How To Get Contours From Google Earth Into Sketchup
How To Get Contours From Google Earth Into Sketchup
Google Earth has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially for those who are interested in exploring the world without leaving their living room. It has become a great tool for finding and exploring new places, and it can also be used for designing and creating 3D models. But did you know that you can also use Google Earth to get contours into Sketchup? This tutorial will show you how to do this in just a few simple steps!
Getting Started
Before you can start getting contours from Google Earth into Sketchup, you'll need to make sure you have the right software. Google Earth is a free download, and you'll need to make sure you have the latest version installed before you begin. You'll also need to make sure you have Sketchup installed and running on your computer. Once you have both programs installed and running, you're ready to start getting contours into Sketchup!
Step 1: Open Google Earth
The first step is to open Google Earth. Once it's open, you'll need to find the area you'd like to get contours from. You can do this by either typing in the location in the search bar or by navigating around the globe. Once you've found the desired area, you'll need to zoom in as far as possible so that you can get the most detailed contours.
Step 2: Select the Contours Layer
Once you've found the area you'd like to get contours from, you'll need to select the contours layer. To do this, you'll need to go to the "Layers" menu and select the "Contours" layer. This will add the contours to the map and make them visible on the screen.
Step 3: Export the Contours to a File
Now that the contours are visible, you'll need to export them to a file. To do this, go to the "File" menu and select the "Export" option. This will open the export dialog box, where you'll need to select the type of file you'd like to export the contours to. The most common type of file is a KML or KMZ file, so make sure you select this option.
Step 4: Import the File into Sketchup
Once you've exported the contours to a file, you'll need to import the file into Sketchup. To do this, go to the "File" menu and select the "Import" option. This will open the import dialog box, where you'll need to select the file you'd like to import. Once you've selected it, click the "Open" button to import the file into Sketchup.
Step 5: Convert the Contours into a Mesh
Once the contours have been imported into Sketchup, you'll need to convert them into a mesh. To do this, select the contours layer and then go to the "Tools" menu and select the "Convert to Mesh" option. This will convert the contours into a 3D mesh that can be edited in Sketchup.
Conclusion
Getting contours from Google Earth into Sketchup is a great way to create detailed 3D models of any area in the world. All you need is the right software and a few steps to get started. With a few clicks, you can have the contours you need to create a realistic 3D model of any area. Now you know how to get contours from Google Earth into Sketchup, so get started and create some amazing 3D models!
