Google Earth South Florida Tour

 

This week, I worked with Google Earth Pro to explore population distribution and major cities across South Florida. The lab focused on converting GIS data into KMZ format, organizing spatial layers in Google Earth, and creating a recorded tour to showcase key urban areas using the platform’s 3D visualization tools.

KMZ

The population dot density layer, county boundaries, and map legend image were provided. My primary GIS task involved working with the surface water data. In ArcGIS Pro, I symbolized hydrology features, excluding any features that did not match the legend’s categories, and exported the layer as a KMZ file using the Layer to KML tool. After importing the new hydrology KMZ into Google Earth, along with the other provided layers, I arranged them so that the population dot density remained visible above all others. I also used the image overlay tool to place the legend just off the coast of Florida (Figure 1).

Figure 1

To organize the map, I created a folder in Google Earth containing all the imported layers and saved the entire setup as a single KMZ file. The final map includes the population dot density layer on top, categorized hydrology, counties as vector data with clickable attribute pop-ups, and a clearly placed legend. All 23 counties are visible at the default extent, and the map functions as an interactive KMZ that can be easily shared with anybody that has access to Google Earth.

Tour

For my last class assignment, I created a recorded Google Earth tour. Using the original data I added placemarks to each destination. The tour begins with a full overview of South Florida, then visits the Miami metropolitan area, Downtown Miami, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Tampa Bay area, St. Petersburg, and Downtown Tampa (Figure 2). Each location showcases different aspects of the built environment using 3D models. Downtown Miami includes a mix of clickable, photorealistic buildings and basic 3D structures, while Downtown Tampa features LiDAR-generated models with realistic buildings, as well as trees, bridges, and even vehicles.

Figure 2

The tour transitions between locations, using zoom, pan, and double-clicking the placenames. I concluded the recording by returning to the full regional view, providing a final look at the overall population distribution and landscape. Navigating the 3D environment was occasionally awkward, and I could use more practice, but I appreciated the opportunity to combine spatial analysis with a more accessible multimedia presentation. Overall, this module helped me better understand how GIS data can be shared with a wider audience through platforms like Google Earth.