Terrain changes from SU in GoogleEarth

twharvey

In a model I used Sandbox tools to modify the downloaded terrain to more closely reflect the real land under the model. When I placed the model into Google Earth to see how it looked, the terrain changes didn't get through.

How can I put my terrain adjustments into GE?

Thanks,
Tom

Gaieus

Tom, you cannot change the terrain in GE (just imagine what would be the result if everyone started to build hills and canyones...).

What you can do however is to

import the terrain data (snapshot) normally
save the file with one name
save the file with another name
now in this latter file, unlock the GE Terrain (it will become a simple mesh as you probably noticed)
copy it and in file 1 paste in place (Edit menu).

Now it is not on your GE Terrain layer nor it bears any georeference (leave the other, "real" GE Terrain untouched!). You can modify this terrain to your needs and since this is not the GE Terrain in your file, it can be uploaded.

Note however that only parts that are above the "real" GE Terrain will be visible (i.e. you cannot go under the GE surface). You can always toggle the real GE Terrain on as a reference.

twharvey

Gaieus & Modelhead,

OK, I get it. So it becomes a style issue if, in the real world, the building is below the surface that is shown in GE.

What do you guys do in this situation? I looked at your town hall file, Modelhead, and saw you "platform". I've done the same thing for buildings that are above the GE terrain. I could just shift the model upward, which isOK if it's a stand alone building. But if there are other buildings around, it looks kind of funny.

Thanks and regards,
Tom

Gaieus

Tom,

imagine my "pain" when I want to model archaeological finds (reconstructions) that are 6 metres (20 feet) below present ground level!

Gaieus

@unknownuser said:

...and Gaieus...I am still waiting for Google to implement your suggestion and allow an underground layer.

And that' a UNESCO World Heritage site. How on (G) Earth could it be presented on GE? Even National Geographic had articles about it (but still underground).

CraigD

Yes modelhead, we update the terrain data often. Google Earth is always changing, be it better imagery, better terrain, better 3D models, or new layers....plus Sky!!

Hey Gai, please get in touch...I'm interested in the work you're describing.

Cheers,

CraigD

Gaieus

Hi Craig,

Here is a placemark (well, I should update the images since the domain I used to host them does not work any longer... ).

Also, finally we uploaded this website again that we made about 5 years ago. There have been extensive excavations ever since (we spent about 6 million Euros and excavated about 13-14 thousand cubic metres so whatever you can see there is a bit outdated and we found some 6 more burial chambers).

BTW the front page of the site is here and includes 6 European locations. Speaking of 3D, I think tzhe Spanish locations are worth having a look first of all - but of course all are really nice.

(Sorry Tom for getting offtopic - but see this is really the same thing here...)

twharvey

You don't have to appologize for talking about interesting stuff.(my wife is an amature archiologist. So, I have some interest as well.)
Tom

Gaieus

Well then, back to "on-topic": the terrain you can see on those webpages (with the 3D reconstructions) is just an imaginary ("more or less" precise though) terrain that we created just to put the individual buildings on.

Now as we have had these huge works finally, we have extremely abundant data to reconstruct the Roman ground level, too which is between 3 and 6 metres under the present terrain (most of which has been artificially filled up to create terraced places during the centuries).

Now if I wanted to present all these buildings in GE, I could not do it in their real location because maximum the roofs would be sen.
The only thing I can do is to create an additional terrain that is "floating" above the present one and maybe I cut through it.
I don't know - it would most probably look stupid though.

twharvey

Gaieus & Modelhead,

I did the same thing: with Sandbox I built an artificial level above the GE terrain then adjusted the model upward to fit the new terrain. After a bit of fiddleing around, it loked OK. Then I paintd it with the color photo from the original GE scene and tried it in GE. It looks good. This works OK because the building is isolated and there is no direct comparison with other buildins in the area.

Here's the link to 3D Warehouse: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=93904ab7955ebeeb409a1897981810e0

Thanks for the help and ideas,
Tom

Gaieus

Now that's really nice, Tom! Almost seamless!
Lucky you that you only needed to modify the terrain "upwards".

Thanks a lot for sharing this. I actually read a whole bunch of literature on British churches (I translated the exhibition of the medieval carved stones of our cathedral and thought that the best way is to read a lot about churches).

I particularly like this "Decorated Style" in English Gothic architcture.
I have a project (somewhere in the "finish") about the 14th century reconstructions of my home town, you can find some images and videos of it in this discussion (buried somewhere in the Gallery).

Actually your church (and Hereford as well) is quite close to Bath with which we made that Peregrinus website above. Made a couple of good friends there and ever since we've been working together in other European projects, too.

twharvey

I liked your church! My first SU project was to model the central part of my town, Leominster. I think that with the experience I've had with these churches, I'll go back and improve the town models as well.

Tom

twharvey

Gaieus,

I just thought of this: you should have a look at Kilpeck Church. It's one of my models, but the really interesting part is the carvings, both christian and pagan themes. Try this web site for detailed photos: http://hoary.org/snaps/engl/kilp.html

Tom

twharvey

Modelhead,

Thanks! Her's the link to my churches collection: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=a1a371eeb03012877aa0f8729b37a541

Tom

CraigD

Hi Tom, these models look very nice!

A few notes:

Dilwyn Church has text on the model's ground imagery. Please remove this (you can easily do this using the stamp tool in PhotoShop)
the Priory Church of St Peter and St Paul does not have textures on the roof. (there are some good roof textures in SketchUp with stone shingles that could be perfect!)
The beautiful Hereford Cathedral is hovering above the GE terrain (could use some modeled terrain like St Mary Church) AND there are some missing textures on the back side.

If you fix these issues and re-upload the models, send me a PM and we'll get these very nice models pushed into Google Earth quickly.

Thank you!

Cheers,

CraigD

P.S. Modelhead, I'm not sure what you mean...can you send me the URL to models that have the problem and I'll take a look. Thanks

Gaieus

Ahh, Tom, thanks really.

The "funny" case is that we have these corbel stones almost exactly with these "say-semi-pagan" carvings from outside the church (well, cathedral).
If only I could present an image right now! But I'll take some for sure!

CraigD

Hi Tom, there are still some issues on at least one of the terrain platform images for your Hereford Cathedral.

When you save as image from Google Earth, you should turn off every layer so that the icons are not captured in the texture image you want to use.

See attached screenshot (BTW; when can we get this 800 x 800 pixel restriction taken off the forum? This causes extra steps and time I don't have)

Please fix this model as soon as you can.

Thank you,

CraigD

CraigD

Hi Modelhead, using color textures is perfect. The problem I was pointing out is when Tom saved as image from Google Earth, the layer icons were visible. This will cause a model to fail, because (obviously) those big camera icons don't exist in the real world.

If you need to build a base for you model, you can easily use the colored terrain image from Google Earth to project onto the base. Spend some time tweaking the image so that it lines up with the terrain/image in GE and then save (and upload) your model with the image textured base.

It looks quite good when done with care!

Cheers,

CraigD

CraigD

Here's an example of the model that I created of our house... When I saved as image from Google Earth, the image had some words, a slice across the image, and a car in the driveway. So I tweaked the image in Adobe Photoshop, removed the words, the slice and the car and then projected that image as a texture on the raised base for the house.

Take a look at the attached images.

Cheers,

CraigD

twharvey

Hi Craig,

OK, I painted the icons out on the Cathedral model. I checked in GE and it looks fine now. From now on, I'll know to turn off the icons before downloading from GE ot SU.

thanks for the advice,
Tom

Hi Modelhead,

I do the same thing for small, unimportant areas. Fussing with large terxtures to get them just right in small areas takes a lot of time. Also, using a dark gray or some neutral color doesn't draw attention to the area.

Tom