Adding extra data to Google Earth models

leedeetee · 14 Sept 2010, 10:18

Hi guys,

I am going to approach my large, prestigious (88th in the world according to QS) local university and model all their buildings for google earth.

I am going to do this for fun, and to give myself a large project to get my teeth into, but as ever, it would be nice if they could sponsor me or give a little donation for my troubles.

I think I would have more chance of this if I could add value to the models that are located on GE, give them metadata, add links to the department homepages, opening times too, or anything that the University wanted really. I suppose prospective students could see their halls of residence before they moved. There are lots of other applications for the models too.

So, is this possible? Are there any tutorials out there?

Also, has anyone had any experience of approaching a large instutution about something like this? How would one go about it?

Thanks in advance.

jaxcoffee · 14 Sept 2010, 14:21

Nice to see your still modeling Lee. Hows married life?

leedeetee · 14 Sept 2010, 20:32

@jaxcoffee said:

Nice to see your still modeling Lee. Hows married life?

Pretty much the same as pre-married life!

Gaieus · 21 Sept 2010, 16:06

Hi Lee,

Seems we are in the same boat

Anyway, I would suggest you to build a (simple) website around the models. Note that you can always add some very limited metadata (one website for additional info) so you will need to add all that additional info there.

Have you ever used the GE Plugin?

leedeetee · 21 Sept 2010, 16:17

@gaieus said:

Have you ever used the GE Plugin?

Hi Gaieus,

I haven't, no. Can you point me in the right direction of some information?

The idea of a website sounds like a good idea, but not sure I should do this for something like a university?

Gaieus · 21 Sept 2010, 19:24

Well, here is the API documentation:
http://code.google.com/apis/earth/documentation/
but best is to start with the examples:
http://code.google.com/apis/earth/documentation/examples.html
the demo gallery:
http://code.google.com/apis/earth/documentation/demogallery.html
and the code playground to get some ideas:
http://code.google.com/apis/ajax/playground/?exp=earth#hello,_earth
(they are all in the sidebar under the first link, too).

As for a separate website - it all depends how far you want to go. Setting up a WordPress blog site is easy and you can get started in a few minutes - then jst add "posts" for each building and you can include the maps with iFrames (something that is impossible on Google Sites unfortunately)

leedeetee · 21 Sept 2010, 19:57

Thanks so much, Gai. I will take a look. I do have a website http://www.thepubsofyork.com/ which has spare subdomains so may even do something like that. I will have a look at the links you have sent - thanks again.

Are you a married man now then, mate?

Gaieus · 21 Sept 2010, 20:03

Ah yes, the York pubs. I almost forgot!

leedeetee · 22 Sept 2010, 11:18

@gaieus said:

Ah yes, the York pubs. I almost forgot!

My wife has been in contact with the estates department at the university and they are very interested!!!

Great stuff.

Just found this thread too, Gaieus, which you helped someone with - http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=271&t=27057&p=234046#p234046 This is what I was after.

Gaieus · 22 Sept 2010, 12:45

Let me know if you want to start. I am also just "learning" this GE Plugin (for this qualification ) as I am not a programmer/scripter myself.

leedeetee · 22 Sept 2010, 18:09

Oooo, sounds really interesting. Would love to start. Will have to have a proper look at it.