Seeing is believing
Google Earth is a virtual globe program that maps the Earth by superimposing images. All images are taken from satellite imagery, aerial photography and GIS 3D globe. Google Earth is available on a personal computer as long as it meets system requirements and because it is downloadable via the Internet anyone can use it. Google offers three different licenses: Google Earth, a free version with limited functionality; Google Earth Plus, which includes a few more features; and Google Earth Pro, intended for commercial use.
Image of Baja California produced using Google Earth |
One practical application of the program is for realtors selling property over the Internet. With Google Earth one can look at a plot of land and its surroundings anywhere in the world with resolution from 45 ft. to views as precise as 6 inches. Many people are adding their own data on images to highlight specific locations and sites of interest. In addition, one can view an area, such as mountain ranges, in 3D and not just directly from the top.
Recently, Google has launched an outreach campaign to benefit the public and non-profit organizations. Through their Earth Pro license grant program Google is offering free use of their new photographic software to any U.S. based non-profit which aims to benefit the public. The only other requirement in applying for the grant is that there is a working employee who has experience with HTML and Google Earth/KML.
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation is a tri-lingual non-profit created by Canada, Mexico and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. They have utilized Google’s generous offer and today use Google Earth Pro to map industrial pollutants from over 30,000 industrial facilities. Anyone can now see a current map of pollution sources and accumulation anywhere in North America. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation has created an interactive map by including what pollutants are generated and how each of the facilities handles them.
Google Earth updates images so that none remain more then three years old and most are undated annually. Many public organizations are using them to create a visual tracking method of changes in our environment. For example, WWF now provides a virtual tour of the Amazon in order to enhance awareness of deforestation and to better describe the projects in the region. Once baseline images are created each consecutive year can be compared to the previous and members as well as web surfers are able to track progress or, in a more depressive case, observe environmental destruction as it happens today.
At WiLDCOAST we are working to raise money to preserve land in rural Mexico at risk of turning into resortland Mexico. Along with site-specific scenic photos, it is incredibly beneficial to be able to show people aerial views of these unique areas found nowhere else in the world.
Just as Al Gore states in his presentation of An Inconvenient Truth, satellite photographs of the Earth were the single most influential images in the environmental movement. Today we continue to view our world from new perspectives in order to understand it better. Images of glaciers five years ago as compared to today are prime example of an argument that needs no words. I applaud Google for providing such a valuable service at no charge and hope everyone takes the time to take a step back and look at the earth every now and then.
If you’re a working on conservation in a non-profit visit the Google Earth Outreach program website.
Corina Marks
This is really a nice blog,i always come here and read the articles