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Remove Duplicate Points

Finds coincident COGO points: the classic double-imported point file, and erases the higher-numbered duplicates, keeping the lowest point number at each location.

Command VDCDEDUPPOINTS · VDC Survey tab › Points panel
Finds coincident COGO points: the classic double-imported point file, and erases the higher-numbered duplicates, keeping the lowest point number at each location.
Group coincident points within tolerance → lowest number is the keeper, higher numbers are removed. 101 108 142 159 tolerance = 0.001 (plan X,Y) KEEP 205 REMOVE 611, 612, 613 (re-imported copies, higher #) coincident when horiz. dist ≤ tolerance; optional: also match Z, also match raw desc. lowest point number always wins.
Kept point (lowest #)   Removed duplicate (higher #)   Tolerance / coincidence test

What it does, per run

  • Reads COGO points in scope and groups coincident ones within the horizontal tolerance.
  • In each group the lowest point number is the keeper; the rest are removals.
  • Duplicate test: horizontal distance ≤ tolerance (default 0.001 drawing units).
  • Optional: also match elevation (Z) to keep stacked points, and also match raw description.
  • Remove erases the higher-numbered points; Civil 3D maintains point-group membership.
  • Undoable with UNDO; renumber first if a different point should survive.

Modes, scope & output

  • Preview: lists kept/removed pairs in the palette + CSV; erases nothing.
  • Remove: erases the higher-numbered coincident points, keeping the lowest.
  • Scope: Selected points (the default, pick on screen after the dialog closes), a chosen point group, or the whole drawing. The default is deliberate: this command erases, and whole-drawing is a lot to hand one OK click on a big survey.
  • Output: <drawing> - Duplicate Points.csv (kept, removed, action, E/N/Z, description).
  • Findings palette, double-click a row to zoom to the removed point.
  • Settings %APPDATA%\VDC\PointDedup\settings.json (env VDC_POINTDEDUP_SETTINGS), schema-tolerant.

Dialog

Remove Duplicate Points dialog
Remove Duplicate Points, VDCDEDUPPOINTS

When to use it

  • After importing the same point file twice (or merging point sets) leaves stacked points.
  • Cleaning up a survey/COGO point set before staking, tables, or surface builds.

How to run it

  1. Run VDCDEDUPPOINTS; set the tolerance and (optionally) match-elevation / match-description.
  2. Choose the scope - Selected points (the default; pick on screen after OK), a point group, or the whole drawing.
  3. Run Preview first; review the kept/removed pairs in the palette / CSV.
  4. Re-run in Remove mode to erase the higher-numbered duplicates.

Options

  • Preview: lists duplicates only (CSV + findings palette); erases nothing.
  • Remove: erases the higher-numbered coincident points, keeping the lowest.

Watch out for

  • Default test is plan position (X,Y) only - turn on match-elevation to keep intentionally stacked points at different Z.
  • The lowest point number always wins; renumber first if a different point should survive.
  • Always Preview before Remove - erasing points is undone with UNDO, but it is easier to check the list first.
  • Scope defaults to Selected points on purpose - this command DELETES, and whole drawing on a big survey is a lot of trust to place in one OK click. Whole drawing is still there when you mean it.

Related: Stake Lots · Lot Table · QC Status