Creating accurately scaled and placed image overlays from other mapping and satellite photo resources is not always a simple process. GPSVisualizer.com has just released yet another tool for Google Earth allowing you to automatically create such image overlays. The form will automatically locate and overlay the map or image you choose and allows you to choose the resolution of the resulting image. For adding a topographical map, or adding better resolution for areas with lower resolution satellite photos, this can be a valuable tool. Here is a link to the image overlay form. The screenshot here is a topographical map of Kitt Peak overlayed over the mountain using the GPSVisualizer form.
What’s interesting is the…
What’s interesting is the unique method for choosing a site. In addition to giving a simple center-point coordinate for a location, you can also upload a GPS track or even a KML file to determine the location for the overlay. If you upload a GPS track it will determine the boundaries of the track and create an overlay covering that extent. Similarly, if you have a KML with placemarks or paths it will use the extent of those points for the overlay extent. Very slick!
As usual with GPSVisualizer, you can use the form to choose from a variety of images and maps including: USGS aerial photos, USGS Topographical maps, NASA Modis satellite photos, NASA Landsat, and others. Some of the data is only good for the US or Canada, and some cover the world. The program will automatically tell you if you’ve provided a location not covered by the database chosen. GPSVisualizer is one of my favorite tools – here are some other stories I’ve written about it: here and here. Great work Adam!
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
I would like to create a post on google earth about a unique type of seismic activity on google earth, can this be done using free version of google earth? I do have a log-in profile.
I do what only about 20 people in us do, investigate magnetic/geophysical interactions, including solar flare induced events. Have been able to set international precedences in speed of measurement and predictions of events, but this google has me stumped. Any suggestions,comments are much appreciated.
Mitigator807