What are GoogleEarth and GoogleMaps?
Google has developed two online tools for working with geographic information that may be the first exposure that many people have to GIS. GoogleEarth is an interactive program that allows you to explore the planet’s geography, and GoogleMaps is a mapping site, viewable through any web browser. Both of these applications are available as a free download from Google for both Windows and Mac OS. With its availability, simple interface, and stunning visuals, GoogleEarth has become a widely popular download worldwide. GoogleEarth can be considered a GIS, as it provides a range of geographic information, from aerial imagery to transportation networks, census data, and many other layers of data. The free version does not offer any of the typical analysis tools found in professional GIS software, but Google does offer more advanced versions of the software that can perform some geographic data processing. Many GIS applications (including ArcGIS) are now able to export data into KML or KMZ for
