Google Earth as a fieldwork tool

Using Google Earth, it is possible to attach maps, photos, text, data, routes and video links to aerial photographs by inserting simple html codes into the programme.

Students can create a tour of the sites they have visited and use this as a framework for presenting their primary and secondary fieldwork data.

Download your own copy of Google Earth (which is necessary if you wish to view the example provided on these pages).

Google Earth Instructions

Print out instructions (in downloads box below) for creating a Google Earth presentation to give to your students. The document covers methods of embedding photos, linking to websites and inserting text.

Google Streetview Guide

View a streetview guide compiled as part of an RGS-IBG Innovative Teaching Grant project.

Google Earth skills sheets

These skills sheets (in the downloads box below) will guide you through a range of Google Earth techniques of varying degrees of difficulty. They can also be printed off and used with your students. The skills sheets are for use with Google Earth version 4.3.

• Finding places (PPT) - Use the search engine to fly to a place. Beginner

• Using the 3-D viewer (PPT) - Navigate your way around using the rotate, look, move and zoom controls. Beginner

• Using layers (PPT) - View the additional information contained in layers created by Google. Beginner

• Opening saved placemarks (PPT) - Open Google Earth placemarks that you have saved from another source. Beginner

• Creating a placemark (PPT) - Create and edit your own placemarks, and add labels and descriptions. Intermediate

• Organising, saving and touring placemarks (PPT) - Save your placemarks in a folder and tour them. Intermediate

• Creating a path (PPT) - Draw, label, format and describe a route between two or a series of points. Intermediate

• Measuring distance (PPT) - Find out the distance between two points or the length of a path in a range of units. Intermediate

• Advanced placemarks (PPT) - Format placemark text and add images, video and weblinks. Advanced

• Creating a polygon (PPT) - Draw a polygon to highlight a particular area and create a 3-D shape to represent different values. Advanced