Google Earth

Google Earth is an online digital atlas freeware application that presents spatial information as a virtual globe and map developed by Google and initially released in June 2001. Google Earth requires Internet access as it displays geographic information from various servers but is a client application that can load and store custom data sets locally (or upload to servers). Google Earth’s platform is based on satellite imagery that provides a dynamic and interactive starting point for users; the imagery is periodically updated and has been processed in some locations to provide for 3D mapping. This entry examines how Google Earth works and how it is used.