Importing Google Importing Google Earth Data into a GISEarth Data into a GIS

Jason ParentJason Parent

jason.parent@uconn.edujason.parent@uconn.edu

Center for Land use Education and Research

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Google EarthGoogle Earth

►Provides free access to a rich resource Provides free access to a rich resource of satellite imagery and geographic of satellite imagery and geographic datadata

►Excellent for visualizationExcellent for visualization►On-screen digitizing capabilities allow On-screen digitizing capabilities allow

mapping of featuresmapping of features Features can be saved as kml filesFeatures can be saved as kml files kml files cannot be directly loaded into a kml files cannot be directly loaded into a

GISGIS

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The “Convert KML to SHP” The “Convert KML to SHP” tooltool

►Converts kml features to shapefile Converts kml features to shapefile featuresfeatures Names and descriptions of kml features are Names and descriptions of kml features are

retained in the shapefileretained in the shapefile

►Easy to use - run as a tool in ArcToolboxEasy to use - run as a tool in ArcToolbox►Runs on ArcView 9.2 – no extensions Runs on ArcView 9.2 – no extensions

required.required.►Works with kml files created by Google 4.2Works with kml files created by Google 4.2

May not work with older versionsMay not work with older versions

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Creating features in Google Creating features in Google EarthEarth

►Create a folder to contain the featuresCreate a folder to contain the features

Right-click

Enter single line description

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Creating features in Google Creating features in Google EarthEarth

►Create feature in the appropriate folderCreate feature in the appropriate folder

Select folderpoint

polygon

line

name

description

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Saving features to a KML fileSaving features to a KML file

► Save the entire folder as a Save the entire folder as a kml filekml file (do not (do not save as a kmz file)save as a kmz file)

► Folder can contain more than one feature Folder can contain more than one feature type.type.

Right-click

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Running the “Convert KML to SHP” Running the “Convert KML to SHP” tooltool

►Add toolbox to ArcToolboxAdd toolbox to ArcToolbox

Input kml file

Feature type

Output shapefile

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Google Polygons to ShapefileGoogle Polygons to Shapefile

Shapefile is not projected

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Feature AttributesFeature Attributes

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Using Google Earth Imagery in a Using Google Earth Imagery in a GISGIS

►Google Earth imagery cannot be Google Earth imagery cannot be downloaded.downloaded.

►Screen captures can be georeferenced Screen captures can be georeferenced and used in a GIS.and used in a GIS.

►Reference points are needed to geo-Reference points are needed to geo-reference a screen capture.reference a screen capture.

►Features digitized in Google Earth can Features digitized in Google Earth can be used as references.be used as references.

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Georeferencing SnapshotsGeoreferencing Snapshots

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Saving the Georeferenced Saving the Georeferenced ImageImage

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DownloadsDownloads

►The “Convert KML to SHP” tool, as well The “Convert KML to SHP” tool, as well as other geospatial tools, can be as other geospatial tools, can be downloaded through the Center for downloaded through the Center for Land use Education and Research Land use Education and Research (CLEAR) website: (CLEAR) website:

► http://www.clear.uconn.edu/tools/geospatial/http://www.clear.uconn.edu/tools/geospatial/KML_to_SHP_ArcGIS.zipKML_to_SHP_ArcGIS.zip

Importing Google Importing Google Earth Data into a GISEarth Data into a GIS

Jason ParentJason Parent

jason.parent@uconn.edujason.parent@uconn.edu

Center for Land use Education and Research

Questions?