Export KML/KMZ (Keyhole Markup Language)

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML based exchange format to describe GIS features on the globe. It has support for points, lines and polygons and is also able to reference 3d models via Collada. It is very popular to produce data for ArcGIS Earth.

KMZ is a compressed version of KML where all referenced Collada and texture files are contained in one handy zip like file.

Export settings

In addition to the general export options, KMZ / KML has the following options:

Altitude Mode	Controls what altitude tags are written to the kml/kmz files: clampToGround: Aligns the object to the ground, altitude is ignored. absolute: ignores the actual ground elevation. Note: For absolute ground elevation and the altitude have to coincide precisely.
Write Compressed Files	If set, the written KML file is put into a KMZ archive file along with the other needed files like the DAE file(s) and texture images.
Heading Correction	ArcGlobe, Google Earth and other earth browsers interpret the Collada DAE file's content differently: for the case of Google Earth the Heading Correction switch has to be turned on for having correct results.
Placemark Locations	Exact spatial references per model: Unprojects placemark locations per shape. Recommended for unconnected objects (such as buildings) for bigger areas. Optimized Model placement: Optimizes placemark locations to ensure correct relative positions (unprojection only in the lead shape, other shapes are referenced relatively). Recommended for connected objects (such as streets) over small areas.

Note:

Use the KML export presets Google Earth Compatibility, ArcGlobe Compatibility, or SketchUp Compatibility to set recommended options for these programs.

CityEngine KML Output

When saving some selected objects by the name "MyPlacemarks", the exporter will write the file "MyPlacemarks.kml". Next to it, there will be a folder named MyPlacemarks.kml-files containing the associated DAE file and textures. Here is what the KML file will look like:

Example KML File Output

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"     xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2" xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2">
    <Document>
        <name>MyPlacemarks</name>
        <Folder>
            <Placemark>
                <name>aPlacemark</name>
                <Model>
                    <altitudeMode>clampToGround</altitudeMode>
                    <Location>
                        <longitude>-75.17193217718045</longitude>
                        <latitude>39.95381194059072</latitude>
                        <altitude>10.82616576552391</altitude>
                    </Location>
                    <Orientation>
                        <heading>0.0</heading>
                        <tilt>0.0</tilt>
                        <roll>0.0</roll>
                    </Orientation>
                    <Scale>
                        <x>1.0</x>
                        <y>1.0</y>
                        <z>1.0</z>
                    </Scale>
                    <Link>
                        <href>MyPlacemarks.kml-files/aPlacemark.dae</href>
                    </Link>
                </Model>
            </Placemark>
            <Placemark>
                <name>anotherPlacemark</name>
                ...
            </Placemark>
            ...
        </Folder>
    <Document>
</kml>