Google Earth adds shapefile and 3D model imports
Uploads now support GIS shapefiles and GLB models, plus an elevation profile in the measure tool.
Google Earth now accepts shapefile imports, bringing an industry-standard GIS format alongside the existing KML, KMZ, and GeoJSON support. Uploading a .zip of shapefiles renders both the features and their attributes as data layers, which the vendor says suits work like importing tax lot, infrastructure, or topographic data to assess a site.
The update also adds two other tools. Users can now upload, place, and share custom 3D models in the GLB format, with input fields to position, scale, and rotate them on the globe, useful for viewing architectural mock-ups in real-world context. Separately, the measure tool gains an elevation profile: drawing a line now displays an elevation graph in the inspector panel.
Read the full announcement on the Google Maps Platform blog.
