For architects who may be wondering what a building model would look like once it’s on the map, there’s an app for that.
CADtoEarth v2.3, created by AMC Bridge, is a free third-party plug-in designed to create a bridge between computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) software and mapping technologies Google Maps and Google Earth.
Available through the Autodesk App Store online marketplace, CADtoEarth creates this bi-directional connection so designers can see exactly what structures will look like in a virtual “real-world” environment.
CADtoEarth v2.3 lets users work bi-directionally with software such as Autodesk Revit and Google Earth for building information modeling visualization. (Image courtesy of AMC Bridge/Autodesk App Store.)
The plug-in is designed to allow users to import 3D building models from CAD modeling sessions into Google Maps and Google Earth to see what it would look like on its intended site. This is especially helpful in aiding clients to visualize the site and the scale of a given project.
It also provides the ability to retrieve building layer information from Google Earth to assist in design and to convert finished 3D structures to a 3D PDF format.
The latest update, CADtoEarth v2.3, offers users a new ability to create personal accounts on the plug-in’s web application and control visibility of uploaded data.
Key enhancements also include social login through Facebook or LinkedIn accounts, additional file formats for model export and various other upgrades based on feedback from the user community.
CADtoEarth v2.3 has been updated to support Autodesk Revit 2013-2016, Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013-2016 and Autodesk Revit Structure 2013-2016. It is also compatible with SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Inventor, Rhino, Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D and Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D.
For more information on CADtoEarth v2.3, visit the AMC Bridge website.