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PLS-CADD Google Earth Integration Tips

Starting with version 8 of PLS-CADD, you can now visualize your models in Google Earth using the File/Export KMZ (Google Earth) command. Here are the step by step instruction and some tips for making best use of this feature:

• Use Version 4 of Google Earth
  Google Earth version 4 provides substantially better performance than version 3 of Google Earth. In fact, it is so much better that we only support version 4 and newer. You can download Google Earth here. Everything demonstrated below uses Version 8 of PLS-CADD and Version 4 of Google Earth.
  
• Begin in PLS-CADD
  Make sure you have the 3D view open!
  
• Select your project's coordinate system
  This is also a new feature in Version 8 and can be found under Terrain / Coordinate System
  
  
  If you do not know what coordinate system to use then contact the supplier of your survey data. Please do not ask us becuase we can only guess what coordinate system was used on your project.
  
  
• Export a KMZ
  The Google Earth model is called a "KMZ" file and can be exported from PLS-CADD using the File / Export / KMZ (Google Earth) command.
  
• Name your KMZ
  Enter a name for your KMZ and select a folder to save it in.
  
  
• Select KMZ Export Options
  • We suggest you leave the Range to view structure from and the Tilt settings at the default values.
  • You can choose the offset distance for the tours (which you will see later in Google Earth). We recommend that you set this slightly larger than your maximum conductor offset (to simulate a helicopter flying as close to the line as possible).
  • In some cases, the vertical datum used on your project may not be the same as used by Google Earth. If your structures are "floating" when you go to Google Earth, you can put a negative number in here to lower the entire line. Of course the opposite is true if your line is buried.
  • You can opt to include any raster imagery you may have attached to your PLS-CADD project for use in Google Earth. Unfortunately, Google Earth does not handle detailed imagery as well as PLS-CADD does, so you may need to uncheck this option if navigating your model in Google Earth is slow.
  • You can have Google Earth open up automatically and zoom directly to your line by leaving the last option checked.
    
• Finally, Google Earth!
  Once you click the OK button above (assuming you have left the automatically open Google Earth option selected), you will be taken directly to your line in Google Earth.
  
• Prepare to Tour
  Double-click on one of the "tours" on the left hand side of the screen under the line you want to tour (more later on multiple lines). You will be taken to the first structure on your line, hovering and ready to fly.
  
• Tour!
  Click the "Play" button to start the tour. (Alternatively, you can use Tools / Play Tour from the menu or select Cntl-Alt-P on your keyboard.
  
• Set touring options in Google Earth
  You may want to set various options in Google Earth for your tour. Under Tools / Options, under the Touring tab, you can set the distance, tilt, and speed as well as other options. (75 to 80 degree tilts appear to work best for most lines, with the distance being a variable depending on the size of your structures and their spacing, and you may want to up the "Play Tour Times" to something besides the default "1" so that the tour will loop back to the beginning when it is finished. To make Google Earth's terrain model a better match for your PLS-CADD model increase the Terrain Quality setting under the 3D tab to the highest possible setting. There are other options that you may want to investigate, such as the cache settings. You can cache the imagery from a whole project for demonstarions later where you may not have Internet access.
  
• Enjoy the ride!
  Your tour should look something like this:
  
• Export Multiple Lines!
  You can load (File / Open) multiple KMZ files into Google Earth so that you can see multiple models at one time. Note that each project will now appear on the directory tree on the left, and you can expand the Structure Locations tree under a particular project, click on a specific structure, and be taken right to that strucure. Imagine having your entire system modeled in Google Earth (and PLS-CADD)!
  
• Have Fun!
  • Remember that in order to see rendered structures in Google Earth, you must have used PLS-POLE and/or TOWER to model your structures in PLS-CADD first. Otherwise, you will just see "stick structures" and wires.
  • If you don't have a project handy and want to immediately try this feature out, download this sample KMZ file.
  • If you get the "Pro" version of Google Earth, you can make a movie of your tour as well (Click for an example movie). However, note that the quality isn't anywhere near as good as it is "live" in Google Earth. We recommend that you investigate the cache setting described above for offline tours at public meetings or other places where Internet access may not be readily available.
  • Feel free to give us feedback on your use of this new feature and to send us any impressive KMZs!