Google Earth Library

Panoramas Theme for iGoogle

topomatt — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:00:59 +0000

Update 10/11/2009 - Added new version of theme optimized for monitors up to 1,920 width resolution. For the iGoogle users out there….I have created a theme that adds a panoramic photograph to the header of your iGoogle home page. Every 15 minutes the photograph will change and ever month or two, I run a script that [...]

How to Research Historical Aerial Photographs

topomatt — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:31:24 +0000

Although this isn’t directly related to Google Earth, I thought there might be some people interested in researching old aerial photographs that aren’t available in Google Earth. I’ve put together some instructions on how to do this research yourself. We will be using the EarthExplorer website created by the USGS, which has historical aerial photographs covering [...]

USGS Topographic Map Overlay

topomatt — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:45:43 +0000

This overlay contains seamless topographic/land cover data for the entire Earth and a USGS Topographic Map overlay for the entire US, including Alaska and Hawaii. The 1:250,000 scale USGS Topo Maps are from i-cubed eTOPO. The remaining USGS Topographic Maps for the US are are from the National Geographic TOPO! program. The global land cover imagery is from [...]

Historic US State Boundaries

topomatt — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:14:56 +0000

This set of files shows the configuration of US States and Territories every 10 years from 1790 to 1920. You can watch the United States start out with the 13 original States (actually I think it was 14 by 1790) and expand westward to the Pacific. I believe the only thing to change after 1920 [...]

Historical T-Sheets

topomatt — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:00:51 +0000

Historical T-Sheets are shoreline maps that were created in the late 1800 to early 1900s for major waterways and coastal areas of the United States. The T-Sheets contain information such as locations of buildings, names of shoreline features, and detailed descriptions of shorelines. This collection contains over 250 maps covering the following locations: Puget Sound, [...]

Impact Locations

topomatt — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:50:26 +0000

The Impact Database shows the locations of confirmed and proposed impact sites throughout the Earth. Impact sites are locations where something from space (asteroids, comets, etc) has impacted the Earth. Detailed information such as the size of the impact area, the age of the impact and geologic information is provided for the locations. Please post a comment [...]

Global Mapper v11 Beta Available to Try Out

topomatt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:49:13 +0000

I often get emails asking how I create some of the Google Earth content on this website. Although I use a variety of software tools, Global Mapper is the GIS program that I use to do the vast majority of the heavy lifting. Global Mapper can convert just about any file format into KML, which [...]

9,000,000 Global Geographic Names

topomatt — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:36:26 +0000

UPDATE 6/23 - This collection has been recompiled so that you don’t have to manually turn on a section of placemarks. Instead they will turn on/off automatically as you navigate around. The Global Geographic Names database contains the names and location of almost 9 million features of interest throughout the world. The features include mountains, [...]

Sea Floor Off San Diego, California

topomatt — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:02:54 +0000

A detailed map showing over 600 square miles of ocean floor off the coast of San Diego California. The map was created by the USGS from multi-beam bathymetric data. Several major physiographic features and depth contour lines are shown. In addition, there are several placemarks which include a detailed view and description of various features. Refer [...]

Crime Scenes & Serial Killers

topomatt — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:16:29 +0000

This data collection show the locations of notorious crime scenes, locations related to serial killers (where they lived, where they were captured, etc), and the locations of death row prisons throughout the United States. Each placemark contains a snippet of information about the location, including photographs of the scene or criminal. Some of the information [...]

Google Earth Network Links Explained

topomatt — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:39:54 +0000

Network Links are a very powerful, but very simple, feature of Google Earth that every Google Earth user should understand. Also, EVERY Google Earth content developer that hosts KML/KMZ files online should understand Network Links and make use of them when it makes sense. So take a couple minutes and read below to learn how [...]

North Korea Uncovered

topomatt — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:53:49 +0000

North Korea Uncovered is a product of the North Korean Economy Watch blog. The data set contains 1,000’s of placemarks showing the locations of various governmental and commercial areas in North Korea. The locations are all nicely organized by the type of location and the data appears to be updated regularly. KML Content Created By: North Korea [...]

Map the Fallen

topomatt — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:18:45 +0000

Map the Fallen is a project created by Sean at the Google Earth Outreach team. In short, this project displays information related to American and Coalition servicemen and women that have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. You must have the most recent version of Google Earth installed to view this. I’d also like to [...]

Crop Circles

topomatt — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:53:26 +0000

Collection of crop circle locations compiled and kept up to date by members of the Google Earth Community. KML Content Created By: Cyclonic at the Google Earth BBS Access From: More Info: Related posts No related posts.

Worldwide Panoramas

topomatt — Sat, 23 May 2009 20:35:21 +0000

The World Wide Panorama project is a collection of 360 degree panoramic photographs from all over the world. Each photograph is represented by a placemark. Click on the placemark to view the photograph in your browser window. KML Content Created By: The World Wide Panorama Access From: Related posts Nearby Photos World Wide Panorama Panoramas Theme for iGoogle

Nearby Photos

topomatt — Sat, 23 May 2009 18:12:12 +0000

This network link will display nearby geotagged photos in Google Earth. The feeds are from: Flickr - This feed is via Metal Toad Media and displays a small red dot at the location each of the nearby photos that it picks up. Panoramio - The Panoramio panoramic photos are already available as a default layer, however this [...]

Nuclear Sites

topomatt — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:11:46 +0000

This collection contains the locations of various sites throughout the world having something to do with nuclear power or nuclear weapons. These original data originated from many different sources. I have combined the various sources into a single, easy to use network link, which includes the following: ICBM Bases/Related Facilities Nuclear Reactor Sites US Nuclear Facilities Nuclear Test Site [...]

Google Earth Custom Search Engine

topomatt — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:00:27 +0000

Google has a feature called Google Custom Search, which allows one to create a customized search engine that only searches specific websites. I created a custom search based on about 20 websites with primary content related to Google Earth. Give it a try and I’ll try to add more Google Earth related websites as I [...]

World Country Borders

topomatt — Sun, 17 May 2009 10:00:27 +0000

Colored polygons of of each country in the world with links to the applicable CIA World Factbook page. Click on a country see a pop up a balloon with a picture of that country’s flag and a link to the country’s CIA World Factbook page. You can also enable the locations of all the country [...]

World Time Zones

topomatt — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:31:32 +0000

There are many sources of world time zone data and maps available. I have combined several of them into a single file for Google Earth which will let you easily switch between the different versions. Valery35 Version - Created by Valery35 at the Google Earth BBS. Static map consisting of colored polygons showing the time zone [...]

USGS Earthquake ShakeMaps

topomatt — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:00:56 +0000

USGS ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes throughout the world. The maps show the epicenter of the earthquake and are color coded to show relative ground motion. Individual maps are created for each earthquake event. Unfortunately, the maps must be accessed via their website. But I have created a [...]

Upside Down Earthquakes

topomatt — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:58:06 +0000

This collection of earthquake data displays large magnitude (6.5 and above) earthquakes dating back to 1900. Each earthquake is represented by a colored circle located at the approximate location of the epicenter. The color of the circle represents the number of fatalities and the size of the circle represents the the magnitude of the earthquake. [...]

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

topomatt — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:29:07 +0000

The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program has compiled a database of earthquake faults in the United States which are believed to be the sources of earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6 during the past 1,600,000 years. Detailed descriptions of many of the faults is provided via an online database linked to the fault lines in Google [...]

Dollar Exchange Rate

topomatt — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:21:21 +0000

Exchange rate map showing the current exchange rate of different currencies throughout the world as compared against the US dollar. SHIFT-CLICK on a country to view the exchange rate. The countries are also color coded to show how the exchange rate has changed over the last 48 hours (note it will switch to a 30-day comparison [...]

State Geologic Maps Compilation

topomatt — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:05:35 +0000

Highly detailed digital geologic maps of the US states (not including Alaska and Hawaii) with consistent descriptions (lithology, age, etc) from state to state. The original geologic data was from various sources and compiled by the USGS into KML format. SHIFT-CLICK on a polygon to bring up information about that geologic unit. From there you can [...]