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
- Getting Started with Google Earth
- About Google Earth Files – KML/KMZ
- Google Earth Help / FAQs
- 3D Modeling Tools and Resources
- Recommended Reading/Blogs
- Google Earth Related Blogs
- Sightseeing Sites
- Google Earth Conversion Tools
- Google Earth for Teachers
- GPS Visualization Tools/Software
- Google Earth Storm Tracking/Weather
- Google Earth Games
- Other Google Blogs
Getting Started with Google Earth
Here are some useful links for getting immersed in the Google Earth experience:
- Google Earth Official download page
- Google Earth Official Site
- Google Earth Basics – by Google Earth Blog
- Google Earth Community – Forums
- Google Earth User Guide
- Google Earth Tour
- Downloading from Google
- Google Earth Blog’s Tips
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 Blog’s Overview of KML
- Official KML Documentation
- KML Tutorial
- KML Samples
- KML Reference
- Google Earth API and Plugin
- KML COM API Documentation (Advanced)
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 Community
- Official Google Lat Long Blog
- OgleEarth – GE-Focused blog
- GoogleSightseeing (Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, French)
- GoogleMapsMania
Google Earth Related Blogs/Sites
- Ogle Earth
- GoogleEarthHacks
- Google Maps Mania
- nearby.org.uk blog
- EarthSLOT
- Free Geography Tools Blog
- Digital Urban
- SinGeo – a blog about geospatial visualizations for Singapore
- Destin Sharks Google Earth Content
- All Points Blog
- The Maproom
- EarthNC – boating and nautical maps
- PlanetGS – GIS related aggregator
- Netzwelt.de – German Online Magazine
- ThaiGoogleEarth – Thailand Google Earth
- GKarten – A German Google Maps Blog
- www.ge-hilfe.de – Deutsche Google Earth Hilfe
- Spanish Google Earth Blog – by ‘Dulce’ of GEC
- Reality Prime
- GE Imagery Intelligence – Military analysis with GE
- GEmVG Blog – KML blog from Steven Ho in Taiwan
- – Google Earth Art Blog
- Map Channels Events – Events Calendar and Maps
Sightseeing
Web sites which provide links to interesting places to see within Google Earth or Maps:
- Google Earth Community
- GoogleSightseeing
- GoogleEarthHacks
- EarthSwoop
- Tahina Expedition – Frank’s sailing adventure
- Tagzania – Tagging places with Google Maps or Google Earth
- Virtual Globe Trotting
- Sightseeing with Google Satellite Maps
- WikiMapia
- GoogleMapsMania
- Google Maps Explorer
- Google Touring
- Flyin’ Globe
- Google Earth Cool Places
- Panoramio – Georeferenced Photos
- FlyingGlobe
- EarthPlaceMarks
- RollNZoom
- Satellite Sights
- KugelErde.de – Deutsches Google Earth Forum
- Globezoom.info – Deutsche Google Earth Community
- Max’s Earth – Italian
- Goole Earth Wereld – Dutch
- PontosBR – Brazil
- Geo-Trotter – French
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
- GPSVisualizer – tracks and maps (free) – Excellent resource, support GE output (free)
- Magnalox – tracks, maps, and more, supports GE (free)
- RoboGEO – tracks and photos, supports GE (commercial)
- Motionbased – tracks, graphs, sports-oriented, supports GE (free, subscription)
- Leonardo Paragliding Database – Supports GE output (free)
- Geocaching – read about a network link for Geocaches
Google Earth Storm Tracking / Weather
- Storm Tracking Tools for GE
- My Katrina Articles
- Weather related stories
- EarthNC – boating weather
Google Earth Games
- Fun & Games Forum at GEC
- GoogleEarthing – find the spot pictured in GE
- GEHwar
- Earth Contest
Other Google Blogs