Importing terrain from Google Earth to Rhinoceros
By edvin. Updated 2 years, 4 months ago. 22,802 unique views.
How to create contour lines from Google Earth's terrain model via Google SketchUp Pro 7.
- Open Google Earth zoom in to the area you want to export
- Open SketchUp Pro go to Tools > Google Earth > Toggle Terrain then Tools > Google Earth > Get Current View
- File > Export > 3D Model and under format choose .3ds
- Open Rhinoceros 3D and import the .3ds mesh
- Drape the mesh with a spacing value of 1 This step is done since the mesh you get from SketchUp often results in messy contour lines, especially if you have imported multiple views from Google Earth
- Turn the surface into a mesh. Make sure to refine the mesh. Some times Rhino can work directly with the drape, if that is the case for you, this step is unnecessary.
- Use the Contour tool on the surface or mesh
After these procedures you should have a nice looking 3D contour model in Rhino.
Comments (9)
Appears to require Google Sketchup *Pro*.
True, only the professional version allows one to export ".3ds" files. I'll add that.
Hi, I have installed the latest versions of Google Earth and Sketch-up Pro but I can't see anything under about Google Earth under "Tools" of Sketch-up Pro. I'm not able to get any terrain out of Google Earth. What am I doing wrong please? I only the Eval version of Sketch-Up Pro.. it says it is fully function and the only limitation seems to be that it will expire after 8 hours use. I don't want to buy it if I can't work out how to import terrain. Can anyone help please??
Hi Paul!
When I wrote the tutorial I was using SketchUp 7, so if nothing else works, just download that instead.
In the description of SketchUp 8 on [their official blog](http://sketchupdate.blogspot.se/2010/09/geo-modeling-features-in-sketchup-8.html). There it seems as if you can still import the maps but in a different manner. I'll look in to it myself in a few days. If you get it to work for you, please write about it here.
Hi, I have installed the latest versions of Google Earth and Sketch-up Pro but I can't see anything under about Google Earth under "Tools" of Sketch-up Pro. I'm not able to get any terrain out of Google Earth. What am I doing wrong please? I only the Eval version of Sketch-Up Pro.. it says it is fully function and the only limitation seems to be that it will expire after 8 hours use. I don't want to buy it if I can't work out how to import terrain. Can anyone help please??
Edvin, thanks for confirming the methodology has changed. I looked at both these tutorials. My subject is part of the South Island of New Zealand (a large area about 100 miles square), where I live & where thousands of buildings were demolished after earthquakes last year. Please see next comment..
The first tutorial (Building Maker) doesn't offer a city in that area. In the second tutorial (SketchUp8) I tried adding a contextual geolocation. But maximum area is restricted to only about a mile square. Any advice how I can get a much larger area of terrain? Maybe Google won't allow it and I need some other service?
The first tutorial (Building Maker) doesn't offer a city in that area. In the second tutorial (SketchUp8) I tried adding a contextual geolocation. But maximum area is restricted to only about a mile square. Any advice how I can get a much larger area of terrain? Maybe Google won't allow it and I need some other service?
The first tutorial (Building Maker) doesn't offer a city in that area. In the second tutorial (SketchUp8) I tried adding a contextual geolocation. But maximum area is restricted to only about a mile square. Any advice how I can get a much larger area of terrain? Maybe Google won't allow it and I need some other service?
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