Saturday, July 3, 2010

Extracting 3d models from Google Earth


*updated October 2013.

The following tutorial does not seem to work for everyone, so
Try requesting a 3d capture here.


Many metropolitan areas have been 3d modeled in Google Earth. Often, it makes sense to take advantage of the existing site than to remodel everything. The above is a sample for Venice Boulevard. Having felt my way through murky mess, I've decided to share my experiences with others.


The idea here is to copy and save the 3d model as it is displayed in google earth. Thanks to Alexander Kaspar, the actual process is just as easy. To do so, you will need:

1) Google Earth, I'm using an old version (5.0.11733.9347). Run it as administrator in OpenGL mode

2) GLXtractor, I'm using v0.9.9

3) Once you have extracted GLXtractor, which is built upon OGLE, you need to run it as administrator


4) Choose Google Earth App (usually googleearth.exe in \Program Files\Google\Google Earth)


5) Select an output folder for the captured files


6) increase capture scale to 1,000,000


7) click Start Application at the bottom right corner, and it will open up your google earth for you

8) Once you have the right location, with 3d layers turned on, press the capture keys (Ctrl + Shift + F). Note that orientation matters, so keep North up

9) check that both Google Earth and GLXtractor are working hard in your task manager. If not, try capturing again. *In windows 7, I've noticed that GLXtractor.exe doesn't do much, but as long as Google Earth freezes a bit, you are going to be good.


10) Go to the designated output folder, confirm that a "Frame_xxxxxx" folder was created (this folder contains the textures/ map)

11) Patiently wait for the obj file to show up. This step may take anywhere from 1 to 30mins. *For me, the object file shows up in the same folder as the googleearth.exe (\Program Files\Google\Google Earth\)

12) Clean up the obj file in Rhino or other 3d program. reScale appropriately.


Now, for the actual design...

59 comments:

  1. I have a need in getting a model of Hong Kong. Do you mind giving a hand? My name is Calvin, and here it's my e-mail:

    sium1203@gmail.com

    Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I found that by switching the capture keys to "ctrl+Shift+TAB" it listens better to the command to capture

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello
    I can't get obj data from Google Earth. Which version of Google Earth do you use?

    Would you advice me?

    Thank you. Bye.

    ReplyDelete
  4. i've waited overnight (step 11) for the file to show up and it never does. only when I close GE is when the obj file is created. is there a better, newer way to do this? also, has anyone been able to open the obj with the textures mapped? and which program are you using to open the obj? thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. not getting obj file.. waited for an entire night but still no response

    ReplyDelete
  6. Man, this was incredibly generous of you to explain. After fighting my way to a predictable system of export I respect your willingness to share.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Once I close the program the obj pops up. each time the size is a little larger. (around 450k) I open the file in Rhino and there area some lines but they look almost like boxes that are flattened. anyone knows what this means

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank everyone for their comments. It's been a long time since this post, so I thought I'd return to confirm that this technique still works.

    It still does. I was able to run Google Earth version 5.0.11733.9347, and GLXtractor in XP3 compatibility. I will make a new post showing a few more cities.

    Let me know if anyone is still having trouble in getting a 3d model.

    ReplyDelete
  10. @ f Aug 3, 2011
    Try running an older Google Earth version. My original ran on a 4.2Pro, but 5.0 seems to work just as fine.

    Those boxes you see are the Google icons. You can zoom into them once you've deleted the boxes.

    @ others who wait hours
    You shouldn't have to wait more than 10mins usually. If you need a large site (like all of nyc), you might want to try to break the capture process down to smaller chunks (100-200 buildings each).

    You should also check the googleearth.exe folder to see if any objs get dropped off there

    @Mushi
    I've also found that control+shift+Tab works great. One way to know for sure that it is capturing is to drag-n-slide the google earth map, hit the keys, and confirm that the screen freezes. After the capture, google earth will resume sliding. Give it a while and you should see the obj file.

    @iancamarillo
    Using rhino, I can not get the texture maps to come out. If you really want everything texture mapped, you should just export it with Rhino's EarthAnchorPoint (http://wiki.mcneel.com/rhino/googleearth). Or via sketchup to keep your textures.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't do that,the obj file in my google earth directory is 0 bytes,waited for some times but no luck,I only have to extract 2 bridges,please help me...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You might also look up the specific bridges through Google warehouse. For example, Abraham Darby's Iron bridge:

      http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=7d0737e835d1c3bb918cb2b7f9590455

      Delete
  12. I need to get only 3 separate models from GE,help me to do so.please help

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am having problems with the obj file. I go through the whole process and press ctl+shft+f and google earth thinks for a little bit as does GLXtractor then after about 45 seconds it stops and is seemingly done. I check the obj file and there is nothing in it. Anyone know what is going on, I am using the same versions of both software as the tutorial and am running windows 7 64bit.
    Thanks for the guidance

    ReplyDelete
  14. @bloger1, zachsoflin,

    I'm sorry that you guys are having a hard time following through. It may be that your video cards which may not be compatible with this OpenGL method.

    In the meantime, simply put in a request for a sample model here:

    http://make2d.blogspot.com/2011/10/request-model.html

    and I'll try to respond in a timely matter.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for your response, I found another method, using 3DVIA. For those who might wish to try this, I detail it in a blog post @

    http://zachsoflin.com/2011/11/07/extract-geometry-from-google-earth-to-mesh/

    It is alittle more involved than your method but those for whom the method isn't working might want to try this.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm running the program with Nvidia GForce GT 540M, in Google Earth I turned on the Tools>Options>Graphic Mode>OpenGL.

    I can capture the screen, but the resulted .obj just have plane objects, I looked all of them, and none looks a building.

    Every where I point at GE I got this "Ogle Log". It looks that the program are not getting a refresh, always the same objects.I don't know.
    TRIANGLES: 1
    TRIANGLE_STRIP: 1
    TRIANGLE_FAN: 1
    QUADS: 1
    QUAD_STRIP: 1
    POLYGON: 1
    SCALE: 1.000000
    CAPTURE NORMALS: 0
    CAPTURE TEX COORDS: 0
    FLIP POLY STRIPS: 1
    LOG FUNCTIONS: 0
    OBJFileName: googleearth
    FilePerFrame: 1
    TRIANGLES: 1
    TRIANGLE_STRIP: 1
    TRIANGLE_FAN: 1
    QUADS: 1
    QUAD_STRIP: 1
    POLYGON: 1

    Any clues?

    Tks for all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't find "Tools>Options>Graphic Mode>OpenGL", which version of GE are you using?

      In the meantime, if you post your coordinates and eye height, I'll see if I can grab it for you.

      Delete
  17. this tool solved it all for me, the same trick but on DirectX also includes a dedicated 3D Max Plugin

    http://www.deep-shadows.com/hax/3DRipperDX.htm

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi! Thank you very much for this post. I have tried so many times on several PCs and Boot Camp powered macs in vein. The models I got were just several triangulated planes. Would you be so kind as to exact this part of Ginowan, Okinawa? We're doing an architectural competition based on this site. This is an image of the extents and 3D models we would like to have. (http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/1369/ginowan3d.jpg) THANK YOU THANK YOU! li@bl-dg.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. hey leoside...i cant download openglextractor...their website is down...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It seems to work for me... but if you want a quick request, go to request-a-model

      Delete
  20. First of all, thank you for your site.

    Before I head over to the requests page, I have a question. I have been able to extract the file from GE, and open it in rhino, but all I am getting is the 3D ground topography. The "unwelding" does not seem to extrude the buildings, though I can see the squares which must be their components. Any advice?

    The location is downtown Seattle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good point Yatakui.

      Some computers only capture the topography of your context. Unfortunately, you will not be able to extract the 3d model.

      Sorry:(

      Delete
    2. Thank you for your help, it is still pretty sweet to get a topo map out of it.

      Delete
    3. Yatakui. turn the terrain off and try again. In GE 5 you can turn the terrain layer off. llamaic, what is the process to get 3d buildings with textures (mapped)? Could you tell me?

      Thank you very much!

      Delete
  21. Hello-

    I really need to get hold of the Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World FL 3D grouping. Any chance you can do this for me? I'm willing to pay you for your time. Thanks so much.

    Greg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Greg, why don't you visit here: http://make2d.blogspot.com/2011/10/request-model.html

      but you can contact me at westerndigital2012 @ gmail.com for 1 on 1 help.

      Delete
  22. If you want textures too... watch this video

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbKbEWs_IxA&feature=plcp

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great post Paul! This seems very promising, thanks for the find Paul

      Delete
    2. so I tried to capture a few sites, but all I got were some really rough approximations. cool, but not very useful.

      Delete
    3. sorry to hear that, this works very well, not sure what you did wrong, if you follow the video you should be able to get what you see on google earth into a 3d model.

      Delete
    4. Vary nice buddy! Thanks a lot! I'm just trying to figure out how to export from 3dsmax to sketchup without messing with the model and preserve the textures. Any idea?

      Take care.

      Delete
  23. Hi Jimmy,
    I also tryed this out ...and couldn't do it.. Hope you can extract an .obj file for this coordinates in Paris France:

    48°51'57.24"N 2°19'51.19"

    I'm a student matte painter and I have a task for to make a matte painting on Paris.

    Many thans! Hope you can me this for me.. I¿ll share the matte painting when finished :D

    Greetings from mexico

    ReplyDelete
  24. could not get this method to work at all : (

    no captures show up in the folder. windows 8 x64. nvidia geforce 650gt mobile

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Jimmy,
    I'm a thesis student and my site is the Keflavik International Airport. If you could extract an .OBJ that would be great.
    Coordinates are: 63.996552,-22.624025

    If you could get not only the airport and the runways but some of the adjacent town that would be awesome.

    With Thanks, Isaac

    ReplyDelete
  26. I get a 14mb obj file with maps in jpg in a folder named 'images'. But the obj model only contains a large plane, no 3d buildings. Anyone has the same problem? What could be happening wrong?

    Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Jimmy,
    First I would like to thank you for your work.I am an architecture student and I have to redesign a huge area in Lyon in Guillottiere district. I carefully rode your instructions and I tried to do my best..but anything happens, no obj file happears.If you could extract an .OBJ that would be great.
    Coordinates are: 201245°45'01.56''N 4°50'.96''E 565 ft elevation.
    Many many thanks, Alessandra

    ReplyDelete
  28. Does this only extract user-created 3d models? What I want to do is select an area like downtown LA and extract the 3d coordinates of the buildings. Since Google Earth now generates 3d buildings using methods other than user-generated content,such as multiple photograph angles, is it possible to use this method to extract the 3d info?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure... but lately I've been having better luck with 3d ripper dx and max 2011.

      What are you planning to do with the generated 3d mess that google provides now?

      Delete
    2. I need to get the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the building profiles for a simulation I need to perform on reflecting radio waves in an urban environment. I need to capture the coordinates of the planar surfaces of the buildings roughly so I really only need the corner points of the buildings to start to create the reflecting surfaces. For this project, I need to model a portion of a real city and would rather not have to draw it out from scratch.

      Does 3d ripper dx and max 2011 extract shapes from Earth?

      Delete
    3. yes of course. But it is really rough, and time consuming to get captures.

      Delete
  29. Hello! I am laso looking for a model of Hong Kong pretty urgent! Would be very very thankful! My email is unbekante@mail.ru

    ReplyDelete
  30. hi, I'm looking for the model of Warsaw, Powiśle part, particulary about Centrum Nauki Kopernik. It would be awesome if someone could help me cause the program doesn't work on my computer:( my mail is majawronska@gmail.com thanks in advance :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Jimmy, after i press the capture keys (Ctrl + Shift + F) nothing happens.

    Any suggestions of what might be wrong?

    This is the area im aming to get: Mercado de La Merced, Rosario, Merced Balbuena, Venustiano Carranza, Ciudad de México

    Best,
    Gabriel

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. this is my email g.alvarez.h@gmail.com

      Delete
    2. Ive noticed that in my output foler i get a .txt file with this leyend:

      GL Intercept Log. Version : 0.5 Compile Date: Dec 3 2005 Run on: Fri Nov 08 12:31:10 2013

      ===================================================

      Delete
  32. Do you know if it's possible to extract building with the new version of GE and new version of GLintercept ?
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi there,

    Thanks for posting this for all. I've tried the steps and tips but can't seem to get it to work for me (could certainly be user error).

    Could you help me with 3D file for Washington, DC. Thanks alot!

    email - 99akinsinde@cardinalmail.cua.edu

    ReplyDelete
  34. I have tried everything suggested and am getting nothing. I need Houston, TX and have been trying to get this for a couple of hours.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm trying to get the site of Machu Picchu using this method - but GE keeps crashing as soon as I locate the site. Email: j984k705@ku.edu

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hello, I'm looking for 3d models for my thesis. I tried your method but it doesn't work. I would be happy if you capture two areas. One is in madrid (North-west:40.426085, -3.715154, South-East: 40.415397, -3.686217) The other is in London (North-West: 51.517412, -0.155760, South-East: 51.508725, -0.124861).
    My email address is jjoyboy@hotmail.com . Thanks a lot !

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hey there

    I know it has been years since this post was started, but lately I have done many research about 3d ripping from Google Earth, but the latest thing I came across is the 3D Ripper DX which is actually discontinued years back and does not work with Google Earch 7, do you know if there is any other way of capturing 3D sites on GE?

    Please do let me know through my email.

    Thanks buddy

    Bill Cai
    bill_cai1992@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://support.google.com/earth/answer/168344?hl=en here you can download old google earth and use any method

      cheers

      Delete
  38. Hello, I'm looking for 3d models for my thesis. I tried your method but it doesn't work. I would be happy if you capture an area (Via Bartolomeo gosio, grottaferrata-Italy)
    My email address is Giob.della.torre@gmail.com . Thanks a lot !

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hey Shimmy I was wondering if you could help me extract a part of Valletta for my thesis. I have tried the meathod shown above but it wont seem to work.

    please contact me on a.a.al.mannai@gmail.com for a supporting image of the location.

    ReplyDelete
  40. 37.782075, -122.396764 i need the 3d model of this area for my architectural thesis project , it would be great help .thanks

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hi - I'm trying to find a good 3d model of the City of Buenos Aires (more specifically the areas from the line of Palermo to Monserat towards the coast.

    I tried the method described above but for some reason, the file would never appear in the folder, even after I tried various capture commands.

    I'm doing my architectural thesis on Buenos Aires and I really need to find as much data as I can get.

    ReplyDelete