Manuals: Google Earth Files

Description ¶

Google Earth combines the power of Google Search with satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings to put the world’s geographic information at your fingertips. Using the IRIS Google Map Service, you can create custom maps based on IRIS DMC metadata.

Purpose ¶

IRIS Google Map Service generates a KML file that is used by Google Earth to display station locations and related information based on IRIS DMC metadata holdings.

Getting Started ¶

You can generate Keyhole Markup Language (KML) files using the IRIS Google Map Service with these basic steps:

• Download and install Google Earth
• Go the the IRIS Google Map Service:
  • Read the instructions
  • Enter a network Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) in your web browser (see Parameters below)
  • Click the Google Earth icon in the upper right corner of the webpage to download the KML file:

• Open the KML file in Google Earth. Or save the KML file to disk, then click on the KML file to view stations in Google Earth.
• The KML file is a Network Link that will get the most current information from IRIS.

Advanced users: Try the IRIS DMC Station KML Service

Parameters ¶

Network and station parameters can be specified directly in the URI path:

http://www.iris.edu/gmap/<network>/<station> 

Basic example to list the IRIS/IDA network: http://www.iris.edu/gmap/II

Example for _GSN virtual network list: http://www.iris.edu/gmap/_GSN

To see a current list of virtual networks, go here.

For details see: IRIS DMC Google Map Service Usage

Example – Transportable Array (TA) Network Stations ¶

To request a map of the current TA network stations try http://www.iris.edu/gmap/TA and you get this:

Click the Google Earth icon

in the upper right corner of the webpage, then open the KML file in Google Earth. You should see a map like this:

Zoom into the state of Washington to view the location of stations.

Click on a station icon to get more information:

More information ¶

• New Web Interfaces: the Metadata Aggregator (MDA) and Google Map Service
• IRIS DMC Google Map Service – Help page
• IRIS DMC Station KML Service
• Google Earth
• Google Earth User Guide