don't trust the linework anyway and end up calculating the stakeout points conventionally in house.

> How do you guys feel about giving your CAD files to Clients? I don't like doing it for some reason; but, don't really know why.
I believe that we should assume that the architect/engineer client is going to want - and is reasonable to expect - CAD files, unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, these should be data, not just drawings. We should expect to supply surfaces, alignments, and point databases. Hold back control points and any other minutiae that seems proper. Explode and purge proprietary things if you can do so without compromising the data.

On the other hand...

it can blow up in your face.

A couple of years ago I provided a third party a copy of a large (640 acres) topo in Beckham County, OK, between Erick, OK and Shamrock, TX. My client was the utility company (wind farm/ sub-station site) and the third party was an engineering firm responsible for long-line transmission to the site from Kansas.

They requested a CAD file of my work. Datum was derived from two control points located with OPUS. It was represented in OK SPC (South Zone), proper for its location.

These guys went nuts and burned the phone lines down pestering me. Their surveyor had provided all their info for the long transmission line from Kansas in OK SPC (North Zone). They really didn't know what to do with it.

My solution was simple. Send your surveyors out there, locate the land ties (if they hadn't already) then rotate and drop my stuff into your base drawing.

All I heard on the other end was crickets..

I finally transferred my dgn to SPC North, but told them it probably still wouldn't fit real well. They finally quit calling.

I don't mind providing a digital CAD file of my survey. Trouble is it can cause a lot of heartache if the recipient doesn't have a clue.

"Casting pearls to swine"..

On the other hand...

> it can blow up in your face.

Yes, my standard answer these days is that the topographic survey was made for a specific client for a specific purpose and that unless Mr. Third Party wants to hire me and tell me what their intended use is, the potential for inappropriate use is too great for me to consider giving them anything.

We're in the information business and keeping information out of the hands of folks who will most likely misuse it seems part of the job description.

That's what we do.

If a fellow licensed professional wants my cad file 9 times out of 10 they get it. It makes things a whole lot easier for the rest of the design team.

Giving? NO! Provide Per A Contract, YE$!

Paul in PA

From NJ. Client entitled to all, digital included. At reasonable cost to reproduce. We usually do a disclaimer and remove our title block if it's going to third party with clients permission. "Model Space" only, no points to anyone other than a fellow surveyor.

§ 13:40-3.4 Release of project records

(a) As used in this section, the term "records" whether electronic, digital or in written form, shall include, but not be limited to, any plans, reports, documents, field notes or other items of work product generated for an engineering or land surveying project as contractually defined, which would be reasonably necessary to the completion of the project for which the professional engineer or professional land surveyor was originally retained.

(b) Originals of records shall remain in the possession of the professional engineer or professional land surveyor unless otherwise provided by statute or written contractual agreement.

(c) The client of a professional engineer or professional land surveyor shall be entitled to complete copies of all records, whether electronic, digital or written form, generated for the engineering and/or land surveying project within a reasonable period of time after forwarding a written request to the professional engineer or professional land surveyor and upon payment of such proportion of fees as reflect the extent of all services performed.

1. Such copies may be signed but shall not be sealed where data utilized as the basis for the preparation of same may have changed since the date the documents were originally prepared.

2. A disclaimer shall be put on said documents which indicates that the data utilized in the documents may have changed. The disclaimer shall read as follows:

"This document reflects conditions as of (insert place, date of the original document) and may not show current conditions as of (insert the present date)."

(d) The professional engineer or professional land surveyor shall be compensated for the reasonable costs of research and reproduction for copies of records released pursuant to this section.

My opinion is, if you not secure enough about your work to share it then you're in the wrong business.

Also, I always WBLOCK the portion I want to give them. That way I don't hand out proprietary information.

We share our CAD files with other professionals. Engineers, Architects, etc. Sometimes to others. Hals the time my only deliverable is a CAD file. If we are working for a large engineering firm making some base maps, they don't care about a fancy frame, etc. We give them the cad file with the notes in model space. We always make a PDF of what we send and we send that to them as well. All our email is through gMail (using our domain) so there is always a record of what was sent (at least as long at the liability extends).

We expect the same in return. It makes life a million times easier when doing layout, etc.

Tom