Google Earth

Module 12 – Google Earth

For this week’s assignment, we were asked to convert a Dot Density Map of Southern Florida population that was done for module 10 in ArcMap10.3 into a KMZ / KML file format using ArcMap10.3 conversion tool kit. We also needed to make a simpler version of the legend to convert to a KML file because the conversion would ignore most of the symbology setting applied to the layer from ArcMap. We also used placemarkers and recorded a tour using Google Earth.

We first converted the dot density map to Raster KMZ file and then converted the dot density layer to a KML file format.  We then opened the converted file in Google Earth and we had to make some adjustments. One of the adjustments was to the dot density map to Raster from solid fill to outline. We then added the dot density layer. This layer gives you the legend. Google Earth only allows to chose from a list of locations as to where the list of the legend will be placed on the screen.

We then had to create some placemarkers in Google Earth. They look like push pins and you can move them to any location on you map and give them a title and color or shape from a list. We created eight of them from the Miami metropolitan area to St. Petersburg and locations in between.

We recorded a tour using Google Earth. A record tour lets you use the placemarkers as at points for the movie. Once you started recording you would click on a placemarker and you would start zooming in to that location. You are able to slow down the zoom if you wanted to and you could also turn around on any direction you wanted and turn on or off the 3D building in the area. Then click your next placemarker. At the end you were asked to save the move to a KMZ file.