Autocad: How To Use Google Earth In

Back in AutoCAD (I was using 2023), I typed (or GEO for short). A dialog box appeared. I chose “Import a KML or KMZ file.” I selected the KML I’d saved from Google Earth.

I opened Google Earth Pro (the free desktop version) and navigated to the client’s property. I made sure the layer was on and tilted the view to see the topography around the trees. Then I went to View → Reset → Tilt and Compass to get a pure top-down view. how to use google earth in autocad

Two hours later, I sent the client a DWG with the shed, the road, and a note: “Coordinates match Google Earth’s current imagery. Verified with two known landmarks.” Back in AutoCAD (I was using 2023), I

I didn’t have time for a new survey. But I had Google Earth and AutoCAD. I opened Google Earth Pro (the free desktop

I went back to Google Earth, captured a fresh top-down screenshot (without any added polygons), and saved it as a JPG. Back in AutoCAD, I used the command and placed that JPG.

But the satellite imagery itself didn’t come through—only the vector outline of my polygon did. So here’s the trick pros use:

Now I needed to scale it. I measured a known feature in Google Earth—for example, the distance between two fence posts was 150 feet. In AutoCAD, I used the command. I picked two points on the JPG, then two corresponding points on the geolocated KML outline. The image stretched, rotated, and snapped perfectly into place.