Import terrain from Google Earth, MS FlightSim, or USGS?

I want to import terrain meshes from Google Earth, or MS flightSim, or the USGS national digital elevation data (DEM). I've read all about various modeling tools and converting to RAW format, etc. But is there a way to just import directly from this data instead of having learn and go through yet another tool?

I don't think so.

I think there is websites that already have the textures and models for you to use as they are already converted.

If you were to transfer the models and textures from these (using collada files) you woudn't be able to transfer the texture and have to update it in unity.

It would be much easier for you to create what you need (Cinema 4d, Lightwave, Blender) and transfer to unity using these file formats or find the ones I was talking about ealier which should be converted.

Sorry i couldn't be to much of use, but I hope this helps slighty.

S.

I think you'd either have to parse the format yourself and create meshes manually or find a third party tool/plugin. I can't help you in detail with either. Maybe someone who worked with it reads this and can give a better answer, but until then I think google is your best bet. Either search for an existing plugin or write your own. Just get the format specification (if available) and fill up a cup of coffee.


Google earth to Unity3D

At least someone is interested in the same stuff. Seems people use Sketchup to extract data.

Ya, I saw this tutorial out there. You need Google's SketchUpPro which costs $495. I'd rather spend that $ on Unity Pro! For the United States anyway, elevation data can be downloaded from:

http://seamless.usgs.gov/data_availability.php?serviceid=Dataset_11

Does anyone know of a conversion tool to get this data in .RAW format to be imported into Unity?

According to USGS website for elevation data, its avail in: NED data are available in ArcGRID, GeoTIFF, BIL and GridFloat (floating point binary raster with external header files) formats...

If you want to create a heightmap for use in Unity's Terrain Engine you could take a look at

Global Mapper (Price per License: $349 US).

It takes “seconds” to generate a heightmap from almost any elevation data.

But you still have to convert the output image to the 16bit RAW format (e.g. by Photoshop Elements).


Edit:

There is a script on the wiki which uses GridFloat topo files as the heightmap for the terrain: HeightmapFromGridFloat

once outputed from global mapper as a .ter (terragen) open terragen (free version 1) open the .ter file and then export 16 bit raw intel based file, it will go straight into unity as a height map for the terrain, perfect