Implications of end of google earth

andybot · 25 May 2017, 13:41

I just tested out the new maps, and also found the resolution is much lower than before. Blech! Really disappointed with this change @Trimble.

AcesHigh · 26 May 2017, 20:18

alternatively, it seems Archicad (and possibly Revit too?) also can import from Google Earth, both mesh and image, and then save as SKP.

you just need what? $15k?

sketch3d.de · 29 May 2017, 11:44

DG claims at least to "offer the highest quality satellite imagery in the industry" down to a resolution of 25 cm (WorldView-3 sat).

Trimble should maybe acquire additional satellite imagery sevices from e.g. Planet Labs (formerly Google Terra Bella).

AcesHigh · 30 May 2017, 02:28

Although it complicates workflow, apparently this program does the same that Sketchup used to do, possibly even better (bigger 3D mesh areas in the highest resolution without having to add multiple grabs)...

But it costs U$250 for the version which can grab terrain meshes. The plus version (which can grab 3D terrain meshes) can also create profiles from the terrain, cross sections and slope analysis.

Home

CAD-Earth allow you to import/export images, objects and terrain meshes between Google Earth and AutoCAD and create dynamic contour lines, profile meshes, video animations, and more.

(www.cad-earth.com)

valerostudio · 31 May 2017, 18:24

@andybot said:

I just tested out the new maps, and also found the resolution is much lower than before. Blech! Really disappointed with this change @Trimble.

I agree with Andy on this one. This is one of the biggest features which is now lost. These aerials and topo meshes are a useless heap of steaming garbage (sorry Trimble but they are).

Maybe Placemaker is the answer?

SketchUp PlaceMaker - A SketchUp Extension and Instant 3D City Builder

PlaceMaker is a SketchUp extension that lets you instantly build 3D cities into your model! Import buildings, trees and forests. Place 3D roads, paths and water. Use our affordable BuildingMaker 3D modeling service. Model directly onto 3D terrain and export your model to Revit. Learn more.

SketchUp PlaceMaker (www.suplacemaker.com)

db11 · 31 May 2017, 19:19

@aceshigh said:

Although it complicates workflow, apparently this program does the same that Sketchup used to do, possibly even better (bigger 3D mesh areas in the highest resolution without having to add multiple grabs)...

But it costs U$250 for the version which can grab terrain meshes.

Looks like a business opportunity for CAD-Earth, given the number of people whose SU workflow depends on quality geo-imagery / terrain grabs. If they were to make their tool directly compatible with SU — and thereby resolve the workflow issues — I imagine their would be a raft of SU pros showing up at their door happy to pay $250 to replace the lost (critical) functionality.

Would be curious to know how extensive their coverage is... and how the've got around the API IP restrictions that are the claimed reason why SU can no longer provide this exact functionality from Google. Two possibilities spring to mind:

that they are skirting / impinging the restrictions.
That they have negotiated a license arrangement with Google that legally allows such usage.

If (2), then it has interesting implications for this discussion and the rationale provided for the degradation in SU 'Add Location' functionality. Hmmm...

sketch3d.de · 6 Jun 2017, 10:36

@blackdogsketch said:

...importing any other higher quality 3D and jpeg imagery? Are there any possible workarounds at all?

export from free Google Earth Pro .

@blackdogsketch said:

Daniel Tal's new PlaceMaker extension ... The imagery to me looks like it's not as clear or crisp as Google Earth but better than the Digital Globe drek.

@whaat said:

The tool uses DigitalGlobe imagery and imports a low resolution 'snap-shot' similar to how SketchUp's Add Location tool works. Sorry, terrain import is not available with this tool.

valerostudio · 19 Jun 2017, 18:24

Is anyone still fuming over this? I am trying to get site information for a model and SketchUp was always the go to. Now I don't know what the heck to do. These topo models that import from DG are useless. The grid is WAY to spread out. In some cases 100-200' grid. That's ridiculous.

brokenkeys · 20 Jun 2017, 12:16

@valerostudio said:

Is anyone still fuming over this? I am trying to get site information for a model and SketchUp was always the go to. Now I don't know what the heck to do. These topo models that import from DG are useless. The grid is WAY to spread out. In some cases 100-200' grid. That's ridiculous.

Yes.

I went the revit route, mentioned previously here and in other threads. It worked but it was very frustrating. It bloated my model and I had to sit through dozens of spinning wheels. For example, here is an area of a site I modeled that had just enough slope that I didn't have time to clean it up:

The old way would have been a piece of cake with hundreds of entities. This one, x 4 acres, was a real strain on my computer.

marvins_dad · 20 Jun 2017, 16:21

Yep - me too!
I have been working on a large project for a few months, came back to working on a few site mock ups and noticed the diminished quality of the "add more imagery" when trying to set up my 9 square grid of the city block I was working on.
Ended up grabbing Google Earth Pro and saving the highest resolution and then attempted to scale it to match the blurry DG image.
For some reason I couldn't draw directly on the top of the GEP image, I had to draw from the bottom - very odd.
But I really noticed there was something amis when I started extruding buildings and wanted to "Add Photo Texture..." that was where I was informed of the 5 year contract with Google that had expired and after I made do with just faceless blocks I came here to see what the F was up!

I am looking for a viable alternative for both features I have lost and will be following this and any other thread that pop up on the subject.

valerostudio · 20 Jun 2017, 19:58

I sent an email direct to Trimble which was forwarded to Bryce. It's just crap and to even suggest that this is an ok replacement is a slap in the face of all SketchUp users. They should have honestly cut a deal with Google and told us that we would have to pay a fee for the service.

juju · 20 Jun 2017, 20:11

From what I've read on the SketchUp forum, Google isn't making the data available at any price.

Dave R · 20 Jun 2017, 23:04

@juju said:

From what I've read on the SketchUp forum, Google isn't making the data available at any price.

That's true. And Google's terms of usage prevent the data from being used as it has been in SketchUp since they started the Location thing. Unfortunately many users are just ignoring those facts.

valerostudio · 21 Jun 2017, 18:34

So Google owns and controls all high resolution aerial and topo data on Earth?

Dave R · 21 Jun 2017, 19:10

Who said or even implied anything close to that? They own their data and they aren't allowing it to be used the way it was in SketchUp.

Again, Trimble didn't just decide to change suppliers. Google quit supplying.

juju · 21 Jun 2017, 21:25

@valerostudio said:

So Google owns and controls all high resolution aerial and topo data on Earth?

and Mars

alpro · 2 Jul 2017, 13:30

I have been one of the complaining pissed off users. I've demoed several of the Autocad and Revit add-ons but the workflow just didn't suit me and why should I pay almost $300 for something I used to be able to do. But it gave me some insight into how they work and apparently the Google Earth api isn't as restrictive as Google Maps because this is what these add-ons are using (or they're just breaking the terms?). Anyway Dave R in another post asked what the alternative is? Well that's not my job but the folks at Trimble who have been taking my money for the last 5 years and had plenty of time to come up with a better alternative. Trimble should be ashamed to offer this crap as a "pro" feature. With that being said, here is my alternative, the whole process takes me about a 1/2 hr. And sometimes I have to do some cleanup, in the video I removed about 20 points from the surface to get rid of the "bumps" in the road and any super sharp elevation changes. I've used this process on several sites now and am pretty satisfied, I get a surface identical to Google Earth with high res terrain and imagery. And as a bonus I get a terrain skirt for section cuts. I've also had a very quick communication with Daniel Tal to see if this process or something similar can be integrated with and automated by Placemaker.

juju · 2 Jul 2017, 19:20

@alpro said:

I've also had a very quick communication with Daniel Tal to see if this process or something similar can be integrated with and automated by Placemaker.

I may be wrong, but I think WHAAT (Dale Martens) does all the coding / development.

mozzie · 4 Jul 2017, 08:01

Thanks for sharing, Alpro! Much appreciated. I'll try it for my non-USA locations and report back.

alpro · 30 Jul 2017, 02:36

Good job Trimble, leave it to the plugin authors.