This document provides an overview of mapping tools and techniques for sustainability projects. It discusses using Google Maps, Google Earth, and KML to map points, lines, polygons, images and other data types. It also covers embedding maps, working with large datasets, and examples of sustainability mapping projects.

1. Mapping for Sustainability
Google Mapping Workshop
http://tr.im/sustain_workshop
Sean Askay

2. Geometries
Points, Lines, Polygons:
• Clickable
• Altitude Modes (clamped, relative, absolute)
• Extruded / Tessellated / Styling
• Multi-Geometries
3D Models:
• Sketchup / Collada
• Not clickable (but can combined w/ multigeometry)
Ground Overlays:
• Latlong box or quad-point tie-down
• Altitude modes
• Super Overlays
Photo Overlays & Screen Overlays:
• Immersive Panoramas
• On-Screen Legends
Interactive KML Sampler

3. Working with large datasets
Tiling Raster Data

4. Working with large datasets
Regionating Vector Data

5. Working with GIS Data
Free, cheap and easy tools:
• shp2kml (vector)
• kml2shp online (vector)
Free but complex tools:
• gdal & ogr (raster / vector: prog. libraries & binary tools) *
• ogr2gui (vector: standalone win/os X)
• MapTiler (raster: standalone OS X) *
• Regionator (raster / vector: python library)
Commercial tools:
• Arc2Earth (ArcGIS plugin) - $300 *
• SuperOverlay (raster) - $20/35/90 *
• KMLer - (ArcGIS plugin) $20/35/50
• kml2kml - (standalone) $50/95/195 *
• shape2earth - (standalone) $30
Reviews & info at: freegeographytools.com
* - performs tiling / regionation
Don't use Google Earth Pro to
import vector data!

6. Google Charts API
code.google.com/apis/chart

7. Charts API: bar chart
http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?
cht=bhs (bar chart)
&chs=400x225 (dimensions)
&chd=t:10,50,60,80,40|50,60,100,40,20 (data)
&chco=4d89f9,c6d9fd (colors)
&chbh=20 (bar width)
test link
code.google.com/p/google-chartwrapper/

8. Create maps without coding
Create in Google Earth:
• Easy, but not scalable
• Earth User's Guide
Google My Maps:
• Easy to use / Collaborative
• Public vs. Unlisted
• Embedding /
• KML & view in Earth
• User's Guide
• YouTube video
Spreadsheet Mapper:
• 400 point placemarks
• 6 HTML templates
• Collaborative
• Read Tutorial
Google Earth Outreach Tutorials: earth.google.com/outreach

9. f_in = open('data.csv', 'r')
f_out = open('data.kml', 'w')
f_out.write('<Document>')
for row in f_in:
name, lat, lng = row.strip().split(',')
kml = '''
<Placemark>
<name>%s</name>
<Point>
<coordinates>%s,%s</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>''' % (name, lng, lat)
f_out.write(kml)
f_out.write('</Document>')
Google Confidential and Proprietary
User's Guide,36.2,-84.4
Coal River Mountain,37.9,-81.4
Gauley Mountain,38.1,-81.1
Blair Mountain,37.8,-81.8
Huckleberry Ridge,37.0,-83.3
Creating KML with python

10. KML for programmers
code.google.com/apis/kml
• KML Reference
• Developers's Guide: Touring, time animation, extendedData, etc.
• Articles:
o CSV -> KML with python - link
o PHP & MySQL -> KML - link
• Geo Developers Blog
• KML Developer Support Group
• KML supported by Google Maps

11. ExtendedData
<Placemark>
<name>Club house</name>
<ExtendedData>
<Data name="holeNumber">
<value>1</value>
</Data>
<Data name="holeYardage">
<value>234</value>
</Data>
<Data name="holePar">
<value>4</value>
</Data>
</ExtendedData>
<Point>
<coordinates>-111.956,33.5043</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>

12. ExtendedData +
BalloonStyle
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/kml/2.2">
<Document>
<name>Data+BalloonStyle</name>
<Style id="golf-balloon-style">
<BalloonStyle>
<text>
<![CDATA[
This is $[name]
This is hole $[holeNumber]
The par for this hole is $[holePar]
The yardage is $[holeYardage]
]]>
</text>
</BalloonStyle>
</Style>
<Placemark>
<name>Club house</name>
<styleUrl>#golf-balloon-style</styleUrl>
<ExtendedData>
<Data name="holeNumber">
<value>1</value>
</Data>
<Data name="holeYardage">
<value>234</value>
</Data>
<Data name="holePar">
<value>4</value>
</Data>
</ExtendedData>
<Point>
<coordinates>-111.956,33.5043</coordinates>
</Point>
</Placemark>
</Document>
</kml>

13. Easy Map Embedding
Embed Google My Maps:
• Create your map, click "Link" at upper right
• Choose URL or HTML embed code
• Tutorial
Import your KML into My Maps:
• Create new map, click on "Import"
• Choose your GeoRSS or KML file
Embed Google Earth & KML file:
• Embedded KML Gadget: tr.im/embedkml
Embed Google Earth & Tour file:
• Embedded Tour Gadget: tr.im/embedtour

14. Embedding Google Maps API
<script src="http://maps.google.com/maps?file=api&amp;v=2&amp;
key= YOURAPIKEY" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var map;
var geoXml;
function init() {
if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
geoXml = new GGeoXml("http://path/to/your.kml");
map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map_canvas"));
map.addOverlay(geoXml);
}
}
</script> ...
<body onload="init()">
<div id="map_canvas"></div>
...
code.google.com/apis/maps

15. <script src="http://www.google.com/jsapi?key=YOURAPIKEY"></script>
<script>
google.load('earth', '1');
var ge = null;
function init() {
google.earth.createInstance('map3d', initCallback, failureCallback);
}
function initCallback(pluginInstance) {
pluginInstance.getWindow().setVisibility(true);
addKmlFromUrl('http://path/to/your.kml');
}
function addKmlFromUrl(kmlUrl) {
var link = ge.createLink('');
link.setHref(kmlUrl);
var networkLink = ge.createNetworkLink('');
networkLink.setLink(link);
ge.getFeatures().appendChild(networkLink);
}
</script>
....
<body onload="init()">
<div id="map3d"></div>
3...
Embedding Google Earth Plugin/API
code.google.com/apis/earth

16. Google Confidential and Proprietary
Resources:
• NPO Intro to GMapping
• Google My Maps
• Google Earth
• Google Maps API
• Google Earth API
• KML Reference
More Examples:
• Google Earth Gallery
• Outreach Showcase
tr.im/map4npo (TechSoup)
maps.google.com > "My Maps"
earth.google.com
code.google.com/apis/maps
code.google.com/apis/earth
code.google.com/apis/kml
earth.google.com > "Gallery"
earth.google.com/outreach > "Showcase"

17. Links to examples:
• ilovemountains.org & "Global Awareness" in Google Earth
• NAIL: mountainresource.org/nail
• Conservation Solutions for Renewable Energy
• Crisis in Darfur: at ushmm.org & "Global Awareness" Layer
• Geo-Thermal Energy Potential: google.org/egs
• Oil Imports Map: move.rmi.org
More Mapping examples:
• Google Earth Outreach Showcase
• Google Earth Gallery
• Google LatLong blog
• Google Earth blog
• OgleEarth blog