These Layers Take the Cake!
by Gary Woods

One of the coolest features on the Internet is Google Earth. By going to http://earth.google.com and downloading their viewer you can be flying all over the countryside with a few clicks.

When you start looking more closely at Google Earth you see what I think is one of the very coolest features of all. They are the Layers and can display features such as schools, roads, borders, and commercial services.

Start by experimenting with 3D buildings and tilt the view angle to scan skylines. This feature is available for various large, mostly American cities. Then check out the Terrain layer to have the program render mountains and valleys. Also, experiment with the Elevation Exaggeration setting in the Options menu's View tab to see dramatic views of geographical features such as the Grand Canyon.

Then, look at Africa for a great example of the use of layers. When the layer named National Geographic Magazine is checked, you will see a number of yellow frames and red airplane icons spread across the continent. Click on a yellow frame to have it zooms in on a place. Then, it takes you to a photo and links to material from a National Geographic article.

Within days of Hurricane Katrina Google Earth in cooperation with NASA, NOAA and Carnegie Mellon University made available to the public overlays of thousands of images showing the effects of the storm.

If you haven't looked at Google Earth lately, check out the Layers.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910