Learn how to use Plex-Earth’s Create Timeline feature to import very recent and historical satellite/aerial imagery and build a chronological timeline view for monitoring changes and tracking project progress over time. This tutorial explains how to define your area of interest (by entering coordinates, selecting a point or rectangle in the drawing, or copying a placemark/polygon/path from Google Earth), choose a dataset, and add additional timeline views to compare multiple dates, create focused views, and expand your imagery timeline for progress monitoring and time-based site review.
Create a timeline of historical images from Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar) from the most recent to up to 10 years old to monitor project progress and examine site evolution.
The Create Timeline command allows you to build a chronological imagery sequence (also known as a time series of satellite images) for a specific area. This makes it easy to compare imagery from different dates, monitor the progress of a construction site, and observe how an area changes over time.
Create Timeline can also provide access to very recent satellite imagery through premium imagery providers such as Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar), depending on availability for your region.
To learn how to use this feature, follow the steps below.
Step 1. Create Timeline Command
To create a Timeline, go to the Plex-Earth ribbon → Contextual Data panel → Create Imagery drop-down menu → select Create Timeline, as shown below.
Step 2. Specify Geographic Location or Cover Area in Drawing
Next, choose the location where you want to import historical imagery.
You can enter coordinates using:
Enter or paste the geographic coordinates (Latitude, Longitude)
Paste from Clipboard
Alternatively, you can define your area using one of the available options shown in the window, such as:
From Google Earth
By Point
By Rectangle
From Google Earth (Placemark/Polygon/Path)
This option lets you use a Google Earth object to set your project area.
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In Google Earth, right-click your placemark / polygon / path and choose Copy.
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Return to CAD, click From Google Earth, then click Accept.
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In the Collection Manager palette (left side), confirm the area and click Next: Create Timeline.
📝 Note: If you copied a path from Google Earth, Plex-Earth may ask you to create a corridor. If prompted, choose Yes, Create a Corridor!
By Point
Use this option to define the timeline area from a single point in your drawing.
Click By Point.
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In the drawing, click the point that represents your area of interest.
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In the Collection Manager palette, confirm the area extents and click Next: Create Timeline.
By Rectangle
Use this option to define the timeline area by drawing a rectangular boundary.
Click By Rectangle.
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Specify the two opposite corners of the rectangle in the drawing.
In the Collection Manager palette, confirm the selected coverage area and click Next: Create Timeline.
Step 3. Select Dataset to Add View
After defining your area, choose which imagery dataset you want to include in your timeline view. Select your preferred dataset and then click Add View.
After this procedure, the first image of your Timeline is imported.
Step 4. Add More Dates
Continue adding timeline views to create a chronological set of images you can compare.
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To add other dates to your Timeline, go to Timeline Editor palette → Historical tab → Add Timeline View.
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Then, the following menu will appear, where you will need to choose one of the following options:
Add Dated Image: You have the option to insert an additional image for your full area, by selecting the dataset of your choice.
By Selecting a Dataset: You have the option to insert an additional max-resolution focused view by selecting a specific point and then the dataset of your choice from the list.
By Using Current Timeline Dataset: You have the option to insert an additional max-resolution focused view by selecting a specific point for datasets you have already inserted.
Repeat the steps to add more dates.
Creating Mosaics from Timeline (Airbus and Vantor)
If you want to create high-resolution mosaics from Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar) to cover the full area, check out the Site Area tutorial here. Take note that creating mosaics from Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar), and other premium providers requires credits. Contact us here for more information on credits.
Importing Recent and Historical Imagery from Other Providers
Outside the Timeline functionality for Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar), you can also import very recent and historical imagery from other providers like Nearmap, which requires credits. Contact us here for more information on credits. There is also a method to import Google Earth historical imagery, explained in this tutorial.
FAQs
How often is new imagery added to the Timeline?
This depends on the provider and your region. Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar) update imagery at varying intervals based on satellite revisit schedules and coverage priorities for your area.
Can I import historical imagery from Google Earth using the Timeline feature?
No. The Timeline feature uses Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar) as its providers, not Google Earth. To import Google Earth historical images specifically, there is a separate workflow explained in How to Import Google Earth Historical Images into AutoCAD.
How far back does the historical imagery go, and how recent can it be?
The Timeline feature provides access to imagery from up to 10 years old through Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar), depending on availability for your region. These providers also offer very recent imagery, so the Timeline can be used both for monitoring past changes and for accessing the latest available captures. Availability varies by location.
I want to create a high-resolution mosaic from an Airbus or Vantor dataset — do I need credits?
Yes. Viewing Timeline images is included with your plan, but creating full-area high-resolution mosaics from Airbus and Vantor (formerly Maxar) requires credits. You can manage and create these mosaics through the Site Area workflow. Contact us for information on purchasing credits.
What is the difference between "Add Dated Image", "By Selecting a Dataset", and "By Using Current Timeline Dataset"?
These are the three ways to add more dates to your timeline. Add Dated Image adds a full-area image for a new date by letting you pick any available dataset. By Selecting a Dataset lets you add a max-resolution focused view for a specific point within the area, choosing from any available dataset. By Using Current Timeline Dataset does the same but uses a dataset you have already added to the timeline, which is useful when you want a zoomed-in view of a date you have already imported at full area.
My Timeline image looks low resolution — how can I get a higher quality version?
Timeline views are imported as a single tile image with automatic resolution by default. To get a full-resolution mosaic covering your entire area from the same dataset, you can create a high-resolution mosaic through the Site Area workflow (note that this requires credits). For other options, such as recent high-resolution imagery from Nearmap, contact us for more information.
Related Questions
This article explains how to create a timeline of historical and recent satellite imagery in AutoCAD or Civil 3D to monitor project progress and compare site changes over time. You may have searched for:
- How to import historical satellite images into AutoCAD or Civil 3D
- How to compare imagery from different dates in CAD
- How to monitor construction site progress using satellite images
- How to view old aerial photos of my project area in CAD
- How to know the capture date of image in Plex-Earth