Aerial Imagery from Google Earth

[civilengineer83]

Does anyone know if we can use imagery from google earth or if there's a way to import it some way? I have a client that hasn't updated their aerial or survey in about 5 years now, and even though they're either too lazy or cheap to pay for a new one, I still need an up to date version for something we're trying to do. The geolocation maps are not updated enough to show what we're trying to show. We have work done on site over the last two years that is not showing up.

I am currently still running civil 3d 2019.

[brian.strandberg]

You can get bing aerial imagery with the GEOMAP / GEOMAPIMAGE commands.  

[civilengineer83]

Unfortunately it's not as up to date as the Google Earth imagery is either. In fact, for my site, the aerial looks about the same. The Google Earth imagery is blowing me away at how good it is and how up to date it is. But I had the same idea until I saw it was lacking in updates as well.

[brian.strandberg]

With AutoCAD 2025 we have more options for geolocated data.  I'm hoping that will help us get better aerials.

[Neilw_05]

This app will get you current hi res. Google imagery. When saving use the arcgis format. It will provide the georeference info you will need to correlate to your project.

https://terra-incognita.en.lo4d.com/windows

[arshadmirza786]

Give a try to

https://cad-earth.com/

May it help u better

[Udo_Huebner]

The map update status between Google Earth and Bing Maps can vary depending on the region.

Here is another plugin to connect Google Earth with Civil 3D.

https://apps.autodesk.com/CIV3D/de/Detail/Index?id=5694471876005445115&appLang=en&os=Win32_64
Very often the local authority area maps are free and the most up to date. You can usually use this data as WMS / WMTS maps.

[brian.strandberg]

I realized I didn't post the image of the new options - I'm on vacation and was going out the door.  Let me know if anybody gets a chance to play with them. 

[Pointdump]

Hi Matt,
Looks like Plex-Earth has a free version, >>>Plex-Earth Lite<<<.
Dave

[bvdwesthuizen]

The best way that I have found to deal with latest google earth imagery is to make a dxf of the outline for the area you need, bring that into QGIS and then PDF QGIS's google earth background - once pdfed then geo-reference with the built in georeferencer tool in QGIS and then you simply "mapiinsert" into Civil 3D and voila!

In my experience the imagery that you can use from the bing maps and ESRI maps in Civil 3D, their Rendering quality is horrible but once you georeference you own imagery from QGIS (it looks far more presentable)

Thanks

Brandon