Digital Workflow:
ArcGIS, AutoCAD and Google Earth

by Alison Smith Bramlet, Assistant Professor, University of Georgia College of Environment and Design

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With the numerous web applications and software programs available to the public for free download, it?EUR??,,????'?????<

This article explores workflow methods for AutoCAD and ArcGIS users to visualize and share their designs using free software and smartphone/tablet applications such a Google Earth. While the examples illustrate basic 2-D data, similar workflows can be adapted for 3-D data.

GIS + Google Earth
When you need to view and share GIS data outside the typical GIS environment, Google Earth?EUR??,,????'?????<

AutoCAD + Google Earth
Autodesk Labs offers a Google Earth Extension for AutoCAD-based applications, free for download: https://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/google_earth_extension_beta.

To download the extension, which is said to work with AutoCAD 2007 and newer versions, you will need to register and login on the Autodesk labs website. You download the extension and extract the files. Your AutoCAD version determines the remainder of the installation.

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Google Earth App for Smartphones/Tablets
The free Google Earth Application is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android phones and tablets. As an iPhone 3GS user for two plus years who has tried numerous methods for mobile access to KML files (including syncing with Google Maps), the most successful method I?EUR??,,????'?????<

To Sum Up
The ArcGIS 10 Conversion Tools make for a virtually seamless workflow between GIS and Google Earth. AutoCAD?EUR??,,????'?????<