WEEK 2 (Day 4)

Mapping your neighborhood through digital maps

Objective: Understand Google Earth Interface; various features on satellite imagery; aerial perspective of
space, neighbourhood and spatial relationships
Google Earth & its Interface

How to install Google Earth

Step 01 Click on the following link-
https://www.google.com/earth/versions/#download-pro
OR you can go to the Google Earth Website, to download the app
Step 02 Install the app after your download is complete.
Google Earth & its Interface

Step 03 To install Google Earth< Go to the folder where

the installer is downloaded. In this case, it is the
downloads folder.
Step 04 Right-click on the installer file< Run as administrator
<Click-on Yes when a window prompts the installer file
to make changes to your device.
Step 05 Once the installation is complete Click OK
Google Earth & its Interface

Step 06 Open Google Earth

Step 07 You will now be able to see the Google Earth interface.
Google Earth & its Interface

The central part of the workspace allows you to view the satellite imagery of the globe in
detail; the left panel has the Search tab, Places panel and Layers panel that allows you to
search and visualize locations that have been previously saved and related geographic
information, respectively
Google Earth & its Interface

The Top panel has tools that allows you create maps, measure distances, view places from the
past, sunlight across landscapes, view location on Google maps, among other options; the
controls on the right allow you to navigate, zoom-in and out of location

TIP: Click-on the North symbol on the compass on the top right corner (the arrow
pointing to the icon) to reset the view with North pointing upwards
Google Earth & its Interface

The File tab in the main toolbar has options to Open, Save, Print and Import. You also have
options to view the same satellite images on Google Maps and Google Earth on web
Google Earth & its Interface

The Edit tab in the top panel

has options like Cut, Copy,
Paste, and Delete. The Copy
commands has options to
Copy as Tracks, Copy Image,
Copy view location, which
allows to you to copy different
types of data. There are other
option to edit layer, such as,
Rename Show Viewshed and
Properties.

TIP: You can learn and use the shortcut keys for the commands, like Crtl+C, Crtl+V, etc.
Google Earth & its Interface

The Layers panel on the left has features you

can explore. The Borders and Labels layer
displays the international boundaries, state
borders, and names of places at certain zoom
levels.

The Places layer shows locations of

different buildings, and landmark that help
you navigate easily .
Google Earth & its Interface

The Photos Layer allows you to view

photographs of certain locations

The Roads Layer displays road networks,

pathways, and connectivity to different places.
Google Earth & its Interface

The Terrain Layer shows the elevation of the

geographic regions

TIP: To view the terrain better, you Click-on Tools<

Options< 3d View. The 3D View tab allows you to edit the
Elevation exaggeration of the terrain and other
features on ground (Keep the value at 3 for optimal
results).
Once you have made changes Click Apply and OK
Google Earth & its Interface

The View tab in the top panel allows

you to check boxes for the tools you
want to appear on the workspace. Some
of these are already checked by default.
However, you can select some other
tools. Options like Full Screen, Grid,
Scale, and Overview Map, are some
changes you can make to your
workspace that will enable you to read
maps better. Atmosphere, Sun, and
Water Surface, helps to view elements
and how they can affect a particular
location. Historical Imagery helps view
locations in the past.
Google Earth & its Interface

The Explore option allows you to not only view Earth from space but you can also explore Moon,
and Mars! You can reset your view by using the Tilt and Compass options in Reset command. You
can also choose a location to make it your start point.
Google Earth & its Interface

Help tab has resources; start-up tips; keyboard shortcuts; among other options. The options has guidelines
and tips for you to use the application easily.
Lesson 1: Identifying various features on satellite imagery

Step 01 Search for you school in the tab on the top left corner of the workspace. For example, Search for- School of Excellence, Dwaraka
Sec-22, New Delhi.
Step 02 Keep the zoom level at a level where the extent of your school neighbourhood is clearly visible (On the bottom right corner, check
Eye-alt and keep the value between 1km to 2.5 km)
Lesson 1: Identifying various features on satellite imagery

Observe the satellite

imagery of your school
neighbourhood, you can
notice several features,
such as, buildings, green
patches, open spaces,
roads, railway lines,
airport, etc. Pan to the
right and left of the
image to observe more
features around your
school neighbourhood.

Exercise 1: Make a list 10 features in your school neighbourhood, like a neighbouring building, a landmark, a park, or a
playground. Classify the features you have identified into buildings, open spaces, roads, etc
Lesson 2: Understanding an aerial perspective of space,
and neighbouhood
Satellite Imagery gives you
an aerial perspective of
spaces. You can see the
rooftops of buildings, the
top of the tree canopies and
vegetation, etc. this view is
vry different from what you
can observe from the
ground.
Google Earth allows you to
see photographs of places,
and see the aerial
perspective of the same.

- Check the box against Photos in the Layer panel on the left.
- You can see photographs of certain locations in your school neighbourhood, for example, the image in the satellite imagery shows the
photograph of an apartment building, while allowing you to see the building from above.
Lesson 2: Understanding an aerial perspective of space,
and neighbouhood
- Another image showing
buildings with respect
to the greenery around,
while allowing you to
observe this space from
above.
Lesson 3: Understanding Spatial Relationships

Now that you are

familiar with identifying
features on the satellite
image of your school
neighbourhood, let us
understand spatial
relationships of these
spaces. You can observe
in the North, West, and
South direction of your
school, there are
apartment buildings,
while in the East there is
a park.

The Borders and Labels, and Places in the Layer panel on the left, displays location and names of places and landmarks. You can see the
type of buildings and important features in your school neighbourhood.

Exercise 2: Pick a building/ location and mark the features located on all its cardinal directions. Also, mark the
landmarks around the location you have selected.