How to use a Google Earth kmz file to "fly"
a Running Route (routes are compliments of the San Diego Track Club, last update:
042307)
- You must have an installed copy of Google Earth
(GE). The GE download is 10+ KB. With the free version of GE you
are able to "open" and "play" paths (the kmz files) that have been created
in the paid versions of GE.
- At the San Diego Run Maps
web page, click on a "Google Earth Place" kmz file
(click on the GE blue marble for the run) and save the kmz file on your system.
- Run your copy of Google Earth.
- File > Open and browse to where you saved the .kmz file and click Open.
- After the kmz file is opened, you will see that kmz file listed in the Places > Temporary Places folder
and, in GE's aerial viewing window, the path will be centered and highlighted
(a thin white line).
- In the GE Places list, the checkbox to the left of the run's name turns the
visual display of the path (the thin white line) on and off.
- Download and Open as many Places (runs) as desired. There is one run per kmz file.
- In the GE Places list, you can see a short description for the run. If
you cannot see all of the description, highlight the name of the run, then
right click > edit.
- When you are ready to fly a running route: highlight the name/description of the run in the GE Places list (put your cursor over the name of the run and
left click), make sure
the checkbox to the left of the run's name is checked (if you want to see the
route as you fly it) and click on the "play" button at the bottom of the
Places list. You will "fly" the route. See below for
making changes to the camera's orientation and height as well as the flight
speed.
- See the Google Earth Help File for help in "playing" a sequence
of routes.
- Of course you can just look at the route and not fly it; you can pan, zoom
and look
at it from different angles. The viewing controls are at the bottom of the
viewing window.
- When you are ready to "Exit" GE, you will be asked if you want to
save the items (runs, in our case) which are in your GE "Temporary
Places" folder to your GE "My Places" folder.
- Modifying the "Flight" Characteristics
- You can change many aspects of the "flight", including
- 1. the speed of the flight and the angle of the camera in Tools > Options > Control tab and
check "advanced"
- 2. the color and line width of the path that the flight is following by highlighting the run's name in the
Places list > right click > edit
- There are many layers in GE. Try turning on layers like the Roads and Terrain layers and moving the camera closer to the earth.
For a route that goes through downtown San Diego (e.g. The Tour of San Diego),
try turning on 3D Buildings.
- Modifying the Routes
- From time to time the routes will be modified and additional notes added. The
date of the path's update will be given in the top line of the description and
the updated files will be available at San Diego Run Maps