The process of importing google earth terrain and/or map into sketchup is pretty seamless (probably because when google first acquired sketchup they were hoping to use it to populate the 3d buildings in google earth).  So lets get right to it.

Once you generally know where your site location is, open sketchup, hit the file tab and scroll down to Geo-location>Add Location… from here you can search as you would in google maps for your site.  For example if you wanted to search for a site in Philadelphia, you could type in Philadelphia, PA to start panning around to find what your looking for.  You can also enter a specific address if you have that as well.

Once you’ve found your site, you need to decide if you want more contextual (broader) information on your site or more detailed information.

Broader information is the way to go if you don’t plan on modelling the site, or you’re in a rural setting with not much around to be too concerned about.

More detailed information is helpful for the opposite; if you plan on modelling the site and/or it’s in a dense urban context.

Once you’ve decided on what kind of information you want, you’ll know how to set your zoom.  A close-up zoom is what you should use to get more detailed information and a zoomed-out view is what you should use to get broad information.

Use the pins to change the area you’d like to import to your model.  Hit grab once you’re satisfied by your selection to import into your modelling space.

If you are kind of an information pirate like I am and want to have the most site information possible (or you find you want to expand your site), that’s easy to do.  Simply go back to to File>Geo-location>Add Imagery to expand your site with additional imagery.

Lastly, to toggle the 3d site terrain on and off go to File>Geo-location>Show Terrain.

If you found this sketchup tutorial on how to import a google map with terrain helpful please like and share it.

Until next time.  Happy hacking.