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Google Earth/Map Exercise:

Integrating GPS and other Data Lisa Wedding and Anuschka Faucci

University of Hawaii Manoa

OBJECTIVE:

• Learning a geospatial approach to field surveys by creating a spatial reference from a field trip using GPS data.

Assignment Set up: If you would like to use Google Earth, you need first to download it or run it on Google Chrome, both are free:

Download Google Earth: http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/ Download Google Chrome: https://www.google.com/chrome/ Access Google Earth on Chrome: https://earth.google.com/web/

Importing GPS points into Google Earth: There are several ways to import GPS points and tracks into

Google Earth. A) Enter coordinates manually click on the pin above the

Google Map image window and type in coordinates. Then label them (e.g. Plot 1, iButton, etc.) and chose the color of the pin. You can also attach an image or link at this point and give more information about that location in the description box. However this info needs to be in HTML Code.

B) To import data directly from your GPS select ‘Tools’ from the drop down menu and select ‘GPS’. Select the type of GPS device (e.g. ‘Garmin’ after a device is connected)

C) In the same Menu as in Bt ‘Import from file’ if GPS data is already downloaded) and the type of data you want to import (e.g. waypoints, tracks).

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Find more ways how to add information to Google Earth on this tutorial website: http://www.google.com/earth/outreach/tutorials/

• Here is an example of GPS tracks of plots along Waʻahila Ridge from a former year:

• Make your own version of Waʻahila Ridge by adding at least 1 pin for each plot, as well as a few pins for your sectionʻs plot (e.g. rain gauge, 4 corners). Enter Lat/Long from the in-class compiled datasheet using GPS points taken during last weekʻs hike on the “Abiotic Datasheet”.

• Once you are done, use the ‘print screen’ function, paste it into a Word document and include it in your homework for Lab 9. Save several versions of your screenshots to include in your final presentation during Lab 14.

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Using Google Maps instead: Step 1: Log into your gmail account and go to Google Maps, and open the menu (circled in red below). Then click on the “Your Places”.

Step 2: From “Your places”, click on maps, circled in red below Create a “new map”

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Step 3: You can add the coordinates 1 by 1 (lat [space] long) in the dialogue bar (circled in red), or you can import the Excel sheet from Lauilima. You’ll have to make some adjustments per their specifications (I’ll let you guys figure that one out). Note that you’ll have to select which colums are lat, long, or titles.

Other details: you can change the base layer to satelitte so that you can see the vegetation using the “BaseLayer” tab.