Google Earth (beta): a first look

12 Jul 2005 08:02

Google Earth is a mapping and research tool that's both useful and highly addictive.

Google has recently released a beta version of its 3D mapping application that builds upon the Keyhole 2 LT application it acquired in 2004. Google Earth features satellite imagery of the entire planet, and like Google Maps, it integrates Google search results right onto the globe. It allows you to zoom from space right down to your city, take a virtual tour of the globe, or share what you've found by utilising the XML data exchange system, KML.

Google Earth's 3D terrain-mapped view of London, with the Tower of London and St Katharine's Dock (site of the ZDNet UK office) visible in the middle of the picture.

One of the most useful features is layers, which show you restaurants, banks, bars, petrol stations, hospitals and more in the area, all with a single click. You can add or remove layers to suit your search. Google Earth will even display crime statistics, US congressional districts or postal code boundaries for a given zone. The tour feature allows you to bookmark and append your own descriptions to numerous places all over the globe, then fly between them with the earth spinning below -- a very cool and quite addictive effect. Google Earth also features 3D terrain mapping, which is stunning at places such as the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon, allowing you to see the contours of the land (you'll have to install Google Earth in order to follow these destination links). Google has added 3D buildings in major US cities, which offers a far richer 3D experience than the terrain alone. And unlike Keyhole 2 LT, Google Earth is free.

Unfortunately, Google Earth's high detail seems to be mainly centred on the United States; satellite imagery elsewhere is irregular. One example is in Melbourne, Australia, where half of downtown is crisp, and the other half is a blur. The free version lacks drawing tools and GPS data import; the Plus version adds these for $20 (~£11); there's also a $400 (~£229) Pro version that offers high-resolution printing and emailing of images, up to 2,500 spreadsheet data import points, better support, area measurement and optional add-ons. Also, Google Earth is only for Windows 2000 and XP.

Google Earth is extremely flexible, even allowing you to create your own layers. As we saw with Google Maps, users were able to hack in features such as crime statistics and housing prices, and with Google Earth's more powerful engine, it's expected that additional creative features will be unleashed. Already, people have figured out how to create their own buildings, show real-time bus tracking, or even display the closest Flickr photos to their location.

Story URL: http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/software/productivity/0,1000001108,39208513,00.htm