AutoCAD plugin · Windows · Telecom tower inspection

AutoCAD tool for tower plans and elevations in inspections

Developed by the Institute of Information Technology in Civil Engineering (IIC), Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, for Viettel Consulting and Services JSC (VTK). The tool reads a site's survey data folder, draws the guy anchor foundation plan and the antenna tower elevation in AutoCAD in the Viettel template, and prints the drawings to images for the inspection report.

2 Drawing types: plan, elevation
5 Tower elevation templates
Ground · rooftop Tower location
See how to install and use it About the software
What the tool does

Antenna tower drawings built from the field measurements

You open the site data folder that the survey team uploaded to Google Drive. The tool reads the tower body make-up, the guy levels, and the coordinates and size of each foundation, and fills them into the form. Adjust them if needed, save, then draw.

  • Foundation plan: the M0 tower foundation, guy anchor foundations at the surveyed coordinates, plan rotation, size of each foundation
  • Tower elevation: height and type of each section, guy levels, equipment shelter, tower base level
  • Guyed masts and self-supporting towers; on the ground or on a rooftop, with or without brackets
  • Add anti-twist (torsion-resisting) brackets at guy levels and redraw
  • Insert the drawing frame and set the text scale and LinetypeScale
  • Print the plan and elevation as black-and-white images into the site's data folder
The Elevation tab: click Draw elevation and the guyed mast with its guy levels is drawn in AutoCAD.
Design data

One form holds the data for both drawings

The General information tab collects everything needed for the plan and the elevation. Click Save information before drawing.

  • Tower body structure

    Number of sections, height and type of each section, inner and outer face widths; triangular or square towers.

  • Guy levels

    Level of each guy tier, guy connection details, cable clamps, direction in which the guy attaches to the leg.

  • Foundation coordinates and sizes

    X, Y, Z coordinates of each guy anchor foundation, the size of foundation M0 and the common size of the others.

  • Drawing settings

    Text scale, text height, plan rotation, plan level, foundation design type.

The General information form: tower body table, design information, guy levels and guy anchor coordinates.
Drawing scope

Tower types the tool can draw

Drawing Tower type
Plan Ground foundations; rooftop foundations
Elevation Self-supporting tower; three-legged tower on 4 foundations with brackets; three-legged tower on 4 foundations without brackets; rooftop tower with brackets; rooftop tower without brackets
Strengthening Anti-twist brackets at the selected guy levels, with the bracket length entered in the form
Foundation plan: M0 in the centre, guy anchor foundations at the surveyed coordinates.
The plan after adding anti-twist brackets.
Workflow

Installing the tool and drawing one site, step by step

1. Set the drawing template

The tool is installed together with BCKĐ. In AutoCAD (the original guide uses AutoCAD 2019):

  • Type OPTIONS, open the Files tab and go to Template Settings.
  • Paste the path C:\Program Files (x86)\IIC\BaoCaoKiemDinh\ToolCad\SPCTemplate.dwt as the default template.
  • Close AutoCAD and open it again.
Setting SPCTemplate.dwt as the default template.

2. Load the tool with APPLOAD

  • Type APPLOAD and click Contents under Startup Suite.
  • Add the file C:\Program Files (x86)\IIC\BaoCaoKiemDinh\ToolCad\vietteldll.lsp.
  • Close the dialog and restart AutoCAD. The tool's ribbon will then be available every time AutoCAD opens.
Adding vietteldll.lsp to the Startup Suite so the tool loads when AutoCAD opens.

3. Open the site data

Click the button on the ribbon that opens the form, then click the folder icon and select the site data folder downloaded from Google Drive.

Selecting the site data folder downloaded from Google Drive.

4. Check the data and save

Review the tower body table, design information, guy levels, guy anchor coordinates, the size of each foundation, the text scale and the foundation design type. Click Save information before drawing.

5. Draw the plan

Switch to the Plan tab and click Draw plan. For strengthening, enter the number of levels with anti-twist brackets and the bracket length on the General information tab, click Save information and draw again.

The foundation and guy data table (left) and the plan of a guyed mast with three anchors drawn by the tool in AutoCAD (right).

6. Print the plan to an image

Click the Print drawing icon, choose the plan, check the image save path and click Save Image. The image is black and white.

Printing the plan to an image in the site folder.

7. Draw and print the elevation

Switch to the Elevation tab, choose the view plane (X-Z or Y-Z) and click Draw elevation. Print it to an image as in step 6, choosing the elevation drawing.

The black-and-white elevation image used in the inspection report.
About the software

Developers and ownership

Name
AutoCAD telecom tower inspection tool (CAD_Viettel_Project)
Version
In development since 2023, last updated in December 2024
Developed by
Institute of Information Technology in Civil Engineering, Hanoi University of Civil Engineering
Users
Viettel Consulting and Services JSC (VTK) and partner consultants
Ownership
Under the contract between the Institute and VTK
Platform
.NET plugin for AutoCAD on Windows, installed with BCKĐ
Data exchange
Site data folders from the field app; DWG drawings, plan and elevation images
See other SDC software

Need an AutoCAD tool that draws to your own templates?

SDC builds bespoke software — from AutoCAD plugins that draw automatically to specialist engineering software developed with the client's own engineers.

Commission software