Google Earth plugin showcase

Google Earth plugin showcase: Gaiagi Driver

February 2, 2015

This is the eighth in our series on the Google Earth plugin. Today, we are looking at Gaiagi Driver that we first looked at back in 2008. Six years on and it still works well, although a reasonably fast internet connection is recommended.

Gaiagi Driver should not be seen as a driving simulator, but rather a route planner. You select the route you plan to drive, and it will get the directions and then show you your route on Google Maps, in the Google Earth plugin, in Street View and with Microsoft’s 45 degree imagery from Bing Maps.

So go ahead and try it out. You will need the Google Earth plugin installed, a browser that supports the Google Earth plugin, and for most browsers you must now give permission for the plugin to run on the site.

The University of Phoenix Stadium where Super Bowl XLIX took place yesterday.

Google Earth plugin showcase: Monster Milktruck

January 19, 2015

This is the seventh in our series showcasing the Google Earth plugin.

Today we are looking at probably the best known app built with the Google Earth plugin: The Monster Milktruck. It was developed in 2008 by Google to showcase the use of the Google Earth plugin. It even has its own Wikipedia page. We looked at it when it first came out. The original version published by Google is broken, because it uses a model from the Sketchup 3D Warehouse, which has since been sold by Google and the URLs have changed. However, we have fixed that bug and resurrected it for your enjoyment. If you have the Google Earth plugin installed and a browser that supports it, you should see the Monster Milktruck game below and be able to play.

MONSTER MILKTRUCK!

To drive: use the buttons, or keyboard arrows (with focus on page).

Presets:

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.