VSTE: Google Earth
On Monday, February 26, 2007, John will be presenting on
External Links
The following links support GoogleEarth and
- Download Google Earth
- Download Google SketchUp
- SketchUp Pro for Education
- GoogleEarth in Education Ideas
- Google SketchUp 6 Videos (new features)
- Google SketchUp 5 Videos (the basics)
- Google SketchUp 3D Warehouse
- Google for Educators - Earth
- Keyhole BBS Community for Google Earth
- The Google Earth Blog (unofficial)
- Google Earth Lessons (QT Videos)
- Teaching GeoScience with Google Earth
- Modeling 3D Textured Buildings
- Google Earth Education Community
- Google Sightseeing
- SketchUp Training - Go2School
- 5th Grade Lesson on Perimeter
How-To
Placemarks: One interesting thing you can do with GE is to embed placemarks that include links, styled text, and pictures.
- Add a placemark (yellow thumb tack).
- Edit details about the placemark.
- In the description, you can include basic HTML tags to style text for color, bold, italic, insert links, and embed pictures when they have been saved elsewhere on the Web.
- Choose a custom icon.
- Click the icon to display styled text.
- Choose File > Save Place As… to save a KMZ file.
Don’t want to bother moving a graphic to the Web? No problem! KMZ files can hold graphics! Use the img tag in HTML to point to a local graphics file. In Windows, it would be referenced from the C:\ drive. On a Mac, reference it from the root (/). When you save the place, the graphic becomes embedded.
Tools You can make measurements in miles using the path tool in GE.
Paths Paths are a great way to mark a route. You can raise paths above the surface, and color them. You can even add descriptions, which can include graphics and styled text.
You can also animate in GoogleEarth, or “travel.” Create a folder of “places,” then click the “Play” button. GE takes you from one place to another. To change the perspective (N/S/E/W direction, viewpoint), set the view point in the placemark’s information (Get Info > View > Snapshot Current View).
You can also animate along a path. Draw a path, save it, and press “play.” GE follows the path you drew in all its 3D glory.
Featured Content
Want more? GE features special content in the form of links, overlays, and more. Let’s start with the excellent Rumsey Historical Map Collection. Turn it on, under “Featured Content” in the Layers area.
What better way to study colonial times?
The “Geographic Web” area combines embedded links to the Wikipedia and great digital images.
Among the other collections are links from National Geographic Magazine.
3D
GE now features three-dimensional content in the form of terrain and buildings. Now with Google Sketchup, you can add your own 3D content, or load content from the 3D Warehouse into GEarth.
