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UsingGoogle Earth

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A little background¨ TAILS Mapper allows you to map your data

– Internet based, Service developed/supported– Multi-layers with some tools

• Pan, Zoom in/out, Add/Hide layers, Annotate, e-mail• Allowed you to map some select set of TAILS data

¨ Google Earth allows you to map your data– Internet based, privately developed/supported– Multi-layers with some tools

• Pan, Zoom in/out, Add/Hide layers, tour, e-mail• Allowed you to map some select set of TAILS data

Neither is adesktop GIS

Each isVery different

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Choosing the data to Map¨ Whether you choose to use the Mapper or

Google Earth to map your point data in TAILS:– Determine the point data you want to see mapped– Realize that only Activities with points will map– Select a Report from the wide array available

• Office Reports, or• Ad-Hoc Reports

– You need not include ‘Point Location’ attributes– Run the report– Scroll to the bottom– Choose export option

• Map Results• Download to KML

Portrayed in MapperPortrayed in Google Earth

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Google Earth: a little background¨ Google Earth is a Geo-Browser/Virtual Globe¨ Internet-based but doesn’t utilize Explorer¨ Has its own interface / software¨ Software owned/distributed by Google¨ Must be downloaded and installed¨ Has different versions (Free, Plus, Pro, ES)¨ Use is allowable by USFWS

– Solicitor General: “The majority of DOI’s uses are internal, in order toassist the employ in their research tasks. This is permissible under the “free” license. “

¨ Uses‘KML’ and ‘KMZ’ files to portray data– KML = Keyhole Markup Language

• Keyhole was acquired by Google in 2004• KMZ is, essentially a zip/compressed version of KML

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Google Earth: a little more background¨ Google Earth (Free version)

– Predominantly displays satellite imagery– Varying resolutions and sources

• 15 meter baseline resolution• 1 meter or less in and around most urban areas• Dates of imagery vary, currently most ~ 2004 (free version)

• Uses Simple Cylindrical projection with a WGS84 datum for its imagery base (some ‘shifts’ / reduced rez)

– Allows overlay of data from KML/KMZ files• Can’t directly import other GIS files

– shapefiles / geodatabases / GPS data / CSV files• Shapefiles may be converted to KML files (demo)

– Coming very soon to an internet near you• TAILS Reports: Download to KML (demo)

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Converting ArcMap shapefiles to KML¨ There are a number of ways / tools to convert

– ArcMap itself via Toolbox (demo)– Xtools Pro extension to ArcMap by Data East LLC– ShptoKML converter by Zonum Solutions (demo)– GPS Garmin– Others

¨ Each is a bit different / gives differing results¨ Each seems to have limits (but lessoning)¨ Try them all to see what you get / like

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Convert Shapefile to KML (in ArcMap)¨ Open and Review Shapefile via ArcMap¨ Define that Shapefile’s symbology as desired¨ Open ArcMap’s Toolbox

– Navigate to Conversion Tools: Layer to KML• Double-click ‘Layer to KML’• Select the symbolized ‘layer’• Define the output file (KML)• Define the Scale (try 1000)• Click ‘OK’

¨ Open GoogleEarth

¨ Open KML in Google Earth

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Convert Shapefile to KML (Shp2KML)¨ Launch (double-click) Shp2KML¨ Select the Input file (the Shapefile)¨ Click ‘Next’¨ Continue through the interface

– Much as you would in ArcMap, defining• Symbology• Field Values / Colors• Title / Fields to Display• Description / Altitude

¨ Click on either– Create KML file, or– Create [KML file] and Open

¨ If necessary, open the KML

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Demo of Google EarthDirection of view

Pan location

Zoom in/Out Bar

‘Fly to’ field

Places (includes layers you add)

Layers

Main Window

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Report Export: Download to KML

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