GE Plugin

Google Earth plugin showcase: National University of Singapore Library

January 16, 2015

This is the sixth in our series celebrating the Google Earth plugin and all its uses. Today we are looking at the National University of Singapore Library that we first looked at back in 2008.

The NUS Library’s use of the plugin is unusual in that they are not using it to display Google Earth imagery at all, but rather utilizing Google Earth’s sophisticated 3D engine to display the interiors of buildings. It doesn’t all work perfectly, but considering the changes in both browsers and the Google Earth API since 2008, that is to be expected. If you have the Google Earth plugin installed, and a browser that supports it, then head on over to their website and have a look around!

Amazingly, you can search for a book and it will show you which shelf it is on!

The Chinese Library. Most locations have popups for more information.

Google Earth plugin showcase: GE Teach

January 14, 2015

This is the fifth post in our series showcasing the Google Earth plugin. Today we are looking at GE Teach, an excellent site that we have looked at a number of times in the past.

Created by geography teacher Josh Williams, the site allows you to compare two maps side by side with different settings. The maps can be kept in sync, similar to the Street Earth tool we looked at yesterday. For more details about the site and how it got started, see Mickey’s post from 2011.

Although the site has recently been converted to use Google Maps rather than the Google Earth plugin, the plugin version is still available here and Josh tells us that it will continue to be available until December 2015, when Google is planning to end support for the plugin.

Josh also pointed us to the YouTube video below that demonstrates using his site to look at the damage caused by the tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma. You can do the same for the tornados we looked at in Monday’s post, although it can be quite difficult to find the correct locations, as the search functionality is not very good. To help you find the locations, copy this url:
https://www.gearthblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/MoorePilgerWessington-Springs.kml
then paste it in the ‘Fetch or Go to’ option at the bottom right of the plugin. Then turn on historical imagery in both panes via the ‘Earth Layers’ menus at the top. Next, select appropriate imagery dates for comparison.

Google Earth plugin showcase: Street Earth

January 13, 2015

This is the fourth in a series of posts showcasing the Google Earth plugin. Today we are looking at Street Earth from Map Channels.

The free Street Earth tool helps you to embed three panels on your webpage showing Street View, an overhead map and the Google Earth plugin. The three panels are mostly kept in sync, so you can move your location in any one of them to see the view in the others, although to update the Street View panel you have to drop the yellow man from the maps panel.

You can see it in action below. Note: you will need to have the Google Earth plugin installed, a browser that supports it, and for some browsers you may have to allow the plugin to run on this page.

Google Earth plugin showcase: Paragliding simulator

January 9, 2015

This is the third in a series of posts showcasing the Google Earth plugin as both a farewell to the plugin, which was deprecated last month, and as a hint to Google to consider working on a replacement if they aren’t already.

Yesterday we looked at GEFS Online, a flight simulator with a variety of aircraft, including a balloon. Today we are looking at a more specialized simulator: a paragliding simulator.

We first looked at Paragliding Earth back in October, 2008. The site is still running and the simulator still working well, although there seems to be a problem with the map used for locating sites not zooming in. The site is designed to allow paragliding enthusiasts to share information about paragliding sites all over the world and has a wealth of information available.

Coming in to land. Finding a site with 3D imagery took a while, but it was worth it!

Google Earth plugin showcase: GEFS Online

January 8, 2015

This is the second in a series of posts showcasing the Google Earth plugin.

Today we are looking at the unofficial Google Earth flight simulator known as GEFS Online. Google Earth has a built-in flight simulator that you can learn how to use here. GEFS Online expands on the idea with a number of significant features not available in the built-in version. These features include, amongst many others:

A better looking onscreen instrument panel, with more instruments than are found in the Google Earth version.
A wide range of aircraft, including helicopters and a balloon, as opposed to the two aircraft available in Google Earth.
Dynamic suspension on the aircraft.
A wider range of controls that are also customizable.
Multiplayer mode, allowing you to see other players’ aircraft, as well a chat.
A global map showing airports and other players.
Engine sound effects.

Flying over Sion, Switzerland, which recently received 3D imagery.

The map shows airport locations and basic stats, as well as the location of other online players.