KML File Structure Requirements (KB-GI006)

Follow this checklist to ensure a seamless experience while uploading a KML Datasource:

Structure Requirement Overview

  • KML file must be compressed into a .KMZ archive
  • Placemarks MUST be wrapped into folders
  • Folders MUST be wrapped into the <Document> node
  • Each folder MUST have a unique ID attribute
  • Placemarks MUST be assigned unique IDs
  • Nested folders are permitted. However, intermediate folders MUST NOT contain placemarks
  • Leaf folders SHOULD contain placemarks of same geometry type (except multigeometry)
  • Leaf folders SHOULD contain placemarks of same logic group (e.g. manholes, utility poles, etc.)
  • Polygons
    • The <coordinates> for polygons must be specified in counterclockwise order
    • At the moment, only the outer boundary of polygon is supported in KML
  • <kml> node should have a valid xmlns attribute

Common Issues

  • Placemarks are not wrapped into folders
  • The file is missing the <Document> node(s)
  • The file is missing the <Folder> node(s)
  • ID property is missing from the <Folder> node(s)
  • ID property is missing from the <Placemark> node(s)
  • Model's texture is not mapped within the <ResourceMap> node

Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:gx="http://www.google.com/kml/ext/2.2" xmlns:kml="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<Document>
<Folder id="Model">
<Placemark id="model1">
    <name>test_kml</name>
    <description>test</description>
    <Model id="model1">
        <altitudeMode>absolute</altitudeMode>
        <Location>
            <longitude>6.1103670152</longitude>
            <latitude>45.8909933031</latitude>
            <altitude>-49.4505667663</altitude>
        </Location>
        <Orientation>
            <heading>0.0000000000</heading>
            <tilt>0.0000000000</tilt>
            <roll>0.0000000000</roll>
        </Orientation>
        <Scale>
            <x>1.0000000000</x>
            <y>1.0000000000</y>
            <z>1.0000000000</z>
        </Scale>
        <Link>
            <href>model.dae</href>
        </Link>
        <ResourceMap>
            <Alias>
                <targetHref>model.1001.jpg</targetHref>
                <sourceHref>model.1001.jpg</sourceHref>
            </Alias>
        </ResourceMap>
    </Model>
</Placemark>
</Folder>
</Document>
</kml>

 

Have Questions? Feel free to Submit A Request to speak with a member of the vGIS Support Team.

Reviewed:  2024-03-22

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