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Using KML to Display Scientific Data in GoogleEarth

Using KML to Display Scientific Data in GoogleEarth. By Jim Graham May, 2008. Contents. How GoogleEarth Works Display Excel Data in GoogleEarth Creating KML Files for GoogleEarth. Section 1: How GoogleEarth Works. How GoogleEarth Works. Web Server. Local Computer. Internet.

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Using KML to Display Scientific Data in GoogleEarth

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  1. Using KML to Display Scientific Data in GoogleEarth By Jim Graham May, 2008

  2. Contents • How GoogleEarth Works • Display Excel Data in GoogleEarth • Creating KML Files for GoogleEarth

  3. Section 1: How GoogleEarth Works

  4. How GoogleEarth Works Web Server Local Computer Internet Satellite Images GoogleEarth Spreadsheet Files KML Files

  5. GoogleEarth • Created by Denver-based company, Keyhole • An application that runs on your computer • GIS Services for various layers • A system that you can add data to • Commercially owned

  6. File Formats • Common file formats: • Word (*.doc) • PowerPoint (*.ppt) • Excel (*.xls)

  7. GIS File Formats • Shapefiles • Coverages • GeoTIFF • Lots of others • Is KML a GIS format?

  8. Keyhole Markup Language (KML) • Small Graphics Markup Language (SGML) • HyperText Markup Language (HTML) • Extensible Markup Language (XML)

  9. Keyhole Markup Language (KML) • Based on XML • Very simple, flexible format • Can be create very complex files • Not an industry standard (could change at any time, only works in GoogleEarth) • KML Documentation: http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/ • Or search on ‘KML’ into Google

  10. GIS Data • Rasters (photos) • Satellite • Aerial • Vector Data • Points • Polylines/Paths • Polygons

  11. Play with KML • Add Placemark • Add Path to and from somewhere • Add Polygon around your school • Save As… KML files

  12. Situation • KML is still very new • Shapefiles are the most common GIS vector format • Converters are coming • Shapefiles are much more limited than KML files (i.e. it’s easy to go from Shapefile to KML, can be harder to go from KML to Shapefile)

  13. Discussion Points • When should data be in a local file vs. on a web server? • What are the possible futures for KML? Web Server Local Computer Internet

  14. Section 2: Displaying Excel Data in GoogleEarth • Problem: Display spreadsheet data in GoogleEarth • Solution: • Use an Excel “Add-In” that converts data in spreadsheets to a KML file • Open the KML file in GoogleEarth

  15. Excel Add-Ins • Actually Excel files that include “Macros” • Hidden in your “Add-In” folder

  16. WriteToKML AddIn • Install WriteToKML Add-In to your system • Make WriteToKML available to Excel • Add a custom tool to Excel • Use the tool to save a KML file • Make more interesting descriptions

  17. Discussion Points • Discussion point: What type of data would you collect to make this work?

  18. Section 3: Creating KML Files • The WriteToKML Add-In is limited • Does not support: • polygons and paths • Graphics • Icons • Lots of other features of KML • http://earth.google.com/kml/index.html

  19. Creating KML Files • Simple text files without any formatting • Write in NotePad (TextEdit on the Mac), not MS-Word or other “word-processor”

  20. Getting Started • Search on “KML” in Google • Click on “KML Documentation Introduction” • Click on “KML Tutorial” • Scroll down to light blue boxes • Copy everything in the box into a new NotePad file • Save as “text.kml”

  21. Drag KML file into GoogleEarth • What is the approximate coordinate? • What is the name? • What is the description?

  22. Writing KML Files • Open GoogleEarth and Notepad • Steps: • Edit in NotePad • Save to a file on the desktop • Double click on the file • Click “Yes” to reload and view the file • Repeat • Change name, description

  23. “Simple” KML File with 1 Point <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2"> <Document> <Placemark> <name>Name of the Placemark</name> <description> Description appears in the balloon </description> <Point> <coordinates>102.595626,14.996729</coordinates> </Point> </Placemark> </Document> </kml>

  24. Where to go from here • Multiple points • Add “Document” tags” • Add another point, save, view • Some fun stuff- Photos, paths, etc. • KML “Developer’s Guide” • KML Reference

  25. Discussion Points • How would you use this in your classroom? • What types of data would kids find cool to put into GoogleEarth?

  26. What is it you just did? • Web server/client architecture • Spatial Data File format: KML • Converting from Excel to KML • How to edit KML files

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