This article explains how to start a drafting or design project using a Google Earth imagery base. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to overlay drawings, plans, or architectural projects onto real satellite images from Google Earth, allowing users to integrate their designs into a real-world geographic context. It is ideal for architects, engineers, urban planners, and other professionals who need to visualize projects in specific locations, making it easier to plan and analyze based on the existing physical environment.

Available for AutoCAD, BricsCAD, ZWCAD and GstarCAD


1. Search your project area in Google Earth

  • Search your location in Google Earth, using the seach box or by manually navigation

2. Set the desired layers and view in Google Earth

  • Once the view is located, hide your project elements
  • Enable the layers you want to include and hide the others

3. Set top-north view

  • Click on the map and press ‘R’ key or go to menu “View/Reset/Tilt and Compass”

4. Create .geprint auxiliar file

  • Click on “Save image” icon or go to menu “File/Save/Save image”. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+S
  • Select your desired resolution, up to 8K UHD (do no select the “Maximum” option, because the variable image proportion will not be recognized and can not be imported)
  • Click on “Map Options” and hide the undesired elements: Title and Description, Legend, Scale, Compass…
  • Above, on the section “Map Configuration”, click “Save…“, and save the .geprint configuration file.

5. Save image file

  • Click “Save image…” and save the image next to the .geprint saved in the step 3. It is recommended to use the same file name, otherwise, the .geprint must be selected manually on the final step

6. Set Coordinate Reference System

  • Set your desired coordinate reference system executing SPMSETCRSCOMMAND
  • Search by code, name or country and select the one best fits
  • If you do not know what to choose, you could skip this step and a global coordinate reference system will be assigned on the next step

7. Import using Spatial Manager

  • Import the saved image using SPMIMPORT command or directly from the Spatial Manager palette (SPM command)
  • If not selected automatically, check the “Google Earth print (.geprint)” option and select the .geprint file

8. Start drafting your project

  • Now it is ready to draw over the base imagery and start your project

Notes:
- This method is compatible with Google Earth Pro on desktop, not Google Earth on web, neither Google Earth on mobile
- Some functionalities can be found in the Standard or Professional editions only