Download street maps from Google Earth

As far as we know, there is no program (yet) that can lower the streets of Google Earth in vector format. Although it is possible to Open Street Maps, it's a pity that there are not all cities.

But if someone were interested in the streets of Google Earth, then the exit is to download them as an image, and then vectorize the beast on them. Here are some tips to reduce the level of savagery:

1. Put a black background image

We do this, so that the satellite image does not hinder and improve the visibility of the streets. A black bmp format image is made in Mspaint and it is called from Google Earth, stretching it over the area of ​​interest.

google earth download vector maps

2. Download the image with Stitchmaps

google earth download vector maps

Now using Stitchmaps, we chose a mosaic that allows us to see texts of a thickness less than the vector of the street.

See how, although Google Earth did not see all the streets at the height of the image, Stitchmaps are all, we choose a lower elevation, in this case 384 meters.

Once the mosaic is defined, we give order to download, and wait for the mosaic to conform. finally we recorded it with tiff format, and with calibration file for OziExplorer (.map). The image looks like this: the image on the right is an extension:

google earth download vector maps

As a parenthesis, if we want to convert it to .ecw, in Global Mapper we bring it, we assign it projection and we tell it to rectify it from a .map file. Then you can export to .ecw for better handling from another program.

google earth download vector maps

3. Scan it with a plotting program

Draw line by line could be half annoying, if you want to move fast, you can use an automatic plotting program, such as Microstation Descartes.

google earth download vector mapsIt is understood that the .ecw image is georeferenced, (although it could be done from Descartes), what comes is to convert the image to vector, with the same procedure that we show in a previous post.

Make a mask for the yellow tones, and another for the gray tones and then we tell you to convert them to vector with topological cleaning. The segment where the text is will not create the vector, we will have to make the union on foot, although if you want to take advantage of Descartes, you can convert all those text tones to the gray of the street, so the We made it smaller. If the text is to be vectorized, the command for oriented text is used.

4 In case of not having Microstation Descartes

It should also work similar with AutoDesk Raster Design, ArcScan, Manifold GIS, and even Corel Trace.

5 Replies to "Download Google Earth Street Maps"

  1. The article is from 2009 and focused on the need to do it with the Trace - Microsation function. There are other articles that have explained how to do it from OSM using QGIS.

  2. and why do not you use qgis and you avoid that many steps and work

  3. Beautiful post,
    I add Inkscape (free) to vectorize
    Greetings to you

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