Google Earth image display resolution

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

We have a few designers that are bringing in Google Earth underlays to work on. The problem they are having is that SU's OpenGL downsizes the resolution based on how well it can perform. I know there is a thread below this about graphics acceleration and such, but has anyone found a decent work around for this. A way to keep the Google Earth image clear enough to build directly on top of?

 

This isn't necesarrily just a SU problem, lots of 3d apps can't display high res images because of performance issues.

 

As I am typing this, a potential solution might be to make several smaller maps that are attached to planes, and butted against each other.

[Ernest Burden III]

There is a 'pro' version of GE for $50 or so, and an 'enterprise' version for maybe $500 that are supposed to have some more advanced features for output--BUT only in imagery. No 3Dexport.

 

This weekend I was experimenting with the OpenGL Extractor, a DirectX version called 3D RipperDX and one from Dasault called 3Dprintscreen that does 3D export from both OpenGL and DX, though it saves in a flavor of XML that nothing could open besides their free player. All Free, none worked for me. I got a model captured from C4D but I didn't need that to work.

 

Now--in terms of combining the same 3D landforms and the same aerial photography that Google Earth and MS Virtual Earth use in a system where you can output the full-res images, as well as overlay and align vector data that can have roads and even accurate building footfprints, all exportable to DXF and other useful formats, correctly sized and oriented to the appropriate coordinate system, you could use a GIS program. (That was one long sentence)! I use Global Mapper. It's probably $500 for a single license and it does wonders.

[Shaun Hamm]

Hey Travis,

 

I have a high res image 4800x3498 from google earth pro that i was using to replace the generic b/w one you get when you "get current view" from google earth.

 

I noticed as well, even when its high res, zooming in makes it lose res. I split off a quadrant (2400x1749) of my image and placed that in over my overall image matched the scale.

 

Zooming in on it, there was a noticeable increase in resolution. Splitting that image in half and bringing it into SU was even better.

 

Im gonna guess there is some ratio of SF to image resolution that is optimal.

 

Anyways, your hunch on splitting the image up will increase image resolution.

 

-Shaun

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

There is a 'pro' version of GE for $50 or so, and an 'enterprise' version for maybe $500 that are supposed to have some more advanced features for output--BUT only in imagery. No 3Dexport.

 

This weekend I was experimenting with the OpenGL Extractor, a DirectX version called 3D RipperDX and one from Dasault called 3Dprintscreen that does 3D export from both OpenGL and DX, though it saves in a flavor of XML that nothing could open besides their free player. All Free, none worked for me. I got a model captured from C4D but I didn't need that to work.

 

Now--in terms of combining the same 3D landforms and the same aerial photography that Google Earth and MS Virtual Earth use in a system where you can output the full-res images, as well as overlay and align vector data that can have roads and even accurate building footfprints, all exportable to DXF and other useful formats, correctly sized and oriented to the appropriate coordinate system, you could use a GIS program. (That was one long sentence)! I use Global Mapper. It's probably $500 for a single license and it does wonders.

 

 

This wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but it is something I have been meaning to experiment around with for awhile. So now I have a few programs to try it with. Excellent.

 

Also, I am not sure if you use SketchUp or AutoCAD 2007 or later, but both of these have the ability to import Google Earth maps as underlays that are already properly scaled and such. Really convenient. It is mapped to a 2d plane that can then be exported to Cinema the remapped to scale by simply importing the image, and hitting fit to geometry. The AutoDesk plug-in is free from their website. I have not used it, so I cannot attest to it. The other thing to note with this method is that the image comes in as grayscale, but that can easily be remedied.

 

Another useful app in this vain that I have only used once, and is no longer available because Google asked him to stop, is Map Stitcher. At least that is what I think it was called. It basically took several screen shots, and stitched them together into a high res, large area map. I looked into it about 3 or 4 months ago, but haven’t got back to it. When I first looked into it, it was still available. Which brings the obvious question about how Google feels about grabbing the OpenGL data from its models. It is probably written in their legal mumbo jumbo somewhere.

 

I remembering reading once that Volkswagen was experimenting with Google Earth in the dashboard of their cars as a information system. Not sure if anything ever came of that.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

Hey Travis,

 

I have a high res image 4800x3498 from google earth pro that i was using to replace the generic b/w one you get when you "get current view" from google earth.

 

I noticed as well, even when its high res, zooming in makes it lose res. I split off a quadrant (2400x1749) of my image and placed that in over my overall image matched the scale.

 

Zooming in on it, there was a noticeable increase in resolution. Splitting that image in half and bringing it into SU was even better.

 

Im gonna guess there is some ratio of SF to image resolution that is optimal.

 

Anyways, your hunch on splitting the image up will increase image resolution.

 

-Shaun

 

Good to hear. When I talked to the guy, he had thought of the same solution also. I will recommend that he just cut the square out of the middle, where the building is, and make that part its own map, and leave the rest at whatever resolution it is displaying at. That way it minimizes the amount of RAM it is eating.

 

This is also a valid solution with 3dsmax, or other software that downsizes or optimizes the way textures are displayed int he viewport. Also useful for scanned floor plans or elevations.

[BrianKitts]

The only software that I know of yet that really holds up a high resolution when zooming in tight, is Autocad. Anytime that I need to build on top of an image I'll always setup a file in Autocad, trace on top of it and then DWG link my "tracings" into max to build up final models.

 

This method also works well with the GoogleEarth mesh import tool for Autocad. (the wonderful tool that JH showed us months ago that I'm finally using in production). Because with the click of a button it brings into Autocad your google earth data (with typography changes) and maps the image from google earth on the imported mesh. If you have google earth pro it will give you a higher res image and in color instead of black and white. So then anything that you build is prefectly in place with your terrain.

 

Works like a charm, now if only max and sketchup could incorporate Autocad's image management/visibility refresh we could all be happy

[Ernest Burden III]

This wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but it is something I have been meaning to experiment around with for awhile.

 

Using the GIS software you get the base photo that Google Earth or Virtual Earth used, at it's full resolution. You can then output whatever portions you want at full-res or less if you prefer. You can also get better aerial photos than they use, like DOQQ images that are sometimes .2m resolution, and sometimes ortho-corrected for structures (perfect plan shape, no sides of buildings visible). It all loads up into a master file, and can also load vector data on top. Why trace roads and buildings when the data is already there in vector? There's topo lines, plus DEM surface models in 30m or 10m resolution. It comes in with fantastic registry and you can output TIFF and DXF among dozens of other options. Things don't need to be scaled and aligned, they just open that way.

 

I'm currently working on a lovely water treatment plant rendering. I started with roads and building footprints in vector, added aerial imagery, layered a plan sketch for a near-by housing addition. Being accurate is important, so telling the engineers I started with the GIS data from the county helps a lot. I'm not doing a 'verified view' but they hired me because I work digitally and has the perception (incorrect as it sometimes is) of greater accuracy. I can always export my data for the client to check.

[bjornkn]

There is a hidden registry setting for SketchUp that allows you to change the OpenGL max image res. Send a mail to their support department and they'll probably tell you the details (I don't remember them...).

GE have very bad res in my area, so I always have to overlay local aerial maps anyway. And they import quite well when importing into SU. The terrain data is also very coarse BTW, so a part of the terrain usually needs to be modelled to make it blend better into the GE terrain.

This simple 3D model with VR panorama tour in GE was made completely from photos in SketchUp. http://www.agder.fhs.no/panorama/

(Mostly Norwegian text, but clicking the "Start med 3D" in the middle left should open GE with the model.

For more precise work I don't know if GE is the right choice?

That GlobalMapper sounds interesting...

[Chad Warner]

I didn't know about the google earth import into autocad. That's a great addition!