Using Google Earth to Manage and Present Site Data - unf.edudwwilson/dw_posterSAA2009.pdfOther...
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Using Google Earth to Manage and Present Site Data David Wilson, University of North Florida Introduction Methods Results Conclusions The location of each site was recorded in the North American Datum 1927 (NAD 27) geodetic reference system using a Garmin Rino 120 Handheld GPS device (Garmin International, Inc., Olathe, KS). A description was recorded and photographs were taken at each site. The geographic location was imported into Microsoft Excel 2003 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) where the geographic coordinates for each site were extracted and saved as a comma separated values (CSV) file. The locations were then converted to Latitude/Longitude World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) using GEOTRANS 2.4.2 Geographic Translator (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, MD). The resulting csv file was imported into Google Earth Pro 4.3.7284.3916 (beta) (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA) where it was converted into the Keyhole Markup Language as placemarks. The descriptions were added to each site in Google Earth Pro. Photographs were uploaded to a webserver before they were added to the site placemarks in Google Earth. The design of the placemark was created in Dreamweaver CS3 (Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA) supporting graphics were created and edited in Photoshop CS3 (Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA). By using Google Earth, the data collected is presented in a geographic context. Google Earth acts as the user interface and database. The user interface allows viewers to interact with the sites. For example, a viewer can use Google Earth’s ruler tool to measure distances between sites. Data from other sources including Google Earth layers can be displayed along with our data making it easy for the viewer to examine the site locations relative to modern geographic, demographic, and political features, including roads, cities, and state boundaries. Other archaeological data in the KML format can be displayed concurrently with the data we collected. The KML format is extremely flexible. It is an Open Geospatial Consortium standard and is compatible with many GIS and mapping tools including: ArcGIS, Yahoo Maps, and Microsoft Live maps. This gives the data a high level of interoperability. Google Earth is an excellent tool for managing and presenting site data. Since this project began in 2006 there have been several enhancements to Google Earth that make it a more versatile presentation tool and make it easier to use. In the version 5 release, the free version of Google Earth can import placemarks directly from several different GPS units eliminating the necessity of Excel and GEOTRANS. Version 5 also includes a narration feature which could be used to add narrative descriptions of sites. There are features of Google Earth not used in this project that could possibly enhance the visual richness of the data. The size of each site icon could be scaled relative to the number of artifacts surveyed, and the sites could be color coded by period or type. With better geographic data, site maps could be placed in situ in Google Earth as an overlaying image. In addition to being versatile and easy to use Google Earth is also an ideal way to share data from National Science Foundation grant projects and fulfill the obligation outlined in Chapter VI section 4 of the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Abstract Google Earth is an interactive globe that uses satellite imagery to display features on the Earth. Google Earth also includes layers which can be displayed on top of the satellite imagery including roads, political boundaries, and three-dimensional buildings. Google Earth is an excellent tool for site surveys and other archaeology projects because it is relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and flexible. This poster will demonstrate the use of Google Earth as a tool for managing and displaying the results of site surveys using data collected in the Casas Grandes region. Introduction The features of Google Earth (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA) make it an exceptional tool for managing and presenting site data. Site locations can be collected using inexpensive hand held GPS units and imported directly into Google Earth as placemarks. Descriptions of the site, tables, and images can then be added to the site placemark. Once in Google Earth the site data is saved in the Keyhole Markup Language (KML) format. The resulting KML file can be easily posted to the web and sent via email. The viewer is able to see the locations of the sites relative to each other as well as any other information contained in Google Earth layers or KML files created by Google Earth authors. The data is presented in an interactive, fully 3D graphical user interface instead of static documents and media. References Powell, E. Digital Archaeology 2.0. Archaeology, 62(1), 27. KML Tutorial - KML - Google Code. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 19, 2009, from http://code.google. com/apis/kml/documentation/kml_tut.html. National Science Foundation. (2009, January 9). Chapter VI - Other Post Award Requirements and Considerations. Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Government. Open Geospatial Consortium. (2009, April 3). KML | OGC®. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/kml.
Transcript of Using Google Earth to Manage and Present Site Data - unf.edudwwilson/dw_posterSAA2009.pdfOther...
Using Google Earth to Manage and Present Site DataDavid Wilson, University of North Florida
Introduction Methods Results Conclusions
The location of each site was recorded in the North American Datum 1927 (NAD 27) geodetic reference system using a Garmin Rino 120 Handheld GPS device (Garmin International, Inc., Olathe, KS). A description was recorded and photographs were taken at each site. The geographic location was imported into Microsoft Excel 2003 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) where the geographic coordinates for each site were extracted and saved as a comma separated values (CSV) file. The locations were then converted to Latitude/Longitude World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) using GEOTRANS 2.4.2 Geographic Translator (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Bethesda, MD). The resulting csv file was imported into Google Earth Pro 4.3.7284.3916 (beta) (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA) where it was converted into the Keyhole Markup Language as placemarks. The descriptions were added to each site in Google Earth Pro. Photographs were uploaded to a webserver before they were added to the site placemarks in Google Earth. The design of the placemark was created in Dreamweaver CS3 (Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA) supporting graphics were created and edited in Photoshop CS3 (Adobe Systems Incorporated, San Jose, CA).
By using Google Earth, the data collected is presented in a geographic context. Google Earth acts as the user interface and database. The user interface allows viewers to interact with the sites. For example, a viewer can use Google Earth’s ruler tool to measure distances between sites. Data from other sources including Google Earth layers can be displayed along with our data making it easy for the viewer to examine the site locations relative to modern geographic, demographic, and political features, including roads, cities, and state boundaries. Other archaeological data in the KML format can be displayed concurrently with the data we collected. The KML format is extremely flexible. It is an Open Geospatial Consortium standard and is compatible with many GIS and mapping tools including: ArcGIS, Yahoo Maps, and Microsoft Live maps. This gives the data a high level of interoperability.
Google Earth is an excellent tool for managing and presenting site data. Since this project began in 2006 there have been several enhancements to Google Earth that make it a more versatile presentation tool and make it easier to use. In the version 5 release, the free version of Google Earth can import placemarks directly from several different GPS units eliminating the necessity of Excel and GEOTRANS. Version 5 also includes a narration feature which could be used to add narrative descriptions of sites. There are features of Google Earth not used in this project that could possibly enhance the visual richness of the data. The size of each site icon could be scaled relative to the number of artifacts surveyed, and the sites could be color coded by period or type. With better geographic data, site maps could be placed in situ in Google Earth as an overlaying image. In addition to being versatile and easy to use Google Earth is also an ideal way to share data from National Science Foundation grant projects and fulfill the obligation outlined in Chapter VI section 4 of the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide.
AbstractGoogle Earth is an interactive globe that uses satellite imagery to display features on the Earth. Google Earth also includes layers which can be displayed on top of the satellite imagery including roads, political boundaries, and three-dimensional buildings. Google Earth is an excellent tool for site surveys and other archaeology projects because it is relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and flexible. This poster will demonstrate the use of Google Earth as a tool for managing and displaying the results of site surveys using data collected in the Casas Grandes region.
IntroductionThe features of Google Earth (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA) make it an exceptional tool for managing and presenting site data. Site locations can be collected using inexpensive hand held GPS units and imported directly into Google Earth as placemarks. Descriptions of the site, tables, and images can then be added to the site placemark. Once in Google Earth the site data is saved in the Keyhole Markup Language (KML) format. The resulting KML file can be easily posted to the web and sent via email. The viewer is able to see the locations of the sites relative to each other as well as any other information contained in Google Earth layers or KML files created by Google Earth authors. The data is presented in an interactive, fully 3D graphical user interface instead of static documents and media.
ReferencesPowell, E. Digital Archaeology 2.0. Archaeology, 62(1), 27. KML Tutorial - KML - Google Code. (n.d.). . Retrieved April 19, 2009, from http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentation/kml_tut.html.National Science Foundation. (2009, January 9). Chapter VI - Other Post Award Requirements and Considerations. Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Government.Open Geospatial Consortium. (2009, April 3). KML | OGC®. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www.opengeospatial.org/standards/kml.
