FSX Map Overlay in Google Earth??

Is there any way to overlay the FSX map in Google Earth or vice/versa. My problem is that when I make a ship traffic routes.kml in Google Earth and then compile it along with the Boats.txt and Plans.txt files I sometimes get crashes on land due to the fact that the FSX map data does not agree with Google Earth?

 

I have made ship traffic using the .kml method with what looks like plenty of land clearances and still get land crashes.

 

It is very evident when I try to make river traffic or traffic around islands. Bob.

My guess is you will need to learn to create photo real scenery for your plans.

 

-Pv-

Hi Paul. Thanks. I am only interested in the shoreline data. I am not interested in anything else. Bob.

Regardless. I think my suggestion still applies. If the FSX scenery does not match your plans, and your plans are based on GE, then your near sea level plans will run into the FSX scenery.

 

-Pv-

OK Thanks Paul. Bob.

Try these search terms in Google:

FSX bgl to klm convert

 

-Pv-

You could make a line in SBuilderX where you slew to wherever you want to make a point then use "get point from aircraft" to place it. From there you could export the line to a .bln where the lat & lon of each point is recorded to a text file (it's called a .bln but it's still a txt file that can be edited in Notepad or Notepad++). The .bln looks like this:

 

7,7_Pts_Line_of_Type_None
-111.579232073978,37.0277915432927,0
-111.589546720618,36.9835029080388,0
-111.55258590349,36.9701133206364,0
-111.48854913893,36.9685683682438,0
-111.465556072461,36.9968924954411,0
-111.384972895583,36.9943175747868,0
-111.384972895583,36.9608436062809,0

 

...which you can turn into a .kml (also a text file) like this by saving a random path in GE as .kml and then replacing the block of coords with those from the .bln:

 

Untitled Path.kml
<br />
		<IconStyle><br />
			<scale>1.3<br />
			<Icon><br />
				<href>http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pushpin/ylw-pushpin.png<br />
			<br />
			<hotSpot x="20" y="2" xunits="pixels" yunits="pixels"/><br />
		<br />
	
<br />
		<IconStyle><br />
			<scale>1.1<br />
			<Icon><br />
				<href>http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/pushpin/ylw-pushpin.png<br />
			<br />
			<hotSpot x="20" y="2" xunits="pixels" yunits="pixels"/><br />
		<br />
	


normal
#s_ylw-pushpin


highlight
#s_ylw-pushpin_hl



Untitled Path
#m_ylw-pushpin

1

[b][color="#FF0000"]-111.579232073978,37.0277915432927,0
-111.589546720618,36.9835029080388,0
-111.55258590349,36.9701133206364,0
-111.48854913893,36.9685683682438,0
-111.465556072461,36.9968924954411,0
-111.384972895583,36.9943175747868,0
-111.384972895583,36.9608436062809,0[/color][/b]

Try these search terms in Google:

FSX bgl to klm convert

 

-Pv-

 

HIi Paul. Thanks. I changed your "FSX bgl to klm convert" to "FSX bgl to kml convert" and searched it. All I get are kml to bgl converters. I want to convert the cvx FSX bgl's to a kml file that I can view in GE. I did find one method at fsdeveloper but it is CMD based. It's called cvxextractor. Bob.

Hi Jim. Thanks for your help. That would work but it would be tedious to trace a whole coastline. What I am looking for is a way to easily convert the FSX cvx files for a particular area to a kml file that I could view in GE. Then I could see where the interferences occur so I could draw my traffic kml fie and avoid any shoreline interferences. It looks like the cvxextractor.exe is the best way except it is a CMD line program which I hate when you have to type in a long string. Bob.

I was thinking shipping routes would be pretty much straight lines loosely following a shoreline with minimal nodes, maybe one every 100 miles or so, but I suppose like everything else the more detail you pack in the more realistic the end result is.

 

When you need to type long commands into a DOS window type them out in Notepad where you can make changes easily then copy the entire command and right click the DOS window choosing "Paste", then press Enter. If it fails, fix the command in Notepad and paste it again.

 

I haven't played with the CVX extractor yet, maybe I'll have a look.

Thanks Jim. I just found out how to modify my CMD prompt to do just that. I am still having problems with the cvxextractor though. I have been asking for help at FSdeveloper from the author. He responds quickly.

 

I have been trying to make boat traffic in rivers That's why the exact location is important. Making ocean going traffic is a lot easier. I have made several routes around islands and that is where it is important if I try getting close to the shorelines. Bob.

Hi, the only way I found is "try and correct". Rivers sometimes ar not so flat as they should be (e.g. Suez canal).So you have to flatten this area (with SBuilderX) before a ship could find it's way without hopping like a horse:o.

Around islands I make in the same way a kml route with GE and follow the ship with AIRound or a "flyable" boat. If it goes aground I correct the kml-file in GE until I am content.

Hi. Thanks. That's exactly how I am doing it now. It's time consuming. I have asked at FSDeveloper and they put me onto a cmd line program called cvxextractor. So far I have not been able to run it on my system but others have it running on their systems. It extracts the shoreline data from the FSX CVX files and makes them into a KML file that you can load in GE and see the difference. I am working with them to see why I can't get mine working. Here's a screenshot of the FSX Oahu shoreline data overlayed in GE. I can now see why I was running aground in this area. I hope I can get it working. Bob.

Thanks to all that answered. The cvxextractor program at FSDeveloper works GREAT. Patrick, the author, has been very helpful. I recommend it if you want to strip the info out of the cvx scenery files. It runs perfectly now. Bob.

The cool thing is up until just a few months ago it was thought impossible to extract vector data from a CVX*.bgl.

The cool thing is up until just a few months ago it was thought impossible to extract vector data from a CVX*.bgl.

 

You are right. I have been looking for a program just like this for quite a while. Thanks to Patrick it works fine. Bob.

Hi Bob,

where did you find the CVXExtractor at FSdeveloper? Your question at "Living World & AI General" isn't answered. I only found a version 1.0.1.4. Is there a manual?

THX Christian

Hi. Yes the Version 1.0.1.4 is the latest. There is no manual but there is a readme after you unzip it. It works well and Patrick will help you if you have any troubles with it. Bob.

thank you:D