Export Topography From Google Earth To Autocad ✦ Direct

Here are the three best methods to export topography from Google Earth to AutoCAD, ranging from "quick and dirty" to "highly accurate." Use this if you just need the visual shape of the hills for a masterplan or rendering.

Have you successfully extracted terrain from Google Earth? What workflow do you use? Let us know in the comments below! export topography from google earth to autocad

This is the pro method. You will need a third-party tool called (paid) or the open-source hero: QGIS (free). Here are the three best methods to export

If you do this more than once a month, invest in a dedicated AutoCAD extension like Plex.Earth . It lets you import live satellite imagery and terrain directly into your drawing window with one click. Let us know in the comments below

Google Earth is a fantastic (and free) source of real-world terrain data. But right now, it’s just a pretty picture. You need it as precise vectors inside AutoCAD.

The bad news? Google Earth Pro does not export native contours directly. The good news? With a few clever workarounds, you can extract that topography and turn it into editable polylines and surfaces.