AutoCAD-AutoDeskGoogle earth / maps

Importing an 3D Surface from Google Earth to AutoCAD

We used to talk about how Import an image from Google Earth to AutoCAD now let's see how to import the surface and make this image is in color and can hunt on this surface 3D.

The trick is the same as We saw with Microstation, Creating a material and even solves the problem that the image is grayscale.

1 Select the Image in Google Earth

It is required to open Google Earth, deactivate the terrain layer, the north compass and the orthogonal view. The better approach we have, we can obtain a better resolution, as we had discussed in the previous post.

Google earth dtm 3d

2. Import the 3D mesh

When opening AutoCAD, you should not minimize the GoogleEarth window, nor close it, but keep the maximized view that you want to capture.

image Then we activate the icon indicated on the right, through the text command “ImportGEMesh”

In case of having AutoCAD Map3D or AutoCAD Civil 3D, the mesh will hunt georeferenced between the coordinates of the box of Google Earth (as long as a projection system is defined for the drawing in use) and the image will hunt in this box.

If you do not have any of the two previous programs, but only AutoCAD, or Architectural, the option to indicate the lower left corner will be activated and the file will be inserted with the measurement units in a mesh (3D mesh) of 32 by 32 squares . The system will immediately ask you for the corners of the image and rotation.

3. View the image on the surface

Google earth dtm 3d If what you want is to see the image captured on the surface, select the “realistic” option from the “3D modeling” panel.

Then select some views that facilitate the isometric visualization.

Google earth dtm 3d

4. Putting the image in color

Although the image is imported in grayscale, for Google's sake, if you use the trick of converting the image into material you can get it in colors as seen in the following steps:image

  • In the image displayed in Google Earth, we save it with the option file / save / save image
  • Then from AutoCAD, in the material panel, we assign the image as material
  • In the units of scale we assign you to fit (fit to gizmo)
  • In the tile options (U tile, V tile) we assign 1
  • In the offset options between mosaic images (U offset, V offset) we assign 0
  • In the rotation we assign 0 Now we assign that material to the mesh through the "materialmap" command with the "planar" option And that's it, we change the mode from "realistic 3D view" to shaded mode (shademode)

Google earth dtm 3d

5. Installing the extension

To install this application Should be downloaded from the AutoDesk labs page. Once the file is unzipped, it is executed and the installation path of the AutoCAD version where we want the add-on to be installed must be chosen, in case of having more than one program, an installation must be made for each one.

Although it is a process authorized by Google Earh, the image is in grayscale and not in color, by Google provisions.

This tool only works with 2008 versions, both AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architectural, AutoCAD Civil 3D and AutoCAD Map 3D.

In the case of AutoCAD Civil 3D 2012 and 2011 it is already integrated. If you don't have Civil3D, you can do it with the Plex.Earth plugin

Golgi Alvarez

Writer, researcher, specialist in Land Management Models. He has participated in the conceptualization and implementation of models such as: National Property Administration System SINAP in Honduras, Management Model of Joint Municipalities in Honduras, Integrated Cadastre-Registry Management Model in Nicaragua, Territory Administration System SAT in Colombia . Editor of the Geofumadas knowledge blog since 2007 and creator of the AulaGEO Academy that includes more than 100 courses on GIS - CAD - BIM - Digital Twins topics.

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13 Comments

  1. You're right, AutoDesk withdrew it from the moment it launched AutoCAD 2013, because the interaction with Google Earth lost support.
    Inclusive Civil3D 2013 no longer brings the process of importing digital model and satellite image from Google Earth.

  2. do not download the autodesk link that you posted

  3. Excellent friend I found where the images are.
    Thank you.!!!

  4. Look at the route, I understand that the download is already stored in a place.
    Check the raster manager

  5. I have captured image of google earth in civil cad, as I do to save this image from Civil cad, working in Microstation this is super easy.
    Thank you.

  6. Hello, my query is because I have acquired the AutoCAD 2009 and when I enter the command line ImportGEMesh tells me that the command is unknown. I'll wait for your answer, thank you so much!

  7. type “shademode” is the command that will allow you to choose between several types of visualization among which is “realistic”

  8. Hello, your note is very interesting, but I ask you a question, could you specify in point 3 how you get to the layout views? "realistic 3D view" to shaded mode (shademode)", I can't find those commands, could you detail them a little more, I'm trying to learn this part of modeling, so some things maybe basic for you, are unknown to me.-
    Thanks and a hug

  9. Hello Adrian

    There are several ways, in the case of the Spot image, in Google Earth, activate the layer on the left other / spot image.
    This activates the coverage of existing spot images, if you click on the ball in the center, the detail of the image appears and also a link to buy it online

    In case of the Digital Globe image, you can do it in this direction
    http://www.digitalglobe.com/index.php

    there you can choose the approach, the type of image that interests you and when you are ready you apply the buy button on the “order files or prints” button

    regards

  10. Hello Adrian

    There are several ways, in the case of the Spot image, in Google Earth, activate the layer on the left other / spot image.
    This activates the coverage of existing spot images, if you click on the ball in the center, the detail of the image appears and also a link to buy it online

    In case of the Digital Globe image, you can do it in this direction
    http://www.digitalglobe.com/index.php

    There you can choose the approach, the type of image that interests you and when you are ready you apply the buy button.

    regards

  11. How can I buy a satellite image of my locality, please indicate me.

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