New Google Earth Layers for April: Darfur, Trimble, and more

[UPDATE April 11 – 2130 ET – Updated list based on the announcement]
Google has quietly (I’m waiting for an announcement) just released some new layers for Google Earth. They also have re-arranged the order of some of the layers so they make more sense.
Here’s some highlights of what I’ve found so far:

• The “Global Awareness” layer is now separated from the “Featured Content” layer.
• Crisis in Darfur – This new layer is turned on by default now when you open Google Earth. You will find it under the Global Awareness layer folder, the first layer is now “UHSMM – Crisis in Darfur“. The US Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) has substantially updated content which was described here a couple of months ago about the human rights abuses occurring in Darfur. The USHMM declared a genocide emergency in Darfur in 2004, and already 2.5 million people have been displaced, and 300,000 people killed in the region. This layer does an amazing job at illustrating the crisis in the area showing satellite photos of destroyed villages, locations of refugee camps, photos of human rights abuses, and provides links to more information on the web. A press announcement is being made tomorrow on this new layer according to CNET.
• Layers Moved – Two layers were moved out of Featured Content into the Global Awareness layer: UNEP: Atlas of Our Changing Environment, and the Jane Goodall Gombe Chimpanzee Blog.
• Trimble Outdoors Trips – This new Featured Content layer comes from Trimble – makers of GPS technology. It’s focus is to provide information on outdoor hikes, GPS tracks, photos, videos, and other related information. From what I see so far, the content is all in the US. But, they have a special web site designed to allow people to upload their information on trips, so I’m sure other locations can be handled as well. There are a lot of similarities in the content to the Tracks4Africa layer which is also in the Featured Layers.
• Swiss Ski Resorts, Lifts, and Mountain Railways
• 100% Pure New Zealand – New Zealand is the first country to get its own tourism layer under the Travel and Tourism layer.
• Detailed Roads for India, Singapore
• Points of Interest for India, Singapore, and Brazil
• Updates to the following:
  • UNEP: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
  • European Space Agency
  • Turn Here: City Video Guides
  • Best of 3D Warehouse
  • Google Earth Community
  • Geoweb: Best of GEC
  • Dining (US)
  • DigitalGlobe Coverage

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.

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