Google Earth Pro

eric_west960

As many of us know, one can create models for Google Earth Pro and place it on the map (say a house, or a simple cylinder). This is how many of the city buildings are created and displayed. Traditionally, this was done with SketchUp, which was, at one time free, but was sold off by Google. Its OK, I guess, but if you want to make a change further down the design cycle with SketchUp, it's often easier to just start over. The SketchUp models are based on Collada .dae files.

Yuck.

Onshape does Collada export files. In fact, if I draw a sketch on the Front plane, and then extrude it toward the "back" direction, Low and behold, a part can be exported as a Collada file and then imported as a Google Pro model.

Google Earth Pro:
My Places pane -> click on some Placemark tack, or create a Placemark (helps coordinates for next step) -> go to Add pull down menu -> Select Model -> in the New Model window, in the link field browse to the path of the .dae model that was created (hopefully the lat., long. coordinates are near by (see above) -> click Ok -- you now have a model.

If you right click under the model you created in the My Places Pane, you can move the model around to where you like it.

yea

BUT.. The units of the model are WAY off, unlike an import from SketchUp. bumber, such a model is just a step away from perfection.

boo

Onshape: Workspace units... -> default unit length -> foot
Google Earth Pro: Tools -> Options... -> Units of Measurement -> Feet, Miles

If you haven't tried this before, I suggest you give it a whirl, it's kinda fun. I sure would appreciate any feedback on matching the units to Google Earth, if someone is successful.

tcthornberry

Is there a way to see a .dae file in street view?

MBartlett21

eric_west960 said:
Traditionally, this was done with SketchUp, which was, at one time free, but was sold off by Google.

You can actually still get Sketchup Make. You just have to find it first.

tcthornberry

I know I have seen MicroStation do this with 3d models that show up in google street view. I am wondering if .dae files can do the same thing. Also wondering if these models can be seen on an iOS version of google earth, or if you have had any such luck with this.