The KML Tools Panel of Plex-Earth offers the ability to import Google Earth elements into your drawing as KML/KMZ files and also to export your drawing's elements to Google Earth, be it 2D or 3D objects. Importing Google Earth elements into your drawing can provide valuable insights into the accuracy of the digitization procedure, and exporting your project to Google Earth can help with creating powerful visualizations to be used as a means of conveying and labeling information effectively. This tutorial will provide all the necessary information regarding the steps you will have to follow in order to make use of the KML Tools provided by Plex-Earth.
Customizing your KML/KMZ Exports
Import KML/KMZ
In order to import a KML/KMZ file into our drawing, we visit the Google Earth Tools Panel of Plex-Earth and select the Import KML/KMZ command.
We are then prompted to select our desired KML/KMZ file. Once it's done, we click Open.
Plex-Earth will then import our specified KML/KMZ file, and we will be presented with a notification window asking whether we would like to zoom to the imported objects.
By clicking YES, ZOOM, we are provided with a clear view of our imported elements in a matter of seconds. Below is the end result for our example.
Export KML/KMZ
In order to export 2D or 3D drawings to Google Earth, we visit the KML Tools Panel of Plex-Earth and select the Export KML/KMZ command.
We are then prompted to select our desired 2D or 3D objects to be exported to Google Earth as a KML/KMZ file by either picking them all one by one or creating a window lasso with our cursor in order to pick them all at once.
Once we have selected all 2D or 3D objects we would like to export to Google Earth, we hit the Enter key on our keyboard and are then prompted to specify how the altitude of exported objects should be treated.
Plex-Earth gives us the following options:
Clamped to Ground: The object is placed on the surface of the ground, ignoring any altitude values.
Relative to Ground: The altitude is measured directly from the ground level below the coordinates.
Absolute: The altitude is measured relative to sea level.
In this tutorial, we will go with Clamped to Ground. Once we have picked our preferred option, we will be presented with a Save window, where we will have to specify a destination folder and a file name. Once it's done, we click Save.
Plex-Earth will then export our 2D objects to Google Earth and ask whether we would like to open the newly created file in Google Earth.
We then click OPEN IN GOOGLE EARTH and enjoy the Google Earth view of our 2D project. Below is the end result for our example.
Export 3D KMZ
To also export to Google Earth 3D elements (like materials, surfaces, and textures), along with our drawing, we visit the Google Earth Tools Panel of Plex-Earth and, under the Export KML/KMZ dropdown button, select the Export 3D KMZ command.
We are then prompted to select our desired 3D objects to be exported to Google Earth as a KMZ file, by either picking them all one by one or creating a window lasso with our cursor in order to pick them all at once.
Once we have selected all 3D objects we would like to export to Google Earth, we hit the Enter key on our keyboard and are then prompted to specify whether or not we would like to group our selected objects into a single model.
In this example, we are going to group them into a single model by clicking Yes on the command line. Once we have picked our preferred option, we will be prompted to specify how the altitude of exported objects should be treated.
In this tutorial, we will go with Clamped to Ground. Once we have picked our preferred option, we will be presented with a Save window, where we will have to specify a destination folder and a file name. Once it's done, we click Save, as shown in the screenshot below.
Plex-Earth will then export our 3D objects to Google Earth and ask whether we would like to open the newly created file in Google Earth.
We then click OPEN IN GOOGLE EARTH and enjoy the Google Earth view of our 3D project. Below is the end result for our example.
Customizing your KML/KMZ Exports
If you need to change settings on your KML/KMZ exports, such as layer grouping, placemark customization, lineweight options, etc., this is possible by clicking on the OPTIONS button in the Altitude Mode Selection window.
Check out more information about this in this article.
Conclusion
Google Earth can be a very useful visualization tool, offering valuable insights into the topology and morphology of any given project site in a matter of seconds, and Plex-Earth provides users with the ability to make the most of it by creating instant connections between their AutoCAD drawings and its rich geographical database.
We hope that you have found this introduction on how to Import and Export KML to Google Earth, helpful. Feel free to contact us at support@plexscape.com for any questions you may still have.
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Compatibility includes:
AutoCAD Version: 2025, 2024 , 2023 , 2022 , 2021 , 2020
Civil 3D® Version: 2025, 2024 , 2023 , 2022 , 2021 , 2020
AutoCAD Architecture Version: 2025, 2024 , 2023 , 2022 , 2021 , 2020
BricsCAD Pro: V24 , V23 , V22 , V21