Activity 1.1.

1: Using Google Earth to View the World (Instructor

Version)
earning !"#ectives
Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
Explain the purpose of Google Earth.
Explain the different versions of Google Earth.
Explain the hardware and software requirements needed to use Google Earth (free edition.
Experiment with Google Earth features such as !elp " #utorial.
Experiment with Google Earth to explore continents, countries, and places of interest.
$ac%ground
Google Earth is a popular application that executes on the des$top of most operating systems. %t requires
a broadband connection to the %nternet and displays Earth as a manipulated &', or (' image. #he
popular world news channel, )**, regularly uses Google Earth to emphasi+e where a news story has
occurred.
,t the time of writing this activity, there are three versions of Google Earth. #he version that fits most
needs is Google-s free version, Google Earth. , Google Earth .lus version includes G./ support, a
spreadsheet importer, and other support features. #he Google Earth .ro version is for professional and
commercial use. #he U01 http:22earth.google.com2product3comparison.html contains a description of the
versions. Use this lin$ to answer the following questions:
4hich versions support #ilt and (' rotation5 33333333333333333333333333
,nswer: ,ll versions
4hich Google Earth version supports the highest resolution5 33333333333333333333333333
,nswer: Google Earth .ro, 6788 pixels
#o use Google Earth, version 6, minimum computer hardware requirements must be met:
9perating /ystem :icrosoft 4indows &888 or 4indows ;.
).U .entium ( with <88 :!+
/ystem :emory (0,: =&7 :>
!ard 'is$ 688 :> of free space
*etwor$ /peed =&7 $bps
Graphics )ard ('?capable with =@ :> of A0,:
/creen =8&6xB@7 pixels, =@?bit !igh )olor screen
&cenario
#his activity is to be performed on a computer that has %nternet access and on which you can install
software.
Estimated completion time, depending on networ$ speed, is (8 minutes.
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))*, Exploration
*etwor$ Fundamentals:
1iving in a *etwor$?)entric 4orld ,ctivity =.=.=: Using Google EarthG to Aiew the 4orld
'as% 1: Install Google Earth.
%f Google Earth is not installed on the computer, the free application can be downloaded directly from
http:22earth.google.com2download?earth.html. Follow the installation instructions, and the Google Earth
download should start automatically. 0emember, you may have to disable any popup bloc$ers on your
browser.
(igure 1. Google Earth !)ening &creen
'as% *: +un Google Earth.
&te) 1: 0efer to Figure =, the opening screen. #he :enu bar is located in the upper left corner of the
screen. 9n the ,el) menu, choose User Guide to launch a default web browser and bring up the Google
Earth UserHs Guide. http:22earth.google.com2userguide2v62. #a$e a few minutes to browse the UserHs
Guide. >efore leaving the UserHs Guide web site, answer the following questions:
1ist the three ways to move the image.
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,nswer: .lacemar$, mouse, navigation controls.
4hich mouse control will +oom in or +oom out5
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,nswer: 0ight mouse button or scroll wheel.
4hat is the purpose of the left mouse button5
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,nswer: #he left mouse button rotates the image.
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))*, Exploration
*etwor$ Fundamentals:
1iving in a *etwor$?)entric 4orld ,ctivity =.=.=: Using Google EarthG to Aiew the 4orld
'as% -: .avigatie the Google Earth Inter/ace.
&te) 1: Use the !verview 0a) /eature.
9n the View menu, choose !verview 0a). #his handy feature provides a relative global position of the
magnified image.
&te) *: +eview the navigation controls.
*avigation controls are located in the upper right quadrant and control the image magnification and
position. #he mouse pointer must be moved close to the controls, otherwise only a compass is displayed.
0efer to Figure & for a description of the navigation controls.
(igure *. Google Earth &creen .avigation 'ools
&te) -: Use the &ightseeing /eature.
9n the left navigation bar, experiment with the 1laces 2 &ightseeing folder. Expand /ightseeing, choose
a location that you would li$e to see, and double?clic$ that location. #he image will ta$e you to that site.
4hen the location has been reached, an image streaming indicator reports when the image resolution is
complete.
&te) 3: E4)eri5ent with the &earch 2 (ly 'o /older.
Enter D<=(6, a U./. Iip )ode.
4hat U./. /tate and )ity are displayed5 3333333333333333
,nswer: /an Jose, )alifornia ()isco /ystems.
4hat if you would li$e to KFly #oK 1ondon, UL5 4hat data would you need to enter5
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&te) 6: Use the (ly 'o /eature.
/ome locations have better resolution than others, and some location images are older than others. For
example, one user commented that he found his home, but the new home next door had not yet been
built. #ry to find your home using the &earch 2 (ly 'o folder.
%s the resolution for your home the same quality as the /ightseeing location in /tep (5 333333333333333
%f the resolution for your neighborhood is sufficient, browse the surrounding area to see if you can
determine approximately how old the image is.
,ll contents are )opyright C =DD&E&88D )isco /ystems, %nc. ,ll rights reserved. #his document is )isco .ublic %nformation. .age ( of <
))*, Exploration
*etwor$ Fundamentals:
1iving in a *etwor$?)entric 4orld ,ctivity =.=.=: Using Google EarthG to Aiew the 4orld
(igure -. World 0a) with atitude and ongitude ines
&te) 7: View geogra)hic coordinates.
Geographic coordinates are displayed in the lower left quadrant of the image. #he first number is called
the latitude, and is the angle between a point and the equator. For example, the equator is an imaginary
line dividing the globe into the *orthern or /outhern !emisphere. #he equator has a 8
o
latitude. #he
second number is called the longitude, and is the angle east or west of an arbitrary earth point. #he 0oyal
9bservatory, United Lingdom, is the international +ero?longitude point. #he combined longitude and
latitude is called the common graticule. #he coordinate measurements are in degrees
o
, minutesH,
seconds, and tenthsK. For latitude, the reference is *orth (* or /outh (/ of the equator. For longitude,
the reference is East (E or 4est (4 of the 0oyal 9bservatory. 0efer to Figure (. For a laymanHs
definition of geographic coordinates, go to U01
http:22en.wi$ipedia.org2wi$i2Geographic3coordinate3system. 9n the View menu, choose Grid to display
Google Earth Gridlines.
Using the pointer and coordinates shown in the lower left quadrant of the image, what are the coordinates
of your home5 3333333333333333333333333333
'as% 3: +e/lection
Google Earth can bring the world into the home or office. 4hile enMoying the images, consider what digital
communication resources were used. For example, satellite communication with an earth station
transmitted the image of your home to a ground location. /ome type of database was used to store the
image. , 1ocal ,rea *etwor$ (1,* sent your image request across the %nternet, probably through several
4ide ,rea *etwor$s (4,*s and then to another 1,* with a computer that returned the image to you.
#he delay in retrieving the image may have been short or long, depending on the slowest speed of all
networ$ connections in the path between the database repository and your computer.
)ould the image be displayed faster if data compression techniques were used5
)onsider networ$ security. )ould someone eavesdrop on your networ$ connection5
,ll contents are )opyright C =DD&E&88D )isco /ystems, %nc. ,ll rights reserved. #his document is )isco .ublic %nformation. .age 6 of <
))*, Exploration
*etwor$ Fundamentals:
1iving in a *etwor$?)entric 4orld ,ctivity =.=.=: Using Google EarthG to Aiew the 4orld
'as% 6: 8hallenge
Google Earth displays image coordinates in the lower left quadrant of the image. Use the following U01 to
learn about different coordinate systems:
http:22www.colorado.edu2geography2gcraft2notes2coordsys2coordsys.html. 4i$ipedia contains a useful
definition of common geographical terms.
Use the geographic coordinate system to describe your home with as much accuracy and detail as
possible.
'as% 7: 8lean U)
Nou may be required to remove Google Earth from the computer. %f so, perform these steps:
=. )lic$ &tart O &ettings O 8ontrol 1anel.
&. 'ouble?clic$ Add or +e5ove 1rogra5s.
(. 1ocate and clic$ Google Earth.
6. )lic$ +e5ove and follow the prompts.
,dditional removal information is available from U01 http:22earth.google.com2support2bin2topic.py5
topicP=B87B.
Unless instructed otherwise, turn off the computer.
,ll contents are )opyright C =DD&E&88D )isco /ystems, %nc. ,ll rights reserved. #his document is )isco .ublic %nformation. .age < of <