Google Earth and Topos

Here's something for all of you map-freaks out there! Ya, you know who you are - I'm one, too!

I ran across this blog today with a link for adding topo data to Google Earth. I've been having fun with it today. It seems to work best if you complete the navigation to your location and zoom in as desired, then turn on the topo layer. Turn it off when moving large distances (flying) and zooming a lot. Then it works like a charm! Enjoy!

Now that is cool! Thanks for the link! I think I'll be spenmding a lot of time on that blog.

Sweet Scott, thanks! I love Google Earth, spend WAY too much time on it! I'll give it a shot tonight at home!

Can't believe it took this long for GE to have this option. NASA Worldwind (similar to GE), included topo maps a long time ago. Works quite a bit better, too.

Does anyone have Google Earth Plus? If so, have you used it to create paths and waypoints for a Garmin GPS system? Does this work well?

EDIT: I found the answer to my own question: It does read and map waypoints, but not the other way around (does not export paths and waypoints). If it did, it just might destroy some of the GPS companies. The profit margins on GPS units are minimal. The profit margins on the software are huge.

Has anyone used Google Earth Plus with a GPS??

Tried the topo thing last night. Kinda cool, especially the fact you can turn it on and off at will.

Scott, I have the GE Plus. I actually bought into this when it was still the Keyhole program, and when Google purchased them, they automatically started me in the Plus category since I had already paid for the similar set up in Keyhole. The best part is they extended my subscription by a year!

I've used GE with my Garmin Venture GPS. Works great, just like the topo programs I use. Waypoints, markers, etc. I'll attach a screen shot from the Kebler Pass area. Any other questions, let me know.

Thanks Brent. I do have a few more questions: I currently use National Geographic's Colorado TOPO + 3D expansion pack with my Garmin Vista. It works pretty well, but doesn't do nearly as good of a job at showing the realistic landscape as Google. What's up with not being able to input routes and waypoints via Google Earth? Think this will change? I'm working on converting an ATV into a photo adventure vehicle of sorts and I would like to be able to auto-track my routes for future reference. I need to be able to store these waypoints without having to do it manually. Some of our trips last up to 70miles, so you can imagine how many waypoints I use up. I would also like to keep all routes on the same program, so I'm facing an eventual choice. Right now it looks like Google is just going to blow by everyone else, but there not quite there yet as far as full GPS integration. Your thoughts?

FWIW, I tried out the GE Path freeware program. And while it's free and the end results are good, it is not very convenient for drawing trail paths on topos. You create a placemark for each point along the path. I put all placemarks for one trail in a separate folder. Then you export the folder as a .kml file, import it into GE Path and create your path. The path opens in Google Earth Temporary Places where you can save it into My Places and delete your original trail placemarks folder. Definitely not as simple as pointing and clicking out a path...

This program definitely has it's uses (for example, you can create polygons and calculate the area), but I don't think it's the best tool for plotting trails.

Brent, have you found the Google Earth Plus version worth the money? I'm not sure plotting and saving trails is worth $20/year... What other Plus features do you use? (Edit: I don't have a GPS unit, so I won't use those features...)

Thanks Scott. That information was very helpful. My NG Colorado Topo is much better than that for creating routes. In fact, it was designed for that purpose. However, I will still be using the free Google Earth for reference as it is far superior at showing that actual landscape in 3D.