Google Maps

An introductional guide to Google Maps with skills and tips for creating geospatial projects using the software.

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Adding Features

Adding features to your map is very easy using Google Maps.  With this program, you are supplied with a toolbar containing several drawing tools to represent locations and features on your map.

 

The line/polygon tool is an excellent tool for representing paths, areas and other geometric shapes on your map.  The process is as simple as selecting the shape you would like to create from the toolbar and drawing it in its appropriate location on your map.

The placemark tool is an excellent tool for representing point locations on your map.  To apply a placemark, simply select the add a placemark tool from the toolbar and drag it to the location you wish to represent.

Once you have created a feature, you may wish to return to change its location or information at a later time.  The select/edit map features tool is helpful for accomplishing this task.  By using the tool to select a created feature, you have the ability to edit the feature to your choosing.

After you have created a feature on your map, another pop-up window will appear allowing you to edit the feature you created and add any information you wish to convey.  Begin by giving the feature a title and add a description of what the feature represents.  With HTML tags, it is easy to add photos, links and other multimedia features to your feature and adds a little something extra to your map.  These tags can be found on many websites by performing a Google search.  Additionally, you can change the icon of a placemark or the color and opacity of a line/polygon by selecting the color icon and changing the settings as needed. 

Once you are finished, click OK and your feature is complete.  In this example, HTML tags have been applied to change the text for a cleaner visual presentation.  You can also return at anytime to make changes by going to edit and selecting the feature you wish to work with.

An added feature to Google Maps is the ability to import previously created geospatial data to your current project.  This material must be in either KML, KMZ or GeoRSS format to import into Google Maps.

 

 

 

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Justin Sorensen
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