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Extending Google Earth. By Frank Taylor frank@gearthblog.com Google Earth Blog (Gearthblog.com). Purpose. Discuss how Google Earth can be used as more than just a geo browser (not just for looking at your house) Demonstrate a variety of examples Provide developer tips Q&A
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Extending Google Earth By Frank Taylor frank@gearthblog.com Google Earth Blog (Gearthblog.com)
Purpose • Discuss how Google Earth can be used as more than just a geo browser (not just for looking at your house) • Demonstrate a variety of examples • Provide developer tips • Q&A • Make some Tours / Plugins
Google Earth - a “Geo”spatial visualization platform • Google Earth is rich in 3D graphics, content, features, and extendability • GE is really a visualization platform • The platform is widely distributed - provides a great opportunity for reaching audiences • Often very complex visualizations can be viewed - GE is user friendly • More than just Geo (Mars, Sky, and more)
Google Earth Platform • Most people don’t realize the full extent of the GE capabilities • Combine the capabilities with the reach, and there is good reason to keep this platform in mind for many applications
Extendability of Google Earth • KML/Network Links, Time Animation, Historical Imagery, polygons, lines, 3D, etc. • Adding your own content: imagery, layers • COM API (before the plugin) • Off-line Use / Caching • GE Pro, Enterprise, SketchUp • Tours • Last, but not least: GE Plugin
KML - Don’t overlook • KML is powerful itself - few people fully take advantage of what KML offers. • Examples: Network links, lines, polygons, 3D, time animation, regioning, PhotoOverlays, FadeExtent, time animation, ScreenOverlays, historical imagery, etc.
Example KMLs • ScreenOverlays - F-16 cockpit by Gerardo Paz • US Flights by James Stafford • London Eye Shadow by James Stafford • EarthNC real-time chartplotting with GPS
Google Earth Plugin/API • The API was announced a year ago • Major progress since last year, lots of interesting applications coming out • Again, great untapped potential • Resources at: http://code.google.com/apis/earth • Examples…
Example plugins • Show KML files (some limitations) • Allow people to create KML content through a browser: EarthSwoop • Paraglider Sim by Dan Hohman • Real-time satellite debris by James Stafford • Ships Simulator by Paul van Dinther (video review)
Tips on Tours • Tours are an amazing new capability - part of GE 5 and supported by the Plugin • Enables fantastic visualization capabilities, almost scripting - much untapped potential • Supports smooth movements, multiple streams of audio (music and narration) • You can synchronize audio with recorded tour • Need for GUI for editing tours (developers?) • Combined with plugin - big future
Example Tours • Jimmy Buffet Concert Tour • Combining Tours and plugins • Ira Flatow Mars Tour • Swiss Alps synchronized with YouTube • Tahina 3D Tour
Extending GE into Revenue generation • Variety of consulting opportunities, content creation, software, and more • You can use the plugin to place ads around GE content now • Theoretically you can place ads in KML - Google is doing it now. • I expect to see more ad-based revenue
Mix and mash • Future developments: • More combinations of sophisticated KML, Tours, advanced plugins, mashups with other GeoWeb tools in placemarks • Expect to see more visualizations of real-time information • More social networking apps tapping into GeoWeb visualization • Even more data visualizations with thematic styles • More simulations!
Resources for Learning • Google Earth Blog (gearthblog.com) • http://code.google.com/apis/kml/ • http://code.google.com/apis/earth/ • http://bbs.keyhole.com (community) • http://groups.google.com/group/kml-support (forums) • Google Outreach http://earth.google.com/outreach • Google I/O
Q&A and more • Discussion • Tour and Plugin development