CAD (dwg) to GIS (geodatabase)

Here is the high level article https://fme.safe.com/blog/2020/04/convert-cad-gis-preserving-rich-data-structures/ with all the links to resources you’ll need.

With the DWG reader, you will need to expose and manipulate the “format attributes” and convert those to GIS attributes, then your geometry filter (simple vs detailed mode) into your geodatabase output. There’s alot of little things to consider:

• Arc;s from CAD make need stroking into lines
• CAD poly lines might bee LineCloser to build areas
• https://support.safe.com/hc/en-us/articles/25407793814157-Working-with-CAD-Data-and-FME

Thank you very much for your help!! I’ll look into all those resources😊 Just another quick question - to set up the seperate feature datasets in a geodatabase (ex. water, sanitary, drainage), this would be done in the geodatabase writer settings? Or would it be easier to make it in arcgis pro and then import that dataset as the writer in FME?

You can set up separate feature datasets (like water, sanitary, drainage) in the Geodatabase writer settings in FME, but the process is more manual and requires careful schema configuration. FME can create feature datasets and feature classes automatically based on your workspace setup, but it does not handle complex geodatabase structures (domains, subtypes, relationships) as easily as ArcGIS Pro.

FME documentation strongly recommends pre-creating your geodatabase structure—including feature datasets—in ArcGIS Pro, then referencing that template in the FME writer. This approach is simpler, ensures schema consistency, and minimizes workspace maintenance. You can use either an XML Workspace Document or a template .gdb file in the writer settings to import the full schema.

• https://docs.safe.com/fme/2025.0/html/FME-Form-Documentation/FME-ReadersWriters/geodatabase/GEODATABASE_FILE_writer.htm
• Improving the Speed of Translations Using the Geodata…
• FME and Esri ArcGIS Troubleshooting Guide
• Geodatabase Tutorials and Articles