Publish 3D models
This tutorial is aimed at describing the process to be followed for exporting a project to Google Earth.
This can be accomplished using either the command "Export KML/KMZ" or the command "Publish 3D Models".
Both these commands are located in the second drop-down menu at the "KML/KMZ" panel.
The steps that need to be followed are almost the same for both commands.
However, "Publish 3D Models" is more appropriate for exporting 3D models, whereas" Export KML/KMZ" is a better option when it comes to 2D objects.
After clicking on the respective command, you need to determine which object or objects you would like to export to Google Earth.
If, however, there are more than one objects to be exported and you have selected the "Publish 3D Models" command there is an extra step included, because you have to determine whether the objects will be grouped into a single model or not.
Following this, a window pops up where you have to select the altitude mode.
The available options are the following:
- Clamped to Ground: The object is placed on the surface of the ground, ignoring any altitude value.
- Relative to Ground: The altitude is measured directly from the ground level below the coordinates
- Absolute: The altitude is measured relative to sea level.
Following this, the user is directed to a "Save" window, so that the objects are saved as a KMZ file before exporting and when this procedure is finished the analyzing begins.
As soon as the exporting has been completed, the object can be opened directly at Google Earth.
The final result is the following:
Snap Objects to Terrain
There is one more significant procedure before publishing a 3D model that includes snapping the objects to the respective terrain.
To do so, you click the "Snap Objects" command from the second drop-down menu at the "Terrain" panel.
Then, you determine whether you would like to attach the objects to an imported terrain or a specific elevation level.
Next, you select the object you would like to snap and you choose which will be their anchor point either bottom, top or origin.
