Google Earth

Last edited January 27, 2009
More by Chris »

http://www.GoogleLitTrips.com
www.googlelittrips.org/

Travel the world as you read your books. A different way to read great literature.

Google For Educators - Geo Education
www.google.com/educators/start_earth.html

This might be the outline for the entire presentation. Check this out. It has some good "getting started" activities. Be sure to include other sites about using GE in the classroom like the Real World Math below.

new website teaches math with Google Earth - Ed...
groups.google.com/group/googleforeducators_educati...

Real World Math
realworldmath.org/iWeb/Real%20World%20Math/Real%20...

Using Google Earth in the Math Curriculum. For 5th grade and up.

Google Earth
earth.google.com/intl/en/tour/thanks-win-updater.h...

Showcase KML Gallery

Google For Educators - Earth
www.google.com/educators/p_earth.html

Latest Earthquakes: Feeds & Data
earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/catalogs/

Introduction - Google Earth User Guide
earth.google.com/intl/en/userguide/v4/#getting_to_...

Google Reader (895)#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2F...
www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%...

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. It is awarded "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force."

This collection of placemarks shows the birthplaces of recipients of the US Medal of Honor from the following campaigns:

The China (The Boxer Rebellion) 1900, Mexican (Vera Cruz) 1914, Haiti 1915 Campaign, Dominican Campaign 1916, World War I 1917-1918, Haiti 1919 - 1920, Nicaraguan Campaign 1927 - 1933, World War II 1941 - 1945, North Korea 1950 - 1953, Vietnam 1964 - 1973, Somalia 1993 and The War On Terror (2002 - 2006).

The collection shows the placemarks of the birthplaces of each winner and the descriptions show date of birth, rank, organization, location of deed, and the citation. Photos are also available in some cases. The collection was developed by 'Up_The_Spurs' from the Google Earth Community who also did the recipients of the Victoria Cross.

Google Reader (888)
www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%...

General Electric - GE recently released a new initiative on their corporate web site (www.ge.com) about the increasing scarcity of fresh water on our planet. They have a Google Earth file called WaterExplorer which gives an overview about fresh water problems and what GE is doing to help. Definitely worth having a look. It seems appropriate GE should do a Google Earth collection. I do wish I could get my own GE.com e-mail address. :-)

European Championship Stadiums - Google is really getting into the spirit of the European Football Championship 2008. First Google released a some cool fan map mashup. They have all kinds of details on the venues (stadiums), teams, and matches. And, they've made the map available in several different flavors (Spain, Netherlands, Germany, etc.). They have now released special versions of Google Transit for Austria and Switzerland so you can get transportation tips and driving directions if you're attending in person. Google has also made 3D models of all the stadiums. I snagged a KMZ file from a Maps search and modified the stadium placemarks so you can fly a tour of the stadiums in Google Earth (apologies to whoever owned the original KML file - although it may be Google's). The placemarks have some details about the stadiums as well.

Cybercity Buildings - The recent 3d Buildings layer upgrade also includes some new buildings added through the Google Earth Cities in 3D program. In particular, new non-textured buildings in Downtown San Diego were done by CyberCity 3D. They also reportedly did the new non-textured 3D buildings for Chicago. By the way, I just noticed the imagery layer was updated in Chicago including, sadly, the old Miegs Field which no longer shows the runway.

KML Validator - Galdos Systems has released a free online service to validate KML files. The validator assumes your KML is version 2.2 compliant. Galdos is releasing this service for free, but can also provide professional validation services for developers needing validated KML from their applications, and will also offer KML training and development support.

Tour de France - Thomas Vergouwen is the first to send me a 2008 Tour de France KML file , which he's created, which shows the full 2008 Tour de France course in Google Earth. Viewing the course in Google Earth this year is better than ever! In the last Year, Google has improved the satellite and aerial imagery for France, and the terrain has also been improved in places. With any luck, Google may update the terrain for even more areas before it starts. Great work Thomas!

Google Reader (886)
www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%...

Run, don't walk, and check out Disney in 3D in Google Earth! Originally this layer was supposed to come out over a week ago, but it's finally here! (See the official page). Walt Disney World has released 3D models of their parks in Orlando, and, with Google's help, they are now part of the "3D Buildings" layer built in to Google Earth. There is also a layer found under "Gallery->Travel and Tourism->Walt Disney World" which provides placemarks with more information (video, audio, and fun facts) about the parks and the hotels. Included are complete 3D models and information of the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney's Resorts. And, as you would expect from Disney, the 3D models are very beautiful - including not only the rides and buildings - but, also trees, statues, benches, posts, banners and more!
I'm including this screenshot ~~for now, but expect a YouTube video showing a fly through of this amazing collection shortly~~ (see video demo here):

Once again, to see Disney in 3D, you need to fly to Disney World in Orlando (enter "Disney World" in the "Fly To" search of Google Earth). Then make sure you have the "3D Buildings" layer turned on. Turn on the other layer mentioned above to see fun placemarks with more information, video, and audio describing the parks and sights.