Google Earth + REVIT

The link between Google Earth and REVIT materialized into a Revit Extension available from the Autodesk Subscription Center since 2007. The extension allow to georeference your project with a GE aerial map imported directly into a REVIT view. But how about the GE surfaces?  Hmm...There is currently no direct way to extract GE contours into REVIT, but it IS possible to do this via AutoCAD.

The Google Earth Extension for Autodesk-based products has been available as a technology preview application from the Autodesk Labs website. http://labs.blogs.com/its_alive_in_the_lab/google_earth/

This extension allows users to publish 3D models from AutoCAD directly into Google Earth as .kmz files, import an aerial photo, and/or drape a Google Earth image over and AutoCAD 3D mesh.  The numerous installation files are dependent of both the AutoCAD and the GE version number. After installing the application, for the extension to run properly, load manually via MENULOAD the GoogleEarth.cui  and load via APPLOAD the  AeccDWGToGE.arx, both files residing in the main ACAD support folder location. The .cui will create a small Google Earth for AutoCAD toolbar:

The second tool left-to-right IMPORTGEMESH, (the icon with the blue mesh), will capture the Google Earth surface elevations and will import it into any AutoCAD based product (CAD, ACA, CIVIL & MAP).
The tool will drape a Black & White aerial image over the mesh, visible only when you switch visibility to Realistic. It is important to keep both applications open during the operation, and it is important that the GE view is perpendicular to the earth surface (no tilt).  The tool will always create a 32x32 mesh with elevations relative to the Sea Level 0'-0".

Save the file as a dwg in a subfolder beneath your Revit project folder.  Link the dwg into REVIT and generate a Toposurface using the Imported Instance Method. Place the dwg using the Auto - Origin to Origin option to preserve the elevation info. More important, the key here is to review the contour ranges and settings in the Site Settings before generating the toposurface.

A color aerial map can be drapped over the toposurface as part of an assigned Material.  To do this, save the GE color image as a jpg and associate the image into new generic material using the Material Browser/Material Editor.  Make sure that the size of the material tile matches the actual size of the toposurface, by disabling the tile proportionality lock. See the options below:

The image will display only when the View Style is switched to Realistic.  See the final result: