Google Earth, SketchUp and Google 3D Warehouse Connections

Whether you want to create presentations of proposed developments, share a building you've designed, or view a BIM model in context, you'll find the combination of ArchiCAD, Google Earth, SketchUp and the Google 3D Warehouse a powerful way to express your creativity. With this intuitive interface, ArchiCAD users can not only import 3D information for use in their projects, but they can also publish their designs to the world.

The Google Earth Connections add-on package enables integration between ArchiCAD, Google Earth, SketchUp and Google 3D Warehouse through .kmz and .skp file formats. This capability moves users past the Building Informatin Model to the virtual world.

Google Earth Connections, a solution for:

Google Earth Connections for ArchiCAD 15

Download Google Earth Connections

Download the Google Earth Connections User Guide

Note: Limitations in Google Earth Connection for ArchiCAD 15 package Windows 64-bit and OSx versions
The automated data exchange between ArchiCAD 15 and Google Earth, Google Warehouse and SketchUp is not available due to technical limitations. Read more about the suggested manual communication workflow here.

Google Earth Connectivity

With Google Earth Connections, you can display your ArchiCAD model in its virtual location in Google Earth. Using this add-on you can also benefit from the placemark and polygon tools of Google Earth since you can import these objects with 3D geographical location information into your ArchiCAD project. You will need these placemarks to export your 3D model back in Google Earth as well.

Import terrain and coordinate information from Google Earth
In the early stage of design even a rough terrain model can significantly help the visualization of the model in its real context. With the help of Google Earth Connections, architects can easily capture terrain and imagery data from Google Earth and use it in ArchiCAD.

Evaluate ArchiCAD designs in real environment
With the help of Google Earth Connections, architects can easily export a textured 3D model to Google Earth and create camera animations for a dazzling presentation.

SketchUp

With the SketchUp In/Out capabilities of the Google Earth Connections package, you can exploit the easy-to-use free-form modeling tools of SketchUp. Either you create a custom design element in SketchUp or find an interesting SketchUp model you just want to re-use, simply import it into your ArchiCAD project as a gdl object to further increase the value of your design. Using this add-on users are able to export any ArchiCAD element or the entire 3D model to SketchUp for design development purposes.

Google 3D Warehouse

With the Google 3D Warehouse connection, you can provide architectural context for your project by accessing hundreds of detailed models or share your model with others by uploading it to Google 3D Warehouse.

Import 3D buildings and objects from the Google 3D Warehouse
On the Google 3D Warehouse site, thousands of royalty free models as well as real or conceptual 3D buildings are available for download. If the architect needs a car or household appliances model for his project, he/she can download it to ArchiCAD with just a few clicks.

Publish ArchiCAD designs to the Google 3D Warehouse
It is easy to share design concepts or real 3D building models with others on Google 3D Warehouse. The Google Earth Connections tool provides an intuitive interface to allow uploads with a single click.