Difference between revisions of "Google Earth"
(→Automatically Load Cache Waypoints from the Internet with the Geocaching Australia Network Link) |
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| − | + | Google Earth is a free desktop application that allows you to view a 3D model of the Earth overlayed with satellite imagery. You can zoom to any place on the earth and, in densely-populated areas, usually identify individual houses. Google Earth allows you to overlay waypoints and tracks onto the satellite imagery, making it particularly useful for [[geocaching]]. | |
| − | + | The initial program download is a bit over 10Mb (not ''too'' painful on dial-up!) and as you zoom in to look at particular areas the higher detailed maps are downloaded. If you have Broadband the maps download quite fast, on dial-up it will take a bit longer but from feedback on the Forum it is still quite useable. The maps are cached on your harddrive for later and off-line use. | |
| + | [http://earth.google.com Google Earth] Homepage. Follow this link to download the program. | ||
| − | + | [http://www.googleearthhacks.com/ Google Earth Hacks] Places of interest, downloads and more. | |
| + | [http://www.gearthblog.com/ Google Earth BLog] Amazing things about Google Earth. News, tips, and more. | ||
| − | == | + | == How To's == |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | === Change the default view on startup === | |
| + | # Open Google Earth | ||
| + | # Under Places, right-click on default > Edit | ||
| + | # Tick Advanced checkbox | ||
| + | # Click Location tab | ||
| + | # Tick Center Placemark in View | ||
| + | # Click View tab | ||
| + | # Whilst Edit Placemark window is open, navigate as usual to the default view you want | ||
| + | # Click Snapshot current view when satisfied with view | ||
| + | # Click Advanced checkbox | ||
| + | # Click OK | ||
| + | # Under the Tools menu, Click Options | ||
| + | # Click Control tab | ||
| + | # Move the Fly-To/Tour speed setting to Fast. | ||
| + | # Click OK | ||
| + | # Close Google Earth and restart | ||
| + | If you don't want the word "Default" displayed on the screen, simply deselect the tick-box. If you rename the Placemark it will no longer display as the Default view. | ||
| − | == | + | === Store More Maps On Your Hard Drive === |
| − | + | To make more of the maps stay cached on your computer, and not downloaded in the future you need to modify the Cache settings: - | |
| − | + | # Click Tools -> Options > Cache tab | |
| + | # Change Disk Cache size to the maximum allowed value. | ||
| − | == | + | === Track Travel Bugs === |
| − | [[ | + | This interesting GreaseMonkey script tracks [[Travel bugs]] on Google Earth. The thread is available [http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=103162 here]. There is a direct link to the [http://files.dixo.net/geocachingtbtracker.user.js script here], and a [http://files.dixo.net/geocachingtbtracker.jpg sample image] is also available. |
| − | + | === Automatically Load Cache Waypoints from the Internet with the Geocaching Australia Network Link=== | |
| + | Google Earth can load waypoints from websites on the Internet. The network link allows Google Earth to display caches in real-time - no gpx files to download or convert, just scroll around and it talks to our server and downloads the nearby caches. | ||
| − | To try it out, click | + | To try it out, click [http://geocaching.com.au/caches/available.kml here] and zoom to your favourite location and you should see caches pop up like magic! Many [[Australian Waypoints | Australian]] and worldwide waypoint sets are available. |
| + | You should save the link in "my places" and it will be there next time you run the program. Just click in the tick box to turn it on or off. | ||
| − | == GSAK | + | === View GSAK Caches in Google Earth === |
| − | Here is a macro [[User: Riblit]] wrote to plot caches in Google Earth. | + | Here is a macro [[User:Riblit|Riblit]] wrote to plot caches in [[Google Earth]], using [[GSAK]] and [[GPSBabel]]. |
| − | + | <pre> | |
| − | + | ---- | |
| + | start___________ | ||
SET $Bable = "C:\Program Files\GSAK\GPSBabel.exe" | SET $Bable = "C:\Program Files\GSAK\GPSBabel.exe" | ||
SET $Gearth = "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Earth Plus\googleearth.exe" | SET $Gearth = "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Earth Plus\googleearth.exe" | ||
| Line 35: | Line 55: | ||
SET $tfile = $temp + "test.kml" | SET $tfile = $temp + "test.kml" | ||
SET $ifile = $temp + "babel.gpx" | SET $ifile = $temp + "babel.gpx" | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
FILTER name="userset" | FILTER name="userset" | ||
EXPORT type=GPX File="$ifile" | EXPORT type=GPX File="$ifile" | ||
| − | |||
RUNPGM PGM="$Bable" parms= -i gpx -f "$ifile" -o kml -F "$tfile" Wait=Yes | RUNPGM PGM="$Bable" parms= -i gpx -f "$ifile" -o kml -F "$tfile" Wait=Yes | ||
RUNPGM PGM="$Gearth" parms="$tfile" | RUNPGM PGM="$Gearth" parms="$tfile" | ||
end_____________ | end_____________ | ||
| − | ' | + | ---- |
| + | </pre> | ||
| + | [[User: Riblit]] runs a filter to get the caches down to a manageable level, mine just filters caches he has checked. If you don't want a filter, delete the FILTER name ="userset" line | ||
| − | [[ | + | The variables will be ok for a default [[GSAK]] and [[Google Earth]] install. Copy and paste the code into [[GSAK]]'s macro editor and save, add a button if you like. |
| − | + | [[Category:Software]] | |
| − | |||
Latest revision as of 22:38, 1 July 2007
Google Earth is a free desktop application that allows you to view a 3D model of the Earth overlayed with satellite imagery. You can zoom to any place on the earth and, in densely-populated areas, usually identify individual houses. Google Earth allows you to overlay waypoints and tracks onto the satellite imagery, making it particularly useful for geocaching.
The initial program download is a bit over 10Mb (not too painful on dial-up!) and as you zoom in to look at particular areas the higher detailed maps are downloaded. If you have Broadband the maps download quite fast, on dial-up it will take a bit longer but from feedback on the Forum it is still quite useable. The maps are cached on your harddrive for later and off-line use.
Google Earth Homepage. Follow this link to download the program.
Google Earth Hacks Places of interest, downloads and more.
Google Earth BLog Amazing things about Google Earth. News, tips, and more.
Contents
How To's
Change the default view on startup
- Open Google Earth
- Under Places, right-click on default > Edit
- Tick Advanced checkbox
- Click Location tab
- Tick Center Placemark in View
- Click View tab
- Whilst Edit Placemark window is open, navigate as usual to the default view you want
- Click Snapshot current view when satisfied with view
- Click Advanced checkbox
- Click OK
- Under the Tools menu, Click Options
- Click Control tab
- Move the Fly-To/Tour speed setting to Fast.
- Click OK
- Close Google Earth and restart
If you don't want the word "Default" displayed on the screen, simply deselect the tick-box. If you rename the Placemark it will no longer display as the Default view.
Store More Maps On Your Hard Drive
To make more of the maps stay cached on your computer, and not downloaded in the future you need to modify the Cache settings: -
- Click Tools -> Options > Cache tab
- Change Disk Cache size to the maximum allowed value.
Track Travel Bugs
This interesting GreaseMonkey script tracks Travel bugs on Google Earth. The thread is available here. There is a direct link to the script here, and a sample image is also available.
Automatically Load Cache Waypoints from the Internet with the Geocaching Australia Network Link
Google Earth can load waypoints from websites on the Internet. The network link allows Google Earth to display caches in real-time - no gpx files to download or convert, just scroll around and it talks to our server and downloads the nearby caches.
To try it out, click here and zoom to your favourite location and you should see caches pop up like magic! Many Australian and worldwide waypoint sets are available.
You should save the link in "my places" and it will be there next time you run the program. Just click in the tick box to turn it on or off.
View GSAK Caches in Google Earth
Here is a macro Riblit wrote to plot caches in Google Earth, using GSAK and GPSBabel.
---- start___________ SET $Bable = "C:\Program Files\GSAK\GPSBabel.exe" SET $Gearth = "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Earth Plus\googleearth.exe" SET $temp = "C:\Program Files\GSAK\temp\" SET $tfile = $temp + "test.kml" SET $ifile = $temp + "babel.gpx" FILTER name="userset" EXPORT type=GPX File="$ifile" RUNPGM PGM="$Bable" parms= -i gpx -f "$ifile" -o kml -F "$tfile" Wait=Yes RUNPGM PGM="$Gearth" parms="$tfile" end_____________ ----
User: Riblit runs a filter to get the caches down to a manageable level, mine just filters caches he has checked. If you don't want a filter, delete the FILTER name ="userset" line
The variables will be ok for a default GSAK and Google Earth install. Copy and paste the code into GSAK's macro editor and save, add a button if you like.
