Google Earth Pro Tips & Tricks: Part 1 - The Basics
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:13 pm
I use Google Earth Pro quite a bit for my fishing. Mostly it's aimlessly scrolling through aerial imagery and updating fishing reports. But there's quite a bit of information you can gather within GE when you import various kml files.
Recently I've been wanting to do a couple write ups walking through everything GE has to offer. I'm not much on videos, so I'm going about this with a lot of words and screen shots. All in I think this will go about 8 or 9 posts in total, hopefully spaced out once a week; except for Christmas. This post will go over the basic features GE offers. Let's start.
In this first pic I'll touch base on these 7 topics; 1-Add Placemark, 2-Historical Imagery, 3-Show Ruler, 4-Save Image, 5-Compass, 6-Coordinates, 7-Places
1 - Add a Placemark
This is a basic way to input data into GE. I'll use this feature for when I walk in to wade fish or I forgot my GPS.
2 - Historical Imagery
Historical Imagery is one of the best features GE offers. I automatically set my imagery to an older one when I start up GE. Imagery from winter offers the best imagery due to the low tides seen on our coast. Depending on where you fish you may have to play around with which date imagery works best. For the Corpus Christi/Rockport/Port O'Conner I found that imagery from 1/2017 and 1/2009 offer the best imagery. The clear water and lack of sunlight reflection let you identify underwater structure. Here's a comparison between the default and 1/2017 imagery.
Default
1/2017
3 - Show Ruler
This tool is useful in planning trips. After clicking on the button and the popup shows up I select the "Path" tab. After my aimless searching for potential new spots I'll check the distance from the nearest launch point to see how far a paddle I may be up against. I also use this for river trips to measure distances between access points.
4 -Save Image
This is how I export my GPS tracks when I post fishing reports. After clicking on the button I drop down the "Map Options" and deselect "Title and Description" and "Legend". From there I double check the screen is centered and then save the image. Sometimes I'll print out an image and laminate it for me to have while out on the water for fishing as well.
5 - Compass
Sometimes when uploading kmls or scrolling around true north may change or the imagery may "tilt". Double clicking the small "N" will rotate the screen to true north again. The arrows pointing up or down either side of the small eye adjust or correct the tilt or Bird's Eye View of the image. Below that, the circle with the small hand, allows you to pan the image. Or, easier yet, you could hold down the left click on your mouse to drag the image around.
6 - Coordinates
At the bottom you'll see coordinates and the date the image was acquired via satellites. I prefer my coordinates system to be in Degrees Decimal Minutes (DD° MM.mmm'). To change to another Lat/Lon go to Tools-Options-3D View. There you'll be able to change to either Decimal Degrees (DD.dddddd°) or Degrees Minutes Seconds (DD° MM' SS.ss").
7 - Places
On the left of the screen are three windows; Search, Places, Layers. Search is fairly straight forward. Layers is a window I rarely use. Places is where all my inputted data is organized. And its these data I'll touch base on upcoming posts.
Recently I've been wanting to do a couple write ups walking through everything GE has to offer. I'm not much on videos, so I'm going about this with a lot of words and screen shots. All in I think this will go about 8 or 9 posts in total, hopefully spaced out once a week; except for Christmas. This post will go over the basic features GE offers. Let's start.
In this first pic I'll touch base on these 7 topics; 1-Add Placemark, 2-Historical Imagery, 3-Show Ruler, 4-Save Image, 5-Compass, 6-Coordinates, 7-Places
1 - Add a Placemark
This is a basic way to input data into GE. I'll use this feature for when I walk in to wade fish or I forgot my GPS.
2 - Historical Imagery
Historical Imagery is one of the best features GE offers. I automatically set my imagery to an older one when I start up GE. Imagery from winter offers the best imagery due to the low tides seen on our coast. Depending on where you fish you may have to play around with which date imagery works best. For the Corpus Christi/Rockport/Port O'Conner I found that imagery from 1/2017 and 1/2009 offer the best imagery. The clear water and lack of sunlight reflection let you identify underwater structure. Here's a comparison between the default and 1/2017 imagery.
Default
1/2017
3 - Show Ruler
This tool is useful in planning trips. After clicking on the button and the popup shows up I select the "Path" tab. After my aimless searching for potential new spots I'll check the distance from the nearest launch point to see how far a paddle I may be up against. I also use this for river trips to measure distances between access points.
4 -Save Image
This is how I export my GPS tracks when I post fishing reports. After clicking on the button I drop down the "Map Options" and deselect "Title and Description" and "Legend". From there I double check the screen is centered and then save the image. Sometimes I'll print out an image and laminate it for me to have while out on the water for fishing as well.
5 - Compass
Sometimes when uploading kmls or scrolling around true north may change or the imagery may "tilt". Double clicking the small "N" will rotate the screen to true north again. The arrows pointing up or down either side of the small eye adjust or correct the tilt or Bird's Eye View of the image. Below that, the circle with the small hand, allows you to pan the image. Or, easier yet, you could hold down the left click on your mouse to drag the image around.
6 - Coordinates
At the bottom you'll see coordinates and the date the image was acquired via satellites. I prefer my coordinates system to be in Degrees Decimal Minutes (DD° MM.mmm'). To change to another Lat/Lon go to Tools-Options-3D View. There you'll be able to change to either Decimal Degrees (DD.dddddd°) or Degrees Minutes Seconds (DD° MM' SS.ss").
7 - Places
On the left of the screen are three windows; Search, Places, Layers. Search is fairly straight forward. Layers is a window I rarely use. Places is where all my inputted data is organized. And its these data I'll touch base on upcoming posts.