Google Earth

[trowelhead]

I was wondering how many people are using google earth etc for Ariel interpretation of sites these days. is it a viable option depending on resolution to use it instead of commisioning pricey ariel surveys these days, just had a client ask. I was a bit stumped with regard to an answer really.

Close enough for a country job!

[Magpie]

I have used Google Earth to look at parts of SE Wales. It is fine for some areas but much of the UK is at such a poor resolution that it renders it useless for most practical uses.

Where the resolution has been OK it has shown earthworks , banks ditches etc. What is useful is the ability to overlay archaeological data onto Google Earth .


Magpie

[BAJR Host]

Hey peeps.... two other sites for you... a gain .. resolution is all

http://www.flashearth.com/

which has both Google Earth and Local.Live (at higher res, it can be better.

and of course look to the advert on the right... our ,mate Steve has put a massive ammount of effort into a digital (googleMap) of archaeology resources... AND all.... yes ALL the BAJR Who's Who data.. check it out
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/GoogleMap/

I have to confess to using it in curatorial role, to 'see' the ground type over an area... though of course I also do look in person.. :face-thinks:



Another day another WSI?

[Steve-B]

FlashEarth is great, very user friendly as well..

http://www.detector-distribution.co.uk

[Steve]

Hello folks -

Thanks for the plug Hosty.

I do have a lot of auto generated KML files for Google Earth. Yes, there are resolution problems in a lot of areas, so GE is not yet ready for detailed interpretation. But there are a few good tools springing up now that can automate KML outputs from SHP files. I've going to have a play with overlaying elevation layers and georeferencing some APs when I get time.

Steve
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk

[Alfie]

The Local Authority I work for has banned the use of Google earth because apparently we would be a commercial user and therefore require a licence. damn, back to 47 Air Survey then.

[Steve]

Alfie -

I think there are commercial licences available, but not sure of the cost and whether it would suit your needs at present. I also know there's a commercial licence for the Google Maps API.

Anyhow, if people are using Google Earth I've just put my catalogue listing back online:
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/UKAr...fault.aspx

Up to now I've been getting the UI up to scratch for my app, in between tight deadlines in my day job, but next on the list is to get a lot more (quantity and quality) data into the system.

Steve
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk

[Alfie]

hi Steve - there are indeed commercial licences available but my service cannot afford one, now all I need is a kite, a ball of string, a camera and some way making the shutter release...

[Steve]

Alfie -

Nothing to stop you running one version of GE on a box out of work, building up KML files and then building an online resource that displays the KML outputs using the Google Maps API.

That's one way round it, and would also mean all your colleagues don't need to install GE to get some good georeferencing online with limited cost.

Steve
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk

[Sniffer]

We've been talking a lot about GE as a possible route for the 'commitment to educate' issue of late. One useful feature that many people haven't been aware of is 'Sketch up' which is a basic 3d modelling package that can integrate it's output with GE.

From our point of view, it's good for showing the ebb and flow of military movements - but I can see a future in which reconstructions extrapolated from site data will get redrawn on GE. Any thoughts?

Sorry it's slightly off topic, but I just leapt in when someone mentioned GE!