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The following page provides solutions to common issues encountered by users when creating models for the 3D buildings layer in 3D Warehouse.
Built Up Terrain Too Large or Incorrectly Textured
Problem Summary: The terrain you created is too large or incorrectly textured.
Please note the following tips to help resolve this issue:
- Avoid overlapping terrain with other geometry, such as other buildings.
- Increase the accuracy and realism of the terrain you created to better integrate with existing terrain data.
- Increase the resolution of the terrain texture or use a more realistic texture.
Another Model Selected
Problem Summary: A version of this model has already been selected for the 3D Buildings layer.
If you're interested in re-submitting your model for consideration, please note the following tips that may increase your model's chance of being chosen for the 3D Buildings Layer:
- Improve accuracy or realism of textures.
- Reduce number of polygons.
- Use texture files that support alpha channels, such as PNG files.
PNG files support transparency, also known as an alpha channel. PNGs can be used to quickly display columns, sculptures, railings, or other complex details. The image above demonstrates how a PNG can easily show sculptures and spraying water.
Incomplete Texture
Problem Summary: Model is missing textures, or textures aren't clear.
To achieve realism in a model, we recommend using high-quality and properly sized photos. The following tips may improve the textures in your model. You may consider implementing these tips and re-submit your model to increase your model's chance of being chosen for the 3D Buildings Layer:
- Use textures from photos for the whole model to achieve a higher level of realism. For faces that can't be photographed, feel free to use one of the prepackaged textures.
- Use one photo for a face to enhance a model's realism. Please make sure that the face is completely covered with the photo, and no sky or ground imagery can be seen.
- We suggest using images that are greater than 256 pixels wide but less than 512 pixels. It's possible to use images greater than 1024 pixels and less than 2048 pixels; however, files larger than 10MB won't be accepted into the 3D Buildings layer.
Incorrect Scale
Problem Summary: Incorrect scale.
Please note the following tips to adjust your model to a more accurate scale:
- If your building was modeled from the outline of a roof there may be some distortion in the terrain imagery, especially if the building is of significant height. Please ensure that the base of the model lines up with two visible edges of the building foundation, as seen in the terrain imagery.
- Check the height of a door to approximately determine the height of the building. The average height for a door is 7 ft (2.13m).
 
Does Not Exist
Problem Summary: Building does not currently exist.
Your model doesn't appear to exist in the built world. You model may not have been accepted for one or more of the following reasons:
- Building isn't visible in the current Google Earth imagery.
- Building is currently under construction and hasn't been completed.
- Building is fantastical.
If you disagree with the reasoning above, you may consider the following options:
- Re-submit your model with a link in the description to pictures that show the building and it's surroundings.
- Re-submit your model with a link that shows when the building will finish construction.
Floating
Problem Summary: Model is floating above the Google Earth Terrain.
To resolve this issue, we suggest pursuing one of the following options then re-submit your model for consideration:
* Move your building downward into the terrain until all corners are at or below ground level.
* You may consider building a terrain that surrounds your building. The terrain must intersect with the terrain in Google Earth, and it must be textured with a realistic color image.
The image above shows is an example of a floating building.
Advertising/Spam
Problem Summary: Building has unapproved advertising or spam.
All advertising must be removed from the model before being considered for the 3D Buildings layer.
Heavy Entourage
Problem Summary: Your model contains an excess amount of entourage which results in increased loading time or a diminished sense of realism within Google Earth.
Please remove excess trees, cars, avatars or other extraneous components before resubmitting your model for consideration.
 
Misaligned
Problem Summary: Model isn't aligned with Google Earth imagery.
To fix this problem, align you building's footprint with the foundation lines visible on the terrain imagery. You can check the alignment from Google SketchUp by clicking "Tools" > "Google Earth" > "Place Model." Once the model appears to be correctly located, feel free to re-submit the model for consideration into the 3D Buildings layer.
The image above depicts a misaligned building on top of Google Earth imagery.
Incomplete
Problem Summary: Building is missing geometry.
Please complete your model, which may include closing holes in the building's exterior.
Sunken
Problem Summary: Building is sunken into Google Earth Terrain.
To resolve this issue, we suggest pursuing one of the following options, then re-submit your model for consideration into the 3D Buildings layer:
- In Google SketchUp, make sure that the terrain mode is enabled by clicking "Tools" > "Google Earth" > "Toggle Terrain," and move your model vertically until the building is largely above the terrain. Please note that sinking your model to look flush with the terrain is still encouraged.
- You may consider building a terrain that surrounds your building. The terrain must intersect with the terrain in Google Earth, and it must be textured with a realistic color image.
Z-Fighting
Problem Summary: Model contains two or more faces that share the same space. This conflict causes a flashing effect known as Z-fighting.
To resolve Z-fighting issues, we suggest the following tips:
- When importing textures, please ensure that the "Use as texture" option is selected.
- If your model is Z-fighting with an image, right-click on the image and click "Explode." Please note that you may need to re-apply the texture once the image has been exploded.
- If two faces are Z-fighting, click on one of the faces and press the Delete key on your keyboard.
Incorrect Height
Problem Summary: Building's height is not accurate to real life..
To Fix this issue: see tips given in 'Incorrect Scale' above.
Too Complex
Problem Summary: Model contains too many polygons making the file size too large to easily load.
This happens the most often for several reasons:
- Curved faces are made up of more sides than needed. The standard number of sides SketchUp creates for a circle is 24 and for an arc is 12. These numbers are often much more than needed. If properly textured, a column can give the same appearance with 3 sides as it can with 24 sides. Sometimes even a single face can be effective if it has a good texture of a curved column applied to it.
- The inside of your model contains extra geometry. Check the inside of your model for any extra faces that cannot be seen from the outside. An easy way to reduce polygon count in a model is to make it into a completely hollow shell.
- Too many architectural details have been modeled. Only model the details that are defining characteristics of the building. Often by using a good photo texture on a face, there is no need to model all of the details. An good example is stair steps. Great looking steps can be made by creating a sloped ramp with a good textured applied to it. This can reduce the number of polygons of a 10 step staircase from 20 down to 1.
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