SummaryTutorial for creating a 3d model of a bridge in Google Earth

Flevodam created with Rhino for Google Earth

This tutorial explains how to create a 3d building or construction at a desired place on Earth. The scaling, location and orientation of the 3d model is important for a correct presentation.

The Flevodam concept is created by Gerard Petersen of the Rhinocentre

Resources:

* Flevodam 3d model

* KML model, KMZ Viewpoints and PDF presentation

Content

Place a Background Bitmap from Google Earth in Rhino

Make a picture of the desired location in Google Earth and save this image. Zoom in until the site is filing your screen to the max for accurate results. It is very important to look straight down to the earth in order to have little perspective distortion.
Open in Rhino a new model and set the units. For a building it might be meters.
Place this image from Google Earth as a background bitmap in your Top viewport in Rhino (rightclick on Top). Do not mention the scale.
In the left bottom corner of the bitmap image you see the scale of your current bitmap.
Draw a line with this length from 0,0,0 to the right
Move the Background Bitmap and place the left starting point of the scale at 0,0,0
Scale the Background Bitmap from the endpoint of the scale to the endpoint of your earlier created line.
Now your Background Bitmap should scale with your Rhino model.

Create 3d model

If you need a contour on the ground to mark the available space, it is easy to draw a rough line and later match the control points to the background bitmap at the exact location.

Now you can actually draw your 3d model.

In this case you can download the model to see how several details where done.

The Islands can be created by 'array along curve' the first Island. This can also be done for the Pylons and Bridge struts. Delete the ones which are not neccessary.

To create the bridge, use the Sweep 1 rail at the cross section of the bridge at the earth anchor point.

Create Earth Location Point

Very important for a correct representation of the 3d model in Google Earth is a correct location and orientation.

North/South orientation. Draw in the compass of Google Earth a line from the North to the South. Move this line to the point which will be the Earth Anchor. You can chose for example a corner of your building. In this case you can see a red arrow pointing to the North.
Create in Google Earth a placemark at the exact location for your model. In this case it is the starting point of the Red Arrow.
Change in Google Earth the setting Lat/Lon from 'degrees, minutes, seconds' to 'degrees' (under tools/ options/ view)
Read the coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) of this placemark(right mouseclick on placemark/ properties/ view)
Type in Rhino the command 'Earth Anchor Point' and fill in these Latitude and Longitude degrees. (52.367450 / 4.972769)
Select for the model point the starting point of the Red Arrow
Select the other end of the Arrow as the North Point.
Now you should also be able to orient for the East direction
And you can specify this point with a name and URL

Create a tour in Google Earth

Download the KML and KMZ file to see how you can use the model in Google Earth and make a presentation. Import therefore both the KML and KMZ file in Google Earth.

Fly in Google Earth to the desired position and add a placemark. Use the controls in the right upper corner to move, zoom, tilt, rotate until you are satisfied.
Click on 'Placemark' and a small window will open.
Name the placemark '1'.
Click on 'Style/ Color and set 'opacity' to '0'. If you add several placemarks close to each other it will become a mess therefore we make them invisible.
Edit a hidden placemark in the window 'places' normally at the left of your screen where the placemark '1' is visible.
Now you can go to another viewpoint and again you put a placemark called '2' over here.
Finally you can have a sequence of placemarks which you cannot see in the space.
Double Click on '1' in the window 'spaces' and then you can push the 'play' button