What?
Google Earth and Google Maps offer exciting possibilities in terms of displaying regional data. Google Earth allows you to go anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings and even explore galaxies in the Sky. You can explore rich geographical content, save your toured places and share with others.
Why?
One of the goals of the ABS is to improve statistical literacy. By bringing data to life in this way, the public can better interpret our data and use it to make informed decisions.
How?
You can either install Google Earth (any version from 4.1 to latest) for the full 3D effect, or by entering the URL of the KML file in the Google Maps search box you will see the overlay in simple 2D.
URL of KML file: http://betaworks.abs.gov.au/betaworks/betaworks.nsf/projects/googleearth/ge1.exportsimports/Exports&Imports-%20NSW,Vic,%20Qld%20ports.kml
Example: Exports and Imports data
Use Google Earth to explore see the location of Australian shipping ports. By clicking on a port, you can also see the value of exports and imports.
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If you don't have Google Earth see: |
Download KML file for use in Google Earth.
Animated images in Flash viewer
#1: Andrew
Why not integrate Google Earth directly into the web page?
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That way you can code the location of the KML file into the Google Earth API
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So people don't have to worry about the URL.
#2: Kelvin
It would be great to have a generic Google Earth Polygon, of some different ASGC areas defined.
In particular the ASGC-RA set would be brilliant ;).
#3: George
This is a great development!
#4: Adi
It isn't even necessary to have Google Earth installed, simply entering the uri of the kml file in Google Maps search box and it will display the overlay in simple 2D.
For example see this link:
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Once the ABS starts embracing the use of these types of GIS interchange formats liberally licensed under CC they can start to find their way on to sites like Wikipedia and GeoCommons.
Good work on the proof of concept!
#5: Pat
How exciting to see Google Earth being used in this way and it gives me confidence that we will soon see some ABS data used with the Google Earth interface as some other organisations are doing. I am keen to see CensusAtSchool data presented on a Google interface. The generation of a google map from the random sampler on the fly may be ambitious but using ABS postal areas could be a way to go as mentioned below.
As a start, working with static data from the 2008 questionnaire phase. the number of students from each postcode could be built into google interface (see below). Suggestions include:
1. Add a placemark for each postcode with C@S registered schools.
2. Colour code the placemark according to the number of registered schools
or better still
3. Colour code the placemark according to the number of students who participated in the 2008 data collection from that postcode e.g. grey= <50. dark grey=51-100. pale red=101-150. dark red=151-250 and darkest red 250+.
Using the colour coding like this would enable students to know if it will be possible to obtain a sample from the postcode.
Further advances could be
1. Generating a Google Earth view of the random sample on the fly
2. Allowing a click on the postcode to view one record from that postcode ( privacy rules allowing).
This would provide a powerful learning tool for spatial data representation and all flowing out of a student response to the questionnaire.
I hope these ideas are taken to the CensusAtSchool international workshop in LA.
Keep up the good work.