Google Earth Blog

The amazing things about Google Earth


Google Earth Links

This page is devoted to providing links to important web resources about Google Earth, KML/KMZ, sightseeing GE’s satellite/aerial photos, software tools, games, and more. For an even longer list of links, check out OgleEarth’s links page.

Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with Google Earth
  2. About Google Earth Files – KML/KMZ
  3. Google Earth Help / FAQs
  4. 3D Modeling Tools and Resources
  5. Recommended Reading/Blogs
  6. Google Earth Related Blogs
  7. Sightseeing Sites
  8. Google Earth Conversion Tools
  9. Google Earth for Teachers
  10. GPS Visualization Tools/Software
  11. Google Earth Storm Tracking/Weather
  12. Google Earth Games
  13. Other Google Blogs

 

Getting Started with Google Earth

 

Here are some useful links for getting immersed in the Google Earth experience:

About Google Earth Files – KML/KMZ

 

Documentation on the file format used by Google Earth. It is essentially a schema for geographic information using XML, but adds features used by Google Earth to enhance the experience. By the way, it is “K”ML because Google Earth was derived from a product by a company called Keyhole.

Google Earth Help / FAQs

 

3D Modeling Tools and Resources

 

  • Google SketchUp – learn about and download the free 3D modeling tool, or get the Pro version
  • 3D Warehouse – a data warehouse for SketchUp models for use in SketchUp and Google Earth, you can share your models here too.
  • 3D Warehouse Network Link – allows you to see models that have been “placed” in Google Earth. Click on the placemarks to see the model information and download.
  • Information on the “Best of 3DWarehouse Layer“

Recommended Reading/Blogs

 

Google Earth Related Blogs/Sites

 

Sightseeing

 

Web sites which provide links to interesting places to see within Google Earth or Maps:

Google Earth Conversion Tools

 

  • Arc2Earth – Professional GIS output (e.g. from ArcGIS) to GE visualizations
  • KMLer – Another tool for professional GIS output
  • SuperOverlay – Convert large images into regionated KML tiles
  • GPSBabel – Great tool for converting geospatial information into a variety of formats (Google Earth uses this for its GPS capabilities)
  • GPSVisualizer – Friendly web interface with tools for converting geospatial information into maps, images, and Google Earth KML
  • OGLE – OpenGL Extractor – 3D data converted to KML
  • Batch Geocode – Converts US addresses to KML
  • Google Analytics to Google Earth – by Jacob Cord

Google Earth for Teachers/Educators

 

GPS Track Visualization Tools/Software

 

Google Earth Storm Tracking / Weather

 

Google Earth Games

 

Other Google Blogs