Google Earth

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Google Earth (GE) is a geographic mapping application for exploring and displaying information. Information can be downloaded from and uploaded to Google Earth. GE is not just an exploration program or a place to find directions to specific locations. Using map overlays, placemark files, layers among a variety of other tools available, users can create and work with content and data rich maps to explore, investigate, explain, work through and solve real world issues and problems.

Take the Google Earth Tour

Contents

[edit] Download Google Earth

You can download Google Earth for either a Macintosh or PC computer. One of the things that you should be aware of is that you do need a relatively new computer to have Google Earth. When the download is complete, double click the Google_Earth_BZXV.exe file and follow the prompts to install Google Earth on your computer.

Launching Google Earth

Click on the Google Earth icon on your Desktop to launch the application. If there is no icon located on your desktop click Start > All Programs > Google Earth > Google Earth to launch the program. The following sections will help you get started working with the GE interface and navigation tools.

[edit] Panels

Search, Places, & Layers Panels are stacked (Search, Places, and Layers) on the left of the GE interface. Each panel can be expanded or collapsed by clicking on the triangle located next to its label. Expanding or collapsing these panels allows users to view more content adding to the user experience.

[edit] Search

Under the Search Panel users can search the world over using the Fly to, Find Businesses, and Directions tabs. To search a location using the Fly to simply type the location (address, city, state, country, or zip code) you wish to explore or investigate. Similarlily, you can enter a business name in the Find Businesses tab to locate specfic locations of interest. Finally, use the Directions tab to determine travel directions from one location to another.

[edit] Places

Much of what you do within GE may take place here with in the Places Panel. Under Places you will work with files, folders, placemarks, image overlays, etc. in the My Places section as well as content located in Temporary Places. The main difference between My Places and Temporary Places is that files, folders

My Places
My Places will contain all the placemarks, folders, image overlays and other content you save in GE. Each time that you run the GE application these files will remain as they were from the last time you ran GE.
Temporary Places
Temporary Places are files, folders, overlays, layers among other data that you have imported or downloaded from the Google Earth Community, Google Earth Gallery or any other website containing GE content.

To save content from the Temporary Places to My Places use one of the following methods:

  • Select (by clicking) the content you wish to save and click File > Save > Save to My Places
  • Right-click and select Save to My Places option on the context menu
  • Press Ctrl+Shift+S

[edit] Layers

The layers panel provides a collection of content that can be, well, layered within GE. To turn on a layer withing GE simply check the box next to the item and give it time to load within your view. If you do not see the layer, zoom in/out as needed on the area of interest.

WARNING: Be careful not to check all boxes within the Primary Database. This will turn all layers on and may significantly slow the performance of GE.

[edit] Navigation

Google has a good tutorial on how to navigate in Google Earth in its User Guide. While there are many ways that you can navigate within GE, you'll want to find the one that suits your working style. Navigation can be controlled by the controls located in the upper right of the GE window, by the mouse and through the keyboard.

[edit] Adding Your Content

The power of GE comes not only from the satellite imagery that is available, but the creativity and skill with which users produce and share content.

Create a Placemark
Creating a placemark identifies a location, be it a restaurant, a historical location, locations of scientific investigation or settings for stories in a book. Create a placemark by clicking Add > Placemark... or by clicking on the yellow pushpin icon in the menu bar. A placemark window will appear as well as a marker on the map. Your placemark will be centered on your current view in Google Earth. Add information about the placemark in the description area. Be sure to name the placemark in the name field and check the coordinates for the location. Add a description to share more information about the location. Placemarks can be plain text or you can add multimedia elements to further enhance your Google Earth file. Read the following sections to learn more about enhancing placemarks.

Formatting text in a placemark requires Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML). Since you may not be an expert in HTML programing language you can use an online HTML editor or other web design software to generate HTML code to put in your placemarks. Below are resources where you can learn more about working with HTML as well as an online HTML editor to make writing in HTML easier.

Create a Polygon
Polygons can be used to highlight specific areas as opposed to specific locations on a map, layer or overlay. To create a polygon select the 'Polygon
Use GPS Data
To use your GPS data within Google Earth you will need to use a third party software to download waypoints from your GPS device. Once downloaded into the software (i.e. - Garmin MapSource) save the file in the GPS eXchange Format (.gpx) file format under File > Save As

In order to directly download GPS data into Google Earth you will need purchase Google Earth Plus or Google Earth Pro.


Creating Content in Google Earth by David Jakes provides a great tutorial on how to add text, hyper links, photos and videos to your Google Earth placemarks and saving them as files to share.

Adding Photos
Photos of locations (or other photos) can be placed within a placemark to add value to the information about the placemark. To add a photo it must be located on the web. Copy the URL of the photo, this will end in the file format of the photo (i.e. - photo.jpg).
Adding Video
Embedding a video truly takes your placemarks into the realm of multimedia. Search for videos from a variety of sources, including YouTube and TeacherTube to add to your placemark files.

[edit] External Links

Retrieved from "http://wiki.monroe.edu/index.php/Google_Earth"
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