Google Earth Library

Download the Google Earth KML File:

Google Earth Library Browser

The Google Earth Library Browser is a single network link that contains all of the files available here at the Google Earth Library.  In other words you can browse all of the files directly from within Google Earth, instead of having to download each KML file individually.  Once you install the Google Earth Library Browser, you’ll see a new entry under your Places folder on the left side of Google Earth.

The files in Google Earth are sorted into Category folders, which match the Categories assigned to each post on the blog.  Whenever you start Google Earth or refresh the network link, you will automatically have access to any new maps or data that I’ve added so there is no need to download the main network link again.

Some of the data sets are quite large and may take a minute or two to load, depending on the speed of your computer and internet connection.

Detailed Instructions (if needed)

1. Download the KML file above, then look in your Places folder in Google Earth for an entry called "GE Library Browser". 
2. Open the Category folder you are interested in, and click the circle next to the map/data you would like to view. 
3. Click on the "About" link next to each item in Google Earth will open up a browser window to the applicable Google Earth Library Blog Entry, or the source of the original data.
4. If you are browsing the blog and find a post you would like to view in Google Earth, simply determine which category the post is in (shown right beneath the post title), then go to that Category folder in Google Earth to find the corresponding map/data.
5. Click on the border between the Places folder and the main Google Earth view, and drag it to the right if you can’t see the entire line.

Under Historic Maps Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

Historical T-Sheets

T-Sheets are historic shoreline maps that were created in the early 1900s for many major waterways of the United States. The T-Sheets contain a lot of historical information such as locations of buildings, detailed descriptions of shorelines, etc. I have found them for several Hawaiian Islands, Puget Sound, and the Everglades. This first installment covers the Hawaiian Islands of Maui and Oahu and includes about 140 maps. I will try to add other areas as I have time.

Special Instructions

Select the radio button next to the year you wish to view. Zoom in to see the maps in more detail.

Original Data From:

University of Hawaii (Oahu)

University of Hawaii (Maui)

KML Content Created By:

Matt Fox

Screenshots:

Under Weather Category in the GE Library Browser:

Weather Bonk

Great collection of weather data including current observations, wind barbs, severe weather alerts, webcams, and radar overlays. There is a version for Fahrenheit and Celcius.

Original Data and KML Content By:

Weather Bonk

Screenshots:

Under Environment Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

USGS Streamflow Gages

Real time stream monitoring gauge data throughout the United States with data provided by the USGS. Simply click on a placemark to bring up data for that location.

Original KML Content By:

Aquaman713

Original Data From:

USGS

Screenshots:

Under Placemark Collections Category in the GE Library Browser:

Flickr Photos

A couple of different methods of viewing nearby georeferenced Flickr photographs in Google Earth.

• The first one was created by Metal Toad Media and will show small red dots at each photo location. Click on the red dot to see the photograph.
• The second one was created by Frank and shows a small thumbnail of each photograph.

Screenshots:

Under Environment Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

Global Population Density

Population density map of the world. I think the original data is from the European Space Agency.

Original KML Content By:

James Macgill

Original Data From:

European Space Agency

Screenshots:

Under Other Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

Demis World Map

The Demis Wold Map will overlay a map on to Google Earth that increases in detail as you zoom in. The map appear to have highway-level detail for much of the world. I believe Demis offers other versions of this map with more detail at their website.

Original Data From:

Demis

KML Content Created By:

James Macgill

Screenshots:

Under News and World Events Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

Greensburg Kansas Imagery

Before and after imagery showing the destruction in Greensburg, Kansas from an F5 tornado that struck the town on May 4, 2007.

Original Data and KML Content By:

Google

Screenshots:

Under Placemark Collections Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

Geoname.org Network Links

The GeoNames geographical database contains over eight million geographical names located throughout the world. The database includes the locations of such things as Populated Places, Parks, Churches, Shopping Center, Beaches, etc.

Special Instructions

This is a network link that updates when you stop moving the view around. It make take a few seconds to refresh the data when you stop.

Original Data and KML Content By:

EriKNson

http://www.geonames.org/

Screenshots:

Under Placemark Collections Category in the GE Library Browser:

Google Earth BBS Discussion:

Vietnam Bombing Data

Bomb data showing the locations and other specific information such as aircraft type and target type for 1,000s of bombs dropped by the US Air Force in Indochina during the Vietnam War 1965-1975.

Special Instructions

These are very large datasets so only load one at a time, and be patient while they load.

Original Data and KML Content By:

Landmine_Mapper

Screenshots: