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Google Earth API Examples
By Nick on October 7, 2008
If you thought Google Earth was just a 3D map, you couldn’t possibly be more wrong, with the API (Application Programming Interface), people can write programs that use Google Earth to do almost anything! Not only that, it all runs from your internet browser so you don’t even have to launch Google Earth.
In this article, I’ll highlight some of the examples of the creative uses of Google Earth, but in order to try the examples, you ‘ll need to install the Google Earth Plugin.
When you click the above link, you’ll be presented with a regular map, but notice the “Earth” link the corner? That will switch you from map mode to the very cool 3D Google Earth mode, so your map…
turns into this…
I had to look up the meaning of “China Syndrome”, so if you’re curious like me, here it is:
Theoretical consequence of a core meltdown, when the heavy molten mass of highly radioactive material actually goes straight through the vessel in which it had been contained and down to the earth’s core. In other words, China syndrome occurs when an out-of-control reactor burns its way downwards towards the earth’s core. From the USA, it would appear to be heading for China.
That explains why this program shows two opposite ends of the globe. Here’s New Zealand, which is directly opposite Portugal…
As interesting as you would expect this to be, it seems the opposite to almost everywhere is water!
If you think your general knowledge of geography is good, prove it! This fun game asks you to find locations around the globe as quickly as possible. What you have to do is drag the globe around so that the city being serched for is directly under the red box. It’s not easy without any landmarks!
Take a walk around town with this little demo. I have no idea what city you get put in, but it’s fun nonetheless.
Similar to the First Person Camera, but even more fun, Monster Milktruck puts you at the wheel of a milktruck, and let’s you zip around the city of your choice, in and out of 3D buildings. Here I am getting sour in Tokyo…
Probably the most impressive of these examples is the Driving Simulator. Type in your departure point and destination, and let Google calculate the times, directions, and give you both a 3D map which you can interact with, as well as a standard map with your plotted course. Best of all, when you click “Start”, a little animated car drives along the course and the 3D view follows it along its way. Very cool, indeed.
Conclusion
All these little applications show the potential of the Google Earth platform. Independent developers are sure to expand on these ideas and come up with even bigger and better things, so the 3D web is getting closer and closer all the time. I’ll leave you with this short, promotional video, explaining more about the Google Earth API, and you can see some of what I’ve talked about in action.
Posted in Miscellaneous | 2 Comments
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2 Responses to “Google Earth API Examples”
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Mark Ramsay, globetrotting from an armchair in England.
1:26 pm on October 15th, 2008
Very impressive Nick. I’ll have to try that
11:39 am on October 18th, 2008
[...] Google Earth so you don’t have to open a separate web browser at all. Alternatively, with the available API, Google Earth can be embedded into websites, so you can access the Earth from your browser instead [...]