topic Re: How to open contours from Google Earth in AutoCAD Forum

How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 02:19:39 GMT

Hello;

I would like to take the topography of a region from Google Earth and model it in Autocad. Can anyone please help me how to do it? Basically I have a geometry of a structure and I want place that structure on the place where it has been built and transform them to a fem software. Thank you.

Regards,

Muhsin

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

imadHabash — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:56:02 GMT

Hi Muhsin,

>> I would like to take the topography of a region from Google Earth and model it in Autocad. <<

you can get it from SketchUp then export it as a drawing CAD file. >> Click <<

Regards,

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 04:25:07 GMT

Dear Habash;

I have tried to use Sketch Up to create the terrain model. Unfortunately, Google Earth is supplying wrong data to Sketch Up for the location I am looking for. I have the kml file from Google Earth. How do I create contours from this file and make a 3D solid terrain? Thank you.

Regards,

Muhsin

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:35:12 GMT

Hi,

>> I have the kml file from Google Earth. How do I create contours from this file and make a 3D solid terrain?

AutoCAD (Vanilla) does not have functionality to create surfaces/contours.

If you need functionality like that I would recommend to look for AutoCAD Civil 3D >>>click<<<.

- alfred -

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

john.vellek — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 15:43:17 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

You might investigate PlexEarth from the Autodesk App Store to see how well it works with Google Earth.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 18:14:21 GMT

Dear Vellek,

Thank you for your perfect suggestion. I used Plex.earth and got the surface of terrain in 3D. My current problem is that how am I going to create a solid by giving a thickness below the surface? Can you please help me out with that issue? Thank you

Regards,

Muhsin

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

john.vellek — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 18:56:35 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

It would be helpful to see what you have in your file before I make a suggestion. Can you attach it or a portion of it to a post?

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 19:38:39 GMT

Dear Vellek;

I appreciate your quick responses. The file is attached, Thank you.

Muhsin

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

john.vellek — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 20:00:13 GMT

Hi Muhsin,

Perhaps using LOFT will get you a surface to start from. Once you have that I believe you can give it a thickness.

I hope some other Community members will jump in and suggest better methods.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 20:11:46 GMT

HTH, - alfred -

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 20:15:39 GMT

Dear Alfred,

It seems you have found the exact solution that I want. Can you please tell me how you created the solid? Thank you.

Regards,

Muhsin

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Alfred.NESWADBA — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 20:58:44 GMT

Hi,

>> Can you please tell me how you created the solid?

As I already mentioned, I used Civil 3D 😉

1) create surface from your contour lines

2) created a sold from surface with base elevation = 0.00

- alfred -

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 05:51:13 GMT

Dear @Alfred.NESWADBA and @john.vellek;

I am still working on the file that I have added in this topic. To be organized, I will request help as following,

*I would like to narrow the valley little bit to be compatible with the structure. Is that possible?

*I created the solid from contours using Autocad Architect ("Drape" operation), but it seems it is not being meshed in pre-processor that I am working on it. Do you have an idea about that issue?

Can you please help with those issues? Thank you

Regards,

Muhsin.

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

john.vellek — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:11:31 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Can you share your file again and indicate what you are trying to modify in the solid? are you trying to cut more in the valley or are you try to fill?

Have you tried SOLIDEDIT?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 16:58:46 GMT

Dear @john.vellek,

The file is attached. What I am trying to do is make the valley ( top-middle surface of the valley) little bit narrower to place a dam structure on. Meaning that, filling the surface without losing the actual pattern. The top surface consists of small triangle surfaces. Thank you.

Muhsin

Re: How to open contours from Google Earth

john.vellek — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 16:39:46 GMT

HI @Anonymous,

I think that you could perhaps use your contour lines to create new solids in the shape that you want and the presspull them to the correct heights. Then you could Union or Subtract them from the main solid.

I do not use AutoCAD Civil 3D but I assume this type of procedure could be done much more efficiently with that vertical.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.