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Displaying and Using Layers

One of the things that makes Google Earth so useful is its capability to overlay other data on top of its maps. This data is added in the form of layers; available layers can be enabled via the Layers pane.

You've already seen several different types of layers in use. When you enabled the 3D buildings and terrain features, you added these layers to the underlying map. Disable the feature, and the layer is taken away.

Tip

In the Layers pane, layers are organized in folders. Double-click a folder to see and activate specific layers within the major layer category.


There are many other kinds of layers you can add to most Google Earth maps. Table 20.4 details some of what's available:

Table 20.4. Google Earth Layers

Layer

Description

3D buildings

Displays three-dimensional buildings in major metropolitan areas

Airports/transportation

Displays airports, heliports, and airport maps

Alternative place names

Displays locations in different languagesEnglish, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese

Banks/ATMs

Displays nearby bank and ATM locations

Bars/clubs

Displays the locations of nearby nightclubs and bars

Borders

Displays border information, including countries, states, counties, coastlines, and the like

Census

Overlays various census data, where available

Churches/cemeteries

Displays the location of nearby churches and cemeteries

City boundaries

Displays city limit borders

Coffee shops

Displays the location of nearby coffee shops

Community showcase

The best of user-created layers

Crime stats

Displays local crime statistics, where available

DG coverage

Displays cloud cover information

Dining

Displays the locations of nearby restaurants

Earthquakes

Displays the location of recent earthquakes

Fire/hospitals

Displays the locations of nearby fire stations and hospitals

Gas stations

Displays the locations of nearby gas stations

Geographic features

Displays bodies of water, mountains, and other features

Golf

Displays the locations of nearby golf courses

Google Earth community

Displays placemarks created by Google Earth users

Grocery stores

Displays the locations of nearby grocery stores

Lodging

Displays the locations of nearby hotels and motels

Major retail

Displays the locations of nearby major retailers

Movie/DVD rentals

Displays the locations of nearby movie rental stores

National Geographic Magazine

Displays a variety of special layers created by the editors of National Geographic magazine

Parks/recreation areas

Displays nearby parks and recreation areas

Pharmacy

Displays the locations of nearby pharmacies

Populated places

Displays cities, towns, villages, capitals, and so on

Postal code boundaries

Displays boundaries of U.S. postal codes

Railroads

Displays railroad tracks

Roads

Displays the names/numbers of major highways, county roads, and streets

School districts

Displays boundaries for elementary, secondary, and unified school districts

Schools

Displays the locations for nearby schools

Shopping malls

Displays the locations for nearby shopping malls

Sports venues

Displays nearby sports stadiums, ballparks, and the like

Terrain

Displays 3D elevation for the viewing region; this layer is limited to natural geographic features, like mountains and canyons, and is not available for cities and buildings

Transit

Displays local and commuter rail lines

U.S. Congressional districts

Displays boundaries for U.S. Congressional districts

Volcanoes

Displays known volcanoes

Water

Displays bodies of water


Caution

Not all layers contain information for all locales. For example, you won't find 3D building data for the middle of the Nevada desert.


For example, Figure 20.24 shows a view of La Jolla, California with the Roads layer enabled; Figure 20.25 shows the same area with the Lodging layer enabled. At a longer view, Figure 20.26 shows the San Diego area with the Postal Codes layer enabled. You get the point.

Figure 20.24. Roads in La Jolla.


Figure 20.25. Restaurants in La Jolla.


Figure 20.26. Postal code areas in San Diego.



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