Can You See Me Now? Good.

The free version of Google Earth now allows users to open files created by Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. These data can be imported as certain file types or directly from the device. Google Earth coverts the data into KML point and paths.

 

GPS data in Google Earth

Supported Devices

The Google Earth GPS import feature officially supports Garmin and Magellan devices. Other devices may work, or data can be save as a .gpx, .loc or .mps file and then imported.

Importing GPS Data

  1. Connect the GPS to the computer running Google Earth (this may require drivers to be installed previously).

  2. Turn on the GPS device and from the Tools menu select GPS.

  3. Select the Device, the data to Import and required Options for different drawing preferences.

  4. Click OK. When the GPS data has finished loading into Google Earth, a confirmation dialog box appears. The data is generated as KML that can be found in a folder in the Places panel.

Viewing Realtime GPS Information

  1. Connect the GPS to the computer running Google Earth and open the GPS dialog box (as above).

  2. Select the Realtime tab.

  3. Choose the appropriate options that define protocol, the maximum number of points collected per poll of the device, the interval between polls and if the path is to be automatically followed (in the 3D viewer<).

  4. Click Start to begin realtime GPS tracking.

 

Links

Getting Started With GPS

The Google Earth User Guide lists instructions for importanting and viewing GPS data.

Online GPS tracks

There are a number of website that allow a user to upload GPS data and convert it into KML points, paths and tours, or to do view it directly using the Google Earth plugin:



KML Examples

Global map of ship positions that uses GPS for location data.

Flight path of a high altitude balloon. Placemarks include photographs taken from the balloon.

EarthNC's Trip and Route Tool allows users to create points and paths (representing waypoints and routes) and upload them from Google Earth to a GPS device. Watch the video that explains how it works.