Topic: Was able to get Google Terrain with satellite map imported!

[billy007nh]

I have been looking for a way to import WITH the satellite map and terrain like from Google Sketchup and I finally had a few hours to try a bunch of things and was able to import the Terrain and keep the Google satellite map image and have it work!

In Google 8 PRO has to be PRO version.  Go to Add Location and search for your project location and once you Grab IT it will import the map and the terrain into the sketchup file. I found that the export to 3D and use the FBX and make sure in export options that export texture maps are checked and then just import that fbx into Lumion and POOF!

Hope that helps.  Any questions feel free to ask!

Billy

[cbcarch]

Very cool! Thanks for the tip.
We are always struggling with GE, and esp. Terrain and getting them into 3D apps.

cheers! 

[RAD]

Google "LIDAR"

[BMcIsaac]

...before you export out of SU unlock it and flatten it to a single layer. Your SU GE grab has both a mesh with texture applied and a GE snapshot texture as an image that you don't need.

[billy007nh]

...before you export out of SU unlock it and flatten it to a single layer. Your SU GE grab has both a mesh with texture applied and a GE snapshot texture as an image that you don't need.

Yes great point!

Billy

[FabioHFernandes]

I am using google earth to do that, but for larger terrains it is impossible to obtain a good mesh (with all the maps in place)...

There is a plugin for autoCAD that do it...

http://www.plexscape.com/plexearth.aspx

Ive tried to use it, but with no success... the importing of the points from google earth is a pain in the a... (10.000 points or more)...

I wonder if anyone has come across another tool to do that?

Is there a possibility to be implemented in Lumion in future upgrades? The terrain importing tool?

In my oppinion, it would be a great tool for us, who works with large terrain areas...

Best  regards

Fábio

[RAD]

plexscape - cool link Fabio. Thanks

Check this out (maybe you have seen it before)
www.3ds.com/products/3dvia/3d-xml/3dvia-printscreen/

Maybe Remko could write a script to get those 3D XML files into .3ds, .fbx., .dae.
Then we are cooking.

Somebody should test this 3D Print screen out as a possibility for putting a Lumion scene inside their 3D XML viewer.  
Might be a work around to your own personal Lumion Model viewer you can send out to people also.  Instead of that executable people wanted Lumion to provide - maybe this might work instead (pulls the Lumion Terrain out and everything you see on your screen)...I don't know  (of course it won't be as pretty either) .

[peterm]

Slightly OT but I see there's an open source globe project going live that's similar to GE. See http://swiss3d.openwebglobe.org/.

Viewer is in demo and early stages and only populated with a little of Switzerland and no idea about getting stuff out of it.

[peterm]

Check this out (maybe you have seen it before)
www.3ds.com/products/3dvia/3d-xml/3dvia-printscreen/ 

Just took a quick look at that (scan read page), thats ripping!, there is/used to be a couple of 3D ripper tools around once, and now a reputable company is making it 'official' to rip any sort of content that is bound by the range of copyright and common law on useage?!    Good grief

[BMcIsaac]

but for larger terrains it is impossible to obtain a good mesh (with all the maps in place)...

You must be talkin about a big area. 

The mesh comes in pieces for sure but you can get the whole GE image/snapshot in one piece. It will come in as a number of locked groups with images , plus one big google snapshot.

If you unlock each group and delete the snapshot you will be left with the big image.
Unfortunatly you have to model your own terrain. Most times I keep at least one group because it does contain detail mesh I need. I just lay out a low poly mat the size of the big google snapshot, project the GE snapshot on to it and then use GE or what ever better source of info I have to shape the big mat by hand.

Now I just drop the smaller mesh into it and carry on adding more detail to the mesh as it is needed to work the detailed areas of the terrain. On the outer edges of the mesh you can use lumion terrain sculpt tools to make a nice transition.

Now you have your big ground image and you can push it up to 16000x16000 to ad detail in PS or whatever...if your video card can handle it.

[RAD]

U have to pay them to truly access the data.

[BMcIsaac]

It is something to be aware of for sure...if you are using their mesh or images then you need to follow their agreements.

...and the mesh screen shot thing...that's just bad.... ..it should be declared a burglury tool.

[peterm]

mmmm, it looks like slightly old stuff, a few years back co. trying to move the world to using the format they wanted you to support when they took over SW and was pushing the 3D XML format as standard.  

What a way to do it, give a free tool to anybody that has no responsibility of usage (of course in the install it lays out copyright) to rip whatever and save it as our 3D XML format, wow!  way to go .

If developers need a DirectX tool to capture their 3D content in the pipeline the best (apart from Nvidia tool) is Pix (Microsoft) that helps properly to debug 3D data when doing C++ apps.