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September 14, 2006
Google Earth 4 Time Feature Example
The new version of GE 4 Beta (4.0.2080) came out last night. One of the key new features added is a feature enabling KML files to have time-based data. This feature had been implemented in the GE Enterprise version for some time, but Google wasn't satisfied with the interface. The new GE 4 Beta has the new feature with a nifty time interface gadget which appears in the upper right (to the left of the nav control). You only see this when you are looking at a KML placemark with time-based data.
Google has posted an example KML which uses the track from a science experiment last fall where they tracked a whaleshark with a GPS in Google Earth. Now you can look at the track data with the time feature. Here's the sample file 
(will only work with the new GE 4 Beta - see here for how to get it). Once you load it, you will see the new time gadget in the upper right of GE (as shown here).
I really like how this slider works. Just try clicking and dragging with the various controls to see how it works. It seems very intuitive to me. Very nice! I predict this new feature will produce all kinds of interesting new Google Earth files. You KML developer guys can save this file as KML and look at the resulting KML to figure out how it works. Also, here is a link to the KML documentation on the new Time tags. Amazing!
Posted by FrankTaylor at September 14, 2006 09:59 AM
Comments
Posted by: Michael Schaap at September 14, 2006 12:41 PM
Great job Michael ! It looks very cool !
Posted by: izo at September 14, 2006 06:39 PM
The potential for this application has just multiplied. Imagine watching a Mecca pilgrimage, football match, Tsunami or Hurricane damage in time lapse. Weather applications will be so much better going forward.
Posted by: Bewo at September 14, 2006 07:23 PM
Apart from timeline feature with current bug fixes we can finally use Update tag on 3d models. So you can have simple animations with 3d objects here's is a small demo just to give you an idea what's possible
http://carec.agile-telecom.com/ge/doc.kml
Blimp flying over Trinidad and Tobago. It's based on history of my car's gps track.
And now imagine this type of solution in real time :-)
Posted by: izo at September 14, 2006 08:14 PM
I've made a KML file containing the locations and opening dates of all of the Costco warehouses in the United States, you can scrub through using the time gadget and see Costco's progress.
Posted by: Beau Gunderson at September 15, 2006 02:12 AM
Hi, this is awesome. Is there software available to make the creation of these kml files easier? I've toyed around with basic scripts to write the required text, but I'm sure there are far better ways. I'm not very familiar with xml programs, so any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
We work with a lot of seal and bird tracking data in the Southern Ocean, so there is endless appeal for this.
Cheers, Mike.
Posted by: Mike Sumner at September 15, 2006 11:19 PM
Here's a timeline for ScreenOverlays: Mt. St. Helens erupting (Oct 1, 2004).
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/600679/an//page//vc/1
Posted by: pmaxfield2 at September 17, 2006 10:26 PM
I've written a very basic simulation of a mountainbike race based on that fabulous time line feature:
http://www.silvertrophy.at -> RACETRACK
There you can chose several tracks the "competitors" race accross.
You can even upload your own track if you convert a GPS track to the appropiate ASCII-format (.ovl).
Further development is in progress to once visualize real GPS-data to re-live such a competition - assuming that some/all competitors have been tracked by a GPS-mouse or a similar device.
Posted by: <MM> at March 1, 2007 06:32 AM
Is it possible to use this to make a series of simple placemarks appear one by one as time proceeds during a day's hike please?
I'm not a KLM expert but if anyone can show me a simple example I should be able to use it as the basis for my own KLM file.
--
Terry, West Sussex, UK
Posted by: Terry Pinnell at April 20, 2007 06:29 AM
i wonder if the timesliders time variable can be passed along with the BBOX variable when using a network link...
Posted by: steve at May 21, 2007 03:56 PM
I was looking for same kinda time slider control for my project.
Can i get some info about it pls?
Thanks,
Deepa
Posted by: Deepa at July 4, 2007 06:12 AM
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Here's an experimental animated radar for The Netherlands: http://mscha.net/geo/br.kmz
(It's just an experiment: it's just a hardcoded set of images from 17:00 to 18:00, and they haven't been calibrated very accurately.)
- Michael