Google Earth: The Power Of Virtual Mapping

Google Earth is application software with integrated functions that give geographical information based on user specification. It is a computer-based map of the earth which displays images of a certain location by using image overlays from satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe.

Also known as EarthViewer 3D, Google Earth includes a free but limited version available to everyone. The more advanced versions of Google Earth: Google Earth Plus an Google Earth Pro have much nearer shots which are great for commercialization. These advanced versions can be supported by different operating systems like Mac OS X, Windows 2000, Linux Kernel and even the Iphone.

Google Earth works by allowing users to view places, cities, regions and countries through various perspectives with an allowable degree of resolution. Users can also explore using the search option or just by simply using the mouse to navigate through the map.

Image presentation depends on the geographical structure, popularity of the place, size of area and Google Earth Version. The images can be viewed in either 2D or 3D manner. Melbourne and Victoria, (Australia) and Las Vegas Nevada are few of the places which have high degree of resolution. Large portions of the earth are best viewed in 2D perspective. Changing 2D images to 3D can make images appear smaller just like a photographic view.

Google Earth has also undergone several changes to improve its features. Version 4.2 Google Sky – allows users to look at the stars and other space entities. Version 4.3 Google Street View – allows the user to see places at street level; designed to track traffic movement. Version 5.0 Google Ocean – allows users to see images of underwater terrains approved by scientists and oceanographers.Despite numerous benefits, Google Earth also has a share of controversial issues like invasion of privacy and security threat. As an example, South Korea appealed to secure some important landmarks to protect the country from neighboring opponent, North Korea.

Google Earth as a powerful tool can benefit the whole society if used responsibly. It can be used to aid studies and researches, monitor disasters such as the Haiti earthquake, provide additional information in classrooms, forecast business possibilities and so much more. The system also has a share of controversial issues based from concerns over invasion of privacy and threats to security. One example is when South Korea appealed to block images of the country’s presidential palace and military bases to protect the nation from its rival and neighboring country: South Korea. In the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the gunman confessed that he used Google Earth while he formulated his terrorism tactics.

In general, Google Earth can provide more good than harm as long as preventive measures are carried out successfully. All users are called to be responsible enough to use the system wisely for the greater good of people all over the world.

Check Totally Awesome Mapping if you want to make a map without paying thousands of dollar a year. Totally Awesome Mapping can help you easily build maps in Google Earth to completely change how you analyze and visualize data.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 at 6:19 pm and is filed under GPS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.