Maps Models Importer

Maps Models Importer is a set of tools for importint 3D models from wide maps in 3D content softwares. This is a proof of concept containing only a Blender add-on for importing 3D models from Google Maps.

The blender directory contains the source code of the Blender add-on importing captures recorded with RenderDoc:

NB This is an add-on for Blender 2.80 and above, which you can download from here.

Installation

Download a release or make a zip of blender/MapsModelsImporter/. In Blender, go to Edit > Preferences, Add-on, Install, then browse to the zip file.

/!\ Do not use the "Download as zip" button of GitHub, make sure you use a release zip instead.

Install RenderDoc. It has been reported not working with the very last version. Try the portable version of RenderDoc 1.2 or RenderDoc 1.1.

Usage

Start RenderDoc, and File > Inject into process;
Start chrome or chromium using specific flags: chrome.exe --disable-gpu-sandbox --gpu-startup-dialog --use-angle=gl. Do NOT press Ok on the dialog box yet;
In RenderDoc, search for the chrome process and inject into it;
Press OK in the chrome dialog;
Go to Google Maps (not Google Earth!) in satellite view, and take a capture using Print Screen while moving in the viewport;
In RenderDoc, save the capture as an rdc file
In Blender, go to File > Import > Google Maps Capture an choose your capture file.

If you feel lost, I made a quick walkthrough of the addon: https://youtu.be/X6Q7dbtXVZQ Useful information can be found in the comment of the video, as well as on the support thread on blenderartists.

Troubleshooting

Linux

Unfortunately, the inject into process functionality of RenderDoc is not supported on linux. You can still import existing captures on linux, though.

Missing blocks

By default, the addon limits to 200 blocks, but if you feel ready to let your Blender hang for a moment, you can increase it.

Disclaimer

This is a proof of concept showcasing how the 3D render process of Google Maps can be inspected. This is intended for educational purpose only. For a more in-depth analysis, see Importing Actual 3D Models From Google Maps.

Do not use this for any commercial nor redistribution purpose. Actually, the use of such tool might be allowed for private read-only use, as this is what happens when browsing Google Maps, but not beyond. I do not take responsibility for any use of this tool.

Help Wanted

This repository does not provide the required RenderDoc binaries for linux nor for OSX. If you have such a system, build RenderDoc against Python 3.7.0 (the minor version matters) to be compatible with the version of Blender's Python distribution.

inventadero / MapsModelsImporter