Index: dam engine/trunk/src/Deltares.DamEngine.Interface/FillXmlInputFromDam.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -r545 -r548
--- dam engine/trunk/src/Deltares.DamEngine.Interface/FillXmlInputFromDam.cs	(.../FillXmlInputFromDam.cs)	(revision 545)
+++ dam engine/trunk/src/Deltares.DamEngine.Interface/FillXmlInputFromDam.cs	(.../FillXmlInputFromDam.cs)	(revision 548)
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
         /// <returns></returns>
         public static Input CreateInput(DamProjectData damProjectData)
         {
+            ValidateDamProjectData(damProjectData);
             Input input = new Input();
             input.DamProjectType = ConversionHelper.ConvertToInputDamProjectType(damProjectData.DamProjectType);
             Dike dike = damProjectData.Dike;
@@ -54,6 +55,34 @@
             return input;
         }
 
+        private static void ValidateDamProjectData(DamProjectData damProjectData)
+        {
+            if (damProjectData.Dike == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No dike defined in this project");
+            }
+            if (damProjectData.Dike.Locations == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No locations defined in this project");
+            }
+            if (damProjectData.Dike.SurfaceLines2 == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No surfacelines defined in this project");
+            }
+            if (damProjectData.Dike.SoilList == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No soils defined in this project");
+            }
+            if (damProjectData.Dike.SoilList.Soils == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No soils defined in this project");
+            }
+            if (damProjectData.Dike.SoilProfiles == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No soilprofiles1D defined in this project");
+            }
+        }
+
         private static void TransferSoils(List<Data.Geotechnics.Soil> soils, Soil[] inputSoils)
         {
             for (int i = 0; i < soils.Count; i++)
@@ -180,8 +209,7 @@
             }
         }
 
-        private static void TransferSoilProfiles1D(IList<SoilProfile1D> dikeSoilProfiles, 
-            Io.XmlInput.SoilProfile1D[] inputSoilProfiles1D)
+        private static void TransferSoilProfiles1D(IList<SoilProfile1D> dikeSoilProfiles, Io.XmlInput.SoilProfile1D[] inputSoilProfiles1D)
         {
             var profilesCount = dikeSoilProfiles.Count;
             for (int i = 0; i < profilesCount; i++)
Index: dam engine/trunk/src/Deltares.DamEngine.Interface/FillDamFromXmlInput.cs
===================================================================
diff -u -r545 -r548
--- dam engine/trunk/src/Deltares.DamEngine.Interface/FillDamFromXmlInput.cs	(.../FillDamFromXmlInput.cs)	(revision 545)
+++ dam engine/trunk/src/Deltares.DamEngine.Interface/FillDamFromXmlInput.cs	(.../FillDamFromXmlInput.cs)	(revision 548)
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
         /// <returns></returns>
         public static DamProjectData CreateDamProjectData(Input input)
         {
+            ValidateInput(input);
             var damProjectData = new DamProjectData
             {
                 DamProjectType = ConversionHelper.ConvertToDamProjectType(input.DamProjectType),
@@ -65,6 +66,22 @@
             return damProjectData;
         }
 
+        private static void ValidateInput(Input input)
+        {
+            if (input.Locations == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No locations defined in the input");
+            }
+            if (input.SurfaceLines == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No surfacelines defined in the input");
+            }
+            if (input.Soils == null)
+            {
+                throw new NullReferenceException("No soils defined in the input");
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Postprocess: connect all objects
         /// </summary>