Uploading KML/KMZ Files

SiteView accepts KML and KMZ files, commonly exported from Google Earth, Google Earth Pro, and GIS tools. Upload your reference data, site boundaries, or design overlays and they are displayed on the CesiumJS 3D globe with their original styling preserved.

KML and KMZ Formats

KML (Keyhole Markup Language) is an XML-based format for geographic data. It stores points, lines, polygons, and associated metadata such as names, descriptions, and visual styles.

KMZ is a compressed (zipped) version of KML. A KMZ file can contain a KML file along with associated resources such as icons or image overlays. SiteView automatically extracts the contents of KMZ files during upload — you do not need to unzip them first.

ℹ️ Did you know?

KML/KMZ files are commonly used for sharing site boundaries, survey control points, reference areas, and planning overlays. If your site data originates from Google Earth, a GIS system, or a planning authority, it is likely available in KML format.

Uploading a KML/KMZ File

To upload a KML or KMZ file:

1. Open a site and navigate to the Layers tab in the floating panel
2. Click Upload Design Surface
3. Select KML/KMZ as the file type
4. Drag and drop your file into the upload zone, or click to browse
5. SiteView parses the file, extracts features and styles, and maps folders to layers
6. Review the upload summary — feature count, layer count, styles detected
7. Confirm to add the design surface to your site

The features appear on the CesiumJS globe immediately after upload. KMZ files are automatically extracted — the upload process handles the decompression transparently.

Style Preservation

SiteView preserves the visual styling defined in your KML file:

Line Styles

• Line colour — the RGB colour of polylines and polygon outlines is preserved from the KML <LineStyle> element
• Line width — stroke width is maintained where defined

Polygon Styles

• Fill colour — polygon fill colours (including transparency) are preserved from the KML <PolyStyle> element
• Outline colour — polygon border colours are maintained

💡 Tip

If you are preparing KML files in Google Earth for use in SiteView, set your line colours and polygon fills before exporting. The styles you see in Google Earth will carry through to the SiteView globe, giving you consistent visual presentation.

Style Overrides

While KML styles are preserved on import, you can override them in SiteView using the colour picker and opacity controls in the Layers tab. Overrides apply per layer and do not modify the original KML file.

Folder Structure and Layers

KML files use a folder hierarchy to organise features. SiteView maps this structure to layers:

• Each top-level folder in the KML becomes a separate layer in the Layers tab
• Features not in any folder are grouped into a default layer
• Nested folder structures are flattened — sub-folders are merged into their parent layer

For example, a KML file with the following structure:

Site Boundary/
  ├── Property Line
  └── Setback Line
Services/
  ├── Stormwater
  ├── Sewer
  └── Water Main
Control Points/
  ├── CP001
  └── CP002

Creates three layers in SiteView: Site Boundary, Services, and Control Points. Each layer can be toggled on and off independently in the Layers tab.

Feature Click Popups

When you click on a KML feature on the globe, a popup appears showing information from the KML data:

• Name — the feature's <name> element from the KML
• Description — the feature's <description> element, which can include formatted text and links

This is useful for features that carry metadata — such as survey control points with coordinates in the description, or planning zones with regulatory notes.

ℹ️ Did you know?

Popups display whatever content was stored in the KML <description> field. Some KML exporters include HTML-formatted descriptions with tables and links — these render correctly in the SiteView popup.

Viewing on the Globe

KML/KMZ features are rendered on the CesiumJS globe with their preserved styles. Points appear as markers, lines as coloured polylines, and polygons as filled shapes with outlines.

Use the Fly to button on the design surface in the Layers tab to navigate the globe camera to the bounds of the KML data. This centres the view on where the features are located.

For detailed layer management (toggling, colour overrides, opacity), see Layer Management. For a deeper look at how KML styles interact with the styling system, see Styles & Popups.

What's Next?

• Uploading DXF Files — upload CAD design files as an alternative to KML
• Layer Management — control visibility, colour, and opacity of KML layers
• Styles & Popups — understand how KML styles are extracted and how overrides work