Revit and Google Maps

[MikeJarosz]

I'm in new territory here, so any help is much appreciated.

I am working on a project near an airport. So close in fact, that we have height restrictions that must be considered in our design. The FAA publishes an "Airport Diagram" that gives me enough information to draw the airport runways. My problem is locating them correctly on mother earth in Revit. What looks possible is to put an image underlay from Google satellite map underneath my site plan and trace the runways, correcting them later according to the FAA information I already have. Accuracy is also an issue.

To insert an image for tracing, I need it full size. I don't know how to get that from Google. I have seen site plans at the Revit user group where existing buildings were shown and outlined, and a blog I read said it can be done, but neglected to mention how. We will probably be in direct contact with the airport management at some point, but it is way too early in the process to involve them.

Anyone have any advice?

[Revitaoist]

You'll need globe link to get it to scale right automatically(available for subscription users), otherwise just print screen from google maps, then crop in paint or photoshop, then you can just scale the image in Revit from the scale on the maps image, or some known object in the image.

[MikeJarosz]

I downloaded globe link from subscription, it now appears in my external tools dropdown, but when I try acquire from google earth, I get the message "You must have google earth running to use the acquire capability". Google earth is open on my second screen and I am staring at runway 22. What am I doing wrong?

[Revitaoist]

It has to be on your primary screen.

[MikeJarosz]

OK. I needed a newer version, so I downloaded the latest earth. Acquire starts to work, then tells me I have to turn off earth terrain. I found it under earth/tools/options and unchecked it, but Globe link refuses to get beyond the terrain issue, even with it off.

I feel like I'm almost there but.........

[Revitaoist]

Oh, yeah I remember that one. Double check what version of Earth globe link wants. I am looking at the download from subscription center now and it says Globe link for RAC 2013 is optimized for Google Earth version 5 mapping service. You have to search the net for an archived version of GE. Yes, this is a real PITA, I even remember having to get the version correct to the umpteenth decimal place, EG, 5.x.x.x,

[Revitaoist]

Here's a link to GE V5 I have confirmed works with RAC 2013

http://www.filehorse.com/download-google-earth/6677/

85739

[MikeJarosz]

Success!!!! (BTW, this is 2012, but the older version of earth from your link worked)

[MikeJarosz]

Wouldn't it be nice if Globe Link enabled Revit to work in lat/long units?

[SAM744639]

Hey MikeJarosz, I am using 2012 also - which version of google earth did you downlod from the filehorse link below? Just curious because I am trying random older versions and it is NOT working.

[MikeJarosz]

Use the link from Revitaoist. It sends you to a site that has older versions of popular software. FYI the Earth version is 5.2.1.1588

[URL="http://www.filehorse.com/download-google-earth/6677/"]

[brendanmcfarlane468204]

I am fairly certain that this commercial use of GoogleMaps content is not covered by their public license terms, and you may well need to obtain a commercial license to use the content on your project.

[MikeJarosz]

Autodesk created this app and posted it on their subscription site without any warning that I could find about Google's vengeance . If what you say is true, Autodesk should get one of their 10,000 lawyers to post a discaimer.

Anyway, since it only appears in B&W, it looses much of its appeal.

[Revitaoist]

I am assuming Google and Autodesk are in bed together, if you go to project location inside Revit, you can see it is powered by Google maps.


86085

[MikeJarosz]

You're right about that.

Maybe that's where the other 9999 Autodesk lawyers are busy.

[patricks]

Yeah I'm sure Autodesk pays Google for using their maps in Revit. Now whether we should have to pay to use them on our documents for, say, vicinity maps is a whole other issue (not for this thread).

Maybe if you just don't publish it in your construction documents. *shhh* :p