WikiLoc is a free site which lets you upload and share GPS tracks. As mentioned last February, they have particularly good Google Maps and Google Earth support. Well, today, Google has announced that WikiLoc has its own layer under the Google Earth Gallery layer folder! Once you turn it on, you’ll have to zoom in to locations to see if WikiLoc placemark icons appear for user data uploaded for that area. I’m glad to see Google adding another GPS layer with broader user-generated data. Previously Google had shared GPS data for select locations/sites like Tracks4Africa which was focused on southeastern Africa (which was recently “demoted” from the Gallery to the More layer folder in Google Earth). The immediate effect will be that WikiLoc is likely to get a ton of new traffic and more people uploading GPS data. When Panoramio was first added as a Google Earth layer their user generated data skyrocketed many orders of magnitude. They ultimately were acquired by Google due to its popularity. Hopefully Jordi Ramot, WikiLoc’s creator, will be prepared for the onslaught.
(By the way, I’ve hiked the trail in the screenshot myself!)
There are many other GPS data web sites out there which include Google Earth support. Here are just a few GEB has covered before with different slants on the type of data they support:
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.
WikiLoc’s inclusion into the Google Earth Gallery is an excellent development. I will be adding GPS data soon and hopefully others will.
WikiLoc’s inclusion into the Google Earth Gallery is an excellent development. I will be adding GPS data soon and hopefully others will.