Research Report: Google Earth

By Eric Moylan, Mapping Velocity Team

1. Abstract.  

   Google Earth Version 5 is the latest update of the mapping tool that is operated by Google. Version 5 was released to the general public, for free, on the 2^nd of February 2009. It can be downloaded from the google website. The tool operates on a system of Windows 2000 or higher. Versions are also available for the Mac. Viewers can search the globe, examining satellite imagery detailing cities, countryside and oceans, among other areas. Version 5 has introduced many new tools and offers the user a more multi dimensional experience.

    
2. Description. 

    

   Google Earth is a mapping tool that allows the user to enter in a location and view that location on their screen. There are two variations of the program available for download. Google Earth, which is free, and Google Earth Advanced, which is priced at $400. A place name can be entered into a search bar, or searched for by entering longitude and latitude. This virtual model of the earth is obtained by using satellite imagery and aerial photographs. The original version of Google Earth was launched in 2001 as Keyhole Earthviewer. Subsequent updates and new versions were released, but it was not until 2004, when version 3 was released, that the tool became known as ‘Google Earth’ and began to be operated by Google.

   Once a person has entered a destination, they can zoom in and examine the area much more closely. Version 5 also allows users to alter their viewing angle so that they can view buildings, houses, mountains etc, from an oblique angle. Following on from this, the screen shot can be rotated so the object can be viewed from 360 degrees. Located on the bottom bar of the area being view at any time are various pieces of information. The longitude, latitude, the elevation of the land and the eye elevation (i.e. the height the viewer is observing the area from) are all given. The date of the satellite image is also given.

   There are many other features that are included in the program. They are grouped under the term ‘layers’. These layers can be turned on and off at the users’ discretion. The layers feature contains many different options and components. Some of the most commonly used layers include panoramio, wikipedia and google maps. The panoramio feature allows users to view photos of the area they are viewing. All they need to do is to click on a blue box at any particular location, and the box expands with a picture inside. The wikipedia function offers information to users on the area they are viewing. By clicking on a box containing a ‘W’, the entry is given . The google maps component operates the same way as the google maps website, allowing motorists or pedestrians plot their journey.

   There are many more layers available also. Included amongst them is a street view option, which allows users to view streets from the ground level. They can then navigate from that point, altering their viewing angle and position. Points of interest, temperature, a gallery (which enables many features, including youtube videos that are related to the location or were filmed in the area) and 3D buildings are all other possibilities available through the layers section. Google Sky, which can be found by clicking on an icon in the upper browser, offers a view of the solar system.

   There are many useful additional features that are contained in the new version of the software. Chief among them is the possibility to explore certain areas of the seven oceans of the earth. It is now possible to view underwater and to take tours of ocean floors. The historical imagery option allows users to view satellite images from decades ago and compare them to today. This means it is now possible to examine cliff erosion and urban sprawl. Google have teamed up with NASA to offer viewers the opportunity to explore the terrain of Mars through the new version. Another large addition to the program is the tour detail. It is now possible for any person to create a tour and save it so that they can show it to others. It is possible for people to create trans-national tours that incorporate water, as well as land, and they can zoom in, change angles and linger in a place as long as they please.

    

    

    
3. Commentary. 

   Google Earth is a tool which is extremely valuable to our group "Mapping Velocity". Our chosen piece of literature, You Shall Know Our Velocity! written by Dave Eggers, is a globetrotting tale that takes in many different countries and locations. Our primary focus in the group is to map the journey the two protagonists, Will and Hand, make. Following on from this, we will analyse various passages in the text from the different countries the travellers visited to offer a greater insight into some of the underlying workings of this novel.

   Google Earth is a mapping tool. For this reason alone, it is highly useful. However, there are features contained in the program that offer greater detail and options to this project, and it is for these that these piece of software was chosen.

   One of the largest advantages that Google Earth offers is that it allows our team to create and save a custom map. This map will allow those who view in to understand the sheer magnitude of Will and Hand’s journey. The distance travelled will be much more evident and so, a greater understanding of the character’s fatigue will be available. The map, or custom tour as it is known, allows us the opportunity to zoom in on a particular landscape, building or area. This will enable us to highlight and show things that were detailed in the book and deemed important by the characters. The map feature also allows us the opportunity to linger in a particular destination for as long as we please. This is an extremely useful feature in relation to our analysis. There are certain areas where Will and Hand spent very little time, never even venturing outside the airport. There are others, however, where they spend over a day. These areas of longer stay will need greater examination and more detailed explanations will be required. When we give our group presentation of the project, our pre-formed map can examine certain areas for a given period of time that will allow us adequate time to divulge our text analysis interpretation to the class. The Google maps feature also allows the actual distance travelled between points to be known. This allows a quantitative measurement of distance to be ascertained.

   Another appealing aspect to this program is the fact that pinpoints can be placed on the map. These are markers that are laid by the user. Through these pinpoints, it is possible to enter in text under the title ‘description’ This feature offers us the chance to place results and interpretation of our text analysis for each location in the box and present it in a way that is interactive with the map.

   There is a feature available online, called Google Lit Trips, which offers people the chance to follow a story’s journey on Google Earth in a way somewhat similar to what we are trying to do. However, those maps operate by pinpoints and lines showing the journey travelled and do not actually show the chronological order of travel. There is no tour or movement. For this reason, I believe a custom tour, using different feature available, created on version 5 of Google Earth is the best way to map velocity.

    

    
4. Resources for Further Study. 

   "Google Earth Version 5" Google. 2^nd February 2009. <http.www.earth.google.com> 16^th February 2009.

    

   "Google Earth dives under the Sea" BBC News. 2^nd February 2009. BBC News<

    

   "Google Lit Trips" Google. 14^th February 2009. <http://www.googlelittrips.org/ >17^th February 2009

   "Google Earth" Wikipedia. 14^th February 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Earth> 17^th February 2009.

   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7865407.stm>. 10^th February 2009.http://www.googlelittrips.org/ >17^th February 2009