AutoCAD Civil 3D

[#1]

Hi Everyone - Now that details of the R2013 version of AutoCAD Civil 3D are public, I wanted to update you on the status of Google Earth import and export workflows. The following statement summarizes where we are:

Due to limitations on the use of the Google Earth API, AutoCAD® Civil 3D® 2013 does not include API access to allow customers to import Google Earth imagery and/or surfaces directly into Civil 3D. We are aware of the importance of including preliminary surface and aerial imagery in your design workflows and are actively looking for an alternative.  However, we cannot share any specific information about potential future product enhancements. When appropriate, we will communicate technology plans via various channels including Autodesk Labs, Facebook, Blogs and the Civil 3D Discussion Group.

As noted above, we'll update you as soon as we can share information on technology plans that target the workflow of incorporating readily available image and surface information into your design workflows. People are welcome to contact me directly with questions/comments.

Dave Simeone

Senior Product Manager - AutoCAD Civil 3D

[#2]

As an (gasp) alternative - does E$RI's ArcGIS build 250 for AutoCAD work with the 2013 product so we can access aerial imagery through their map portal(s)?

[#3]

I'm guessing lawyers (primarily those retained by Google) were involved in this particular decision..... although not sure how the publish to kmz files is a major problem though.

[#4]

I was thinking the same thing, but with the sketchbook product Adesk may now be looking at Google as Competition.

I would also have to say that if Google did not what anyone to use the info, why did that make the API avaiable in the first place.

[#5]

Thanks for sharing the info Dave. I hope you have something up your sleeve that was just not quite ready for the release.

[#6]

Waiting for the formal decision about that, here's a technical (and fully legal) solution issued in my golden olden Map2006.

1] in GE, save your tiltless imagery with CTRL-ALT-S

2 ] in Acad, import it somewhere with _IMAGE

3] with _ADERSHEET align it according to points of known coordinates, or snapping on existing vertices

4] generate the worldfile with this

Merry Easter to everybody!  

[#7]

The worldfile generation lisp looks interesting but I'm pretty sure that the overall method wouldn't be viewed as being "..fully legal.." but if the copied images are just used as a background for preliminary design etc and NEVER published/plotted then who will actually know.......

[#8]

Neil, the key is the GOOGLE overlay:

As long as you don't eliminate it with Photoshop, you stay in the Eula terms. 

[#9]

Are you suggesting that as long as the source (i.e. Google) is acknowledged then you are good to go?? I don't think this is correct unless you have Google Earth Pro in which case I believe there is no problem.

Most people I guess do not use Google Earth Pro and usage (without a Pro licence in a commercial organisation) would be a violation - unless you can advise me to the contrary??

There have been threads on this in the past and posted workarounds (to get colour images from Google Earth) were removed

[#10]

I've actually called Google tech support in the past regarding a site license for a former employer.  I was told that "for any commerical gain" from their point of view included preliminary design image use even if we didn't plot the image in our final production set.