PYLONFORGE

Exporting to Google Earth

Export packages your whole project as a KMZ — every asset as true-scale 3D geometry, standing on the terrain at its exact coordinates, facing its set heading. Exporting requires a Pro plan.

Two flavors, two destinations

Google Earth Pro
The main export: a KMZ with full 3D models. Open it in the free Google Earth Pro desktop app (File → Open, or just double-click the file). This is the one to send to stakeholders — smooth to orbit, looks right from every angle.
Google Earth (web)
earth.google.com can't render KMZ 3D models, so this variant rebuilds the same geometry as polygons it can draw. The file is named …-earthweb.kmz— use it when the recipient won't install anything.

What's in the file

  • Real meter dimensions — a 120 m hub height measures 120 m in Earth's ruler.
  • Models sit on the terrain surface and follow it — no floating or buried bases.
  • Heading and dish azimuths carry over exactly as set.
  • Per-asset color tints are baked into the models.
  • Assets are grouped by type in the Places panel, one placemark per asset, named by its label.
  • Wind turbines use the high-detail model — shaped blades, nacelle, spinner.

Big sites

Past about 80 assets, the export automatically splits into geographic tiles that Google Earth streams as you fly — a 300-turbine build-out stays smooth instead of choking the viewer. Nothing to configure; it's still one KMZ file.

Export history

Each project keeps a log of exports — when, which variant, how many assets. It's a record, not a file archive: to get a file matching the current state of the project, just export again.

Keep the .kmzas-is — don't unzip it. And every export is cache-proof: if you move a turbine and re-export, Google Earth shows the new position, never a stale cached model.

Sharing without a file

For a quick look that needs no Google Earth at all, a project's share link opens the interactive 3D site view in any browser, read-only. See Getting started.