Google Earth is a computer program that displays a virtual globe that displays multiple cartography, photography-based satellite.
The program was created under the name of EarthViewer 3D Keyhole Inc company, financed by the Central Intelligence Agency. The company was bought by Google in 2004 by absorbing the application.
Google Earth map is composed of a superimposition of images obtained from satellite, aerial photography, geographic information from images of the world GIS data models and models created by computer. The program is available in several licenses, but the free version is the most popular available for mobile devices, tablets, and personal computers.
The first version of Google Earth was launched in 2005 and is currently available on PC for Windows, Mac and Linux. Google Earth is also available as a plugin to be viewed from the web browser. In 2013 Google Earth had become the most popular program to visualize cartography, with more than 1 billion downloads. 1 2
Many users use the application to add their own data, making them available through various sources, such as blogs or Bulletin Board Systems. Google Earth can show different layers of image on top of the base and is also a valid client for a Web Map Service. Google Earth supports by using the Keyhole Markup Language files three-dimensional geospatial data or. kml.
Development
Initially, Keyhole was a program of payment until October 27, 2004 it was purchased by Google. On 21 May 2005 Keyhole was renamed Google Earth. In June 2005 the main novelty was, apart from the change of name and owner, that the program had a free version (unlike Keyhole, which was payment in all its versions, although it was possible to have a trial version for a limited time). This program also incorporates Maps, which serves to find streets, avenues and business and enlarge them in a very realistic way.
Versions
The Google Earth software is available in several versions:
According to the level of benefits: these are divided into two paid versions and a free version.
Depending on the operating system: Google provides updates for Windows (XP and 2000), and the novelty of 2006 is the version for Mac OS operating system. On June 12, 2006, Google released the first version of Google Earth for Linux (Beta 4).
The version of Google, 4.x, has a component that allows that he is displayed on any operating system, referred to as QT4, product of a Dutch company. Therefore the usability in terms of operating systems is very extensive.
Version 5 allowed the three-dimensional scan of the bottom of the oceans, by adding, at the same time, animation of movement of surface water in seas and oceans. In this regard was also added a specific layer of information.
Version 6.0.0.1735 beta allows better integration of Google Street View in Google Earth. Add trees in three dimensions for some cities in the United States, Europe and Japan. Access to historical images (where any) was also streamlined.
The latest version (6.2) integrates the possibility to login with Google account, save the data stored in Google Earth and share photos taken on Google +.
