If you need for construction, do not use Google Earth . The elevation data is often low resolution and can be off by several meters.
Since AutoCAD cannot read Google Earth’s native KMZ or proprietary 3D mesh directly, a procedural workaround is required. This typically unfolds in three distinct stages: data capture, conversion and contour generation, and final import.
: Offers a simplified workflow where you can often copy objects (paths/polygons) in Google Earth and paste them directly into AutoCAD, with the plugin handling the georeferencing and terrain data.
Go to and set your desired interval (e.g., 1 meter or 5 feet) .
No process is without caveats. The primary limitation of Google Earth-sourced contours is . Google Earth’s elevation data has a vertical accuracy of roughly 1 to 5 meters in ideal conditions (often worse in dense forests or urban canyons). This makes the data suitable for conceptual and preliminary design but wholly inappropriate for final construction documentation, where survey-grade accuracy (centimeter-level) is mandatory.