Google Earth as a Research Tool

[MRomanych]

Google Earth is a powerful research tool. Part imagery analysis and part battlefield archeology, it can provide new insight into the battlefields and military sites of the World Wars. Beyond the downloads available in the Google Earth community - http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php/Cat/0 - has anyone used Google Earth to aid their research?

Please post your experiences and tips here!

[ServerAdmin]

I never thought of using Google Earth for research but that is an amazing idea and great use of technology. Great Idea, Marc!

Jason

[RaymondG]

Hi

I use it for some purposes and it is a wonderful tool.

I was taking my parents around Paris the other day on it. It was good as they are getting old and would find it difficult to walk around so it was the next best thing :D

When I get a chance, I will put up some images of famous militaria landmarks

Raymond

[MRomanych]

Here are two web pages that have WWI & WWII sites on Google Earth:

Google Earth Hacks. Look in “Sightseeing: Historical Places, World War II,” or try the search function with the terms “WWI” or “WWII.”
http://www.gearthhacks.com/downloads

Virtual Globetrotting. This site takes sometime to learn. Try typing “WWI” or “WWII” in the search function.
http://virtualglobetrotting.com

You will find two basic types of files:

Placemarks. These pinpoint a specific site or set of sites on Google Earth’s imagery.
Overlays. These are historic map or aerial photographs overlayed on top of Google Earth’s satellite imagery.

Happy searching!

[Swordfish]

I have almost every battle in Germany, France and the Pacific marked. In Egypt, you can still see all the bomb and shell craters in the desert. Normandy still has rows of stick bomb impact craters in the farm fields. You can also see the Berghoff & Obersalz. and what remains while the new Intercontinental Hotel was bieng constructed.

Definitely worth checking out.

[Swordfish]

I'm going to post this private message I had sent a member who had a couple questions about Google Earth. I'm sure many of you guys are intimately familiar with the program like I am so it's a rudementary post. I'll put it here anyway for those interested members who are not familiar with the program.

Forgive the gramatical errors. This is a cut and past from a PM.

Google Earth is great. People like us can spend hours upon hours investigating battle sights from 20,000 ft-1,000 ft from the ground. With their latest updated version the resolution is so good you can actually see all the pillboxes on Iwo, the old arifields that have been grown over, you can see the Tirpitz in the Bikini Atoll at the bottom, Normandy is another good one. Even the Somme from 1916 still has left overs that can be seen from the satelite images. Like I said, one can spend hours playing with it.

As far as posting bookmarks, I'm not sure. Here's how it works. Google Earth enables each user to add his own yellow tack to a location around the globe. The tacks are saved in his file so when he logs on, all he has to do is click on the menu where he save the Berghoff, and if he saved it under "the Berghoff", he clicks it and the program automatically directs the user to the georgraphic point on the globe and continues to focus in to a close altitude.

I don't think it's possible to share individual tacks. But, almost ever site on the globe has been tagged publicly for people to see by the little blue exclamation points. People add what are called overlays. For example, someone will take Rommels battle map and plan for the the desert, and overlay it on the ground at the actual scale, so you get a mix of satelite imagery mixed with the original battle map. This allows one to locate exact points of interest, exactly as they were in say 1942. All these are public and all a person would have to do is copy the locations http address, save it on Word, then re-copy it all and past it in the research threads and that should work.

[Swordfish]

One more point. If you only have dial-up, don't waste your time. Data is just too large for you to have an enjoyable experience with the program without hi-speed.

[Swordfish]

Here's a shot of Iwo Jima. With the program you can get super close and explore pill boxes yourself.

[RussellM]

I frequently use google earth to view battle sites. Take a look at Betio, Kiribati (Tarawa) now, and compare it to period WWII pics - you wouldn't think it was the same place!

Regards
Russ

[Swordfish]

Yep. I know what you mean Russ.

A fun and interesting one is to utilize overlays. Many users who have added interest points have also added overlays. You need to download them.

[MRomanych]

Here are some screenshots of Fort Douaumont, Verdun that are interesting in their own right but also show the potential of Google Earth's various views.

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Number=69314

Top Left: Satellite imagery
Top Center: Satellite imagery with overlay
Top Right: Closeup of overlay
Bottom Left: Overlay with recent photo of fort
Bottom Center: Overlay with terrain map
Bottom Right: Overlay with road map

[Peter L]

Friends,

Someone has already invested ALOT of time in mapping all Kriegsmarine ships sunk during WWII i Google Earth.

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/794775/an/0/page/4#794775

Enjoy and a big thanks to the one doing it!

Peter

[MikeC]

Peter L,

Thanks for this link. It must have been quite a labor of love for the author.

Cheers

[Zeller]

I didn't know all these resources and I just saved the links!
However, I do regularly use Google Earth for my researches on the field. It is very usefulfor having a better perspection of an area (main roads, former buildings, defoliated areas,etc). Unfortunately not all the maps are updated :thumbdown:

[MRomanych]

I think we are just starting to see the potential of Google Earth. It is a great way to see the battlefields without actually going there. I know exactly what you mean about the maps not being up to date. But still, it is a great tool. Have you found anything interesting using Google Earth?

[Zeller]

Hi

yes indeed, It is a very powerful tool!

usually in my researches, I start with books and paper maps. Then I try to locate the area with GE and then finally I go on the field.

In these days, I am working on an area where it should have been a napoleonic battle. I knew the name of the location, but not the exact place. Incidentally, there should have been also a Flak position during WW2 in the same spot.
From GE, I could restrict the area, and have a better idea of the surroundings.
Now I started digging here and there, but still no sign of napoleonic finds.

[MRomanych]

If you are looking for aerials views of sites in France try the French version of Google earth:

http://www.geoportail.fr/visu2D.do?ter=metropole

While limited to imagery over France and its territories, Geoportail's resolution is better than Google Earth, and it has some interesting features to include overlaying the aerial imagery with topographic maps. In some ways the Geoportail is a bit clunky, but it is a great research tool.

Here is an example of its quality - Pointe du Hoc
Left: Geoportail
Right: Google Earth

[MRomanych]

I am still marveling at the resolution of the Geoportail imagery. Two more examples:

Left: V3 Site at Mimoyecques
Right: Craters near Batterie Todt