Google Earth

Summary
Type of tool	Application
Function	Global mapping
Online / Desktop	Desktop
Computer infrastructure	PC, Mac and Linux
Development status	Operational
Time of use	At data delivery, and as a post-process when data is with user
Licence	Four levels – personal use through to enterprise-wide

A search-based map tool for the creation and presentation of geographic and location-specific information.

 

Description

Google Earth is a geographic browser - a powerful tool for viewing, creating and sharing interactive files containing highly visual location-specific information.1 It maps the earth by superimposing images obtained by satellite and aerial photographs.

 

The viewer displays houses, the colour of cars, and even the shadows of people and street signs. The degree of resolution available is based somewhat on the points of interest, but most land (except for some islands) is covered in at least 15 meters of resolution, … with the highest resolution at 15 cm. Google Earth allows users to search for addresses (for some countries only), enter coordinates, or simply use the mouse to browse to a location. 2

 

Google Earth also uses digital elevation model (DEM) data, allowing a user to view the terrain in 3D.

 

There are several Google Earth products. See comparison table below.

Google Earth Free

It's the universe inside your PC; an atlas, encyclopedia and flight simulator, all rolled into one. Just point and zoom to any place you want to explore. Cities, mountains, and valleys are depicted in high-resolution 3D, along with related information.3

For personal use, Google Earth is available free.

 

Google Earth Plus

Intended for personal use, Google Earth Plus is a tool for mapping enthusiasts.

• Enhanced network access for faster performance
• Real-time GPS tracking and track/waypoint import –- for upload of data from select GPS devices
• Does not support export of tracks or waypoints to a GPS
• Greater-than-screen-resolution printing – for impressive hardcopies
• Spreadsheet importer – to import locations from .CSV files

 

Google Earth Plus is a $20 annual subscription upgrade to Google Earth.

 

Google Earth Pro

For professional and commercial uses, Google Earth Pro uses the full power of the tool.

• Enhanced printing, export high-resolution images up to 11" x 17" (4800 pixels)
• Fastest data delivery speed
• A research, presentation and collaboration tool for geo-specific information
• 3D drawing tools
• Import site plans, or other sites
• Incorporate GIS data in file formats such as .shp and .tab
• Transfer up to 2,500 locations by address or geospatial coordinates from a spreadsheet.
• Optional premium data

 

Google Earth Pro is a $400 annual subscription

 

Google Earth Enterprise

Google Earth Enterprise puts Google Earth inside the enterprise.

• It combines enterprise data with Google Earth data. Or an enterprise can host its own complete dataset.
• Any browser can view the Google Earth Enterprise implementation
• It has an enhanced search framework that enables integration of multiple search services through Java plug-ins, including the Google Search Appliance
• It has an area-based KML imagery data processing tool for creating super-overlays. ie a tool to create layers viewable on any Google Earth client and publishable to the public via any web server
• Massively scalable – hundreds of daily users can be supported from a single server, thousands from a small cluster
• Unparalleled speed –3D technology provides fluid access to remotely hosted multi-terabyte databases
• Compatible with legacy GIS – incorporate data in dozens of raster and point/vector GIS file formats

 

Function

• Data testing tools
  • Data validating – geography
  • Georeferencing – applying latitude and longitude
• Analysis tools
  • Simple – distribution
• Visualisation tools
  • Maps

 

Why use this tool?

• For presenting geographic based data on a dynamic map

 

 Who will use this tool?

• Data creation
• Data capture
• Data providers
  • Institutions
  • Private collections
  • Casual users
• Data users
  • Expert
  • General public
• ALA infrastructure

 

 How will the tool be used?

• Desktop version available for PC, Mac and Linux
• User input optional

 

 Where in the data chain could this tool be used?

• Data source
• ALA central
• User’s machine

 

 When could this tool be used?

• Before data is made available to ALA
• At the time of a user request
• As a post process, after data is with the user

 

Availability

• Download : http://earth.google.com/
• User guide: http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/
• Version 4    2007
• Contact: http://www.google.com/contact/
• Cost depends on level:
  • Google Earth - free. For personal use
  • Google Earth Plus - US$20 pa. Mapping and GPS support
  • Google Earth Pro - US$400 pa. GIS, database support
  • Google Earth Enterprise: For complex integration with large datasets, servers
• Support for commercial systems
• Licence for personal non-commercial use: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html
• Restrictions and permissions: http://www.google.com/permissions/index.html

 

Comments

• Google Earth is a widespread and common global visualisation tool. It is able to incorporate user added content in the form of KML files.

• There are many similarities between the desktop Google Earth, and the online Google Maps.

 

 

• Google Earth Coordinate System and Projection
  • The internal coordinate system of Google Earth is geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) on the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) datum.
  • Google Earth shows the earth as it looks from an elevated platform such as an airplane or orbiting satellite. The projection used to achieve this effect is called the General Perspective. This is similar to the Orthographic projection, except that the point of perspective is a finite (near earth) distance rather than an infinite (deep space) distance.4

• Only the Google Earth Enterprise version gives control over the base imagery.

 

 

Which version of Google Earth is right for you?   Google Earth Google Earth Plus Google Earth Pro  License Free version for home/personal use Enhanced version for home/personal use Professional version for commercial use  Price Free $20* $400*  Imagery Database Primary Primary Primary  Performance   Enhanced Fastest  Fly to anywhere on the planet, or explore space  Search for schools, parks, restaurants, and hotels  Get driving directions  Explore Featured Content  Tilt and rotate the view in 3D  Printing images 1000 pixels 1400 pixels 4800 pixels  Saving Images 1000 pixels 1000 pixels 4800 pixels  Drawing tools  GPS data import (read only)**    Real-time GPS tracking    Spreadsheet data import   100 points 2500 points  Local Business Ads Optional Optional  Support Website only Website, email (login issues only) Website, email, chat  Measure area      Movie Maker      GIS data importing      GDT traffic counts data***     $200 *   subscription-based annual fee **  verified support for Magellan and Garmin devices only *** optional add-ons

from: http://earth.google.com/product_comparison.html

 

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