Welcome to 

Google Earth

 

 

Wiki Page By: Rhiannon Strayer and Sarah Skidmore 

 

 

What is Google Earth?:

 

Google Earth is an internet program that lets you view satelite and 3D images of geographical locations around the world!  Beyond that Google Earth has also come to implement imagery of the sky, ocean, and the solar system!  I know you are excited so... Let's Get Started!

 

First we must all download Google Earth

http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html 

 

 

 

How to use Google Earth:

 

Each time you start Google Earth, the Earth appears in the main window.  The area that shows the Earth is called the 3D viewer.  The 3D viewer always appears in Google Earth and shows you imagery, terrain and information about places around the globe.  On the left is the sidebar where you can type in a search and a folder that stores places and layers.

 

Let's first get comfortable with navigating!

 

To view and use the navigation controls, move the cursor over the top right corner of the 3D viewer.  For now just practice zooming in and out with the navigation controls. To do this:

 

Zoom out by clicking the zoom out button.

Zoom in by clicking the zoom in button 

 

 

  

Tilting the View:

Now that you know how to zoom in and out you are ready to look at the Earth in three dimensions.  To do this, you tilt your viewpoint so that you can see elevation changes on the Earth's surface.

 

The following figures show a comparison view of Mount Shasta in California with and without tilt enabled.

 

        

                                                                 Top down view                                                  Tilted view

 

Looking with the Navigation Controls:

To look around:

1. Move the cursor over right corner of the 3D viewer.  The Look joystick is at the top of the controls; it has an eye icon at its center.
2. Click an arrow to look in that direction.
3. Click an arrow and continue to press down on the mouse button to quickly turn your viewing angle.
4. Click and drag the outer ring of the Look joystick.  This rotates the view.  To return to noth-up perspective, press N on your keyboard.

 

Moving with the Navigation Controls:

To move around:

1. The Move joystick is in the middle of the controls; it has a hand icon at its center.
2. Click an arrow to move in that direction.
3. Click an arrow and continue to press down to move quicker.

 

So no that you are comfortable navigating we're going to fly somewhere.  In Places, click the Sightseeing box.  Double click on the Grand Canyon, US.  It will automatically zoom you in.  This is where the layers come in.  The Layers feature provides a variety of data points of geographic interest that you can select to display over your viewing area such as maps, roads, terrain and even building data. 

 

Click the Terrrain box and zoom in and out to find the perfect spot along the Grand Canyon.  Try clicking on different layers.  Some interesting layers include:

• Wikipedia- Collaborative articles about locations around the globe
• Panoramio- Beautiful and interesting photographs
• YouTube- Original videos from the website
• National Geographic Magazine- Images and stories of the world

 

So now you try it!  In the Search panel type in a location you want to fly to like your house or a major city or even the ocean.  Try clicking on different layers such as Street View or 3D buildings.

 

Another cool feature is the Daylight button.  Click on the daylight button   which is located across the top of the 3D viewer.  Use the time slider to watch the sunrise and sunset from anywhere.  Move the time slider to watch dusk, dawn and shadows move across the Earth.

 

Once you've zoomed in on your Fly To place try adding a Placemark, which is located on the top and looks like this  

 

You can use placemarks to mark any location on the planet.  You can then quickly go to the marked location at any time by double clicking the placemark in the Places Panel.

 

Also under Places, if you click the Sightseeing folder and click on the 'play' button it will take you on a tour of popular places around the world.

 

Other cool features include:

• Explore the moon
• Explore mars
• View historical imagery 
• Explore the ocean
• Record your own tour
• View driving directions from point A to point B

 

 

Classroom Applications:

 

Google Earth has infinite possibilities in the classroom!

 

Student Uses:  

• View your school, home and other interesting sites in your area  
• Explore 3D images of multiple terrains and habitats
• Embark on a cyber trip around the world
• Visit the 7 wonders of the world
• Get up close to volcanoes and analyze earthquakes
• Investigate the sky and oceans
• Research current topics of classroom study

Teacher Uses:

• Design a tour for your students to travel
• Use amazing visuals to create further understanding
• Enhance global awareness and going green philosophies
• Show outer space images that engage students in astronomy
• Teachers can teach concepts from distance and math to global warming and history!

 

 

 

Articles About Google Earth:

 

This is the Google Earth Blog.  On this site you can find answers to commonly asked questions and tutorials on how to use Google Earth.  In addition, there is access to ideas about what applications can be used with Google Earth.

http://www.gearthblog.com/basics.html

 

Google Earth has created a webpage especially for educators.  This site gives examples of how to apply Google Earth in almost any subject area!

http://www.google.com/educators/p_earth.html

 

An article from the New York Times delves into the world of engineers working to improve Google Earth through the addition and mapping of two thirds of our planet significantly less known to us, the oceans.  Marine biologists work with Google Earth engineers towards a joint effort to give the public a chance to tour our oceans from inside their own homes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/science/earth/03oceans.html

 

The dangers and controversies that have risen from the unlimited public access Google Earth provides.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070312-google-censor_2.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

 

mkbarth (2007, February 20). Where On Google Earth Is This?. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLtLEXWlueY&feature=related

Doug, Calverly (2008, August 21). Google earth gains live traffic info. Retrieved from http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/08/21/google-earth-gains-live-traffic-info

Google (2009, September 11). Google earth User Guide. Retrieved from http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/