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This site aims to show a few of the ways that Google Earth can be useful to exploring the world’s cities through the program’s many included features and auxiliary KML layers. Aside from its physical location, there are few aspects that are as unique to a city as its history, architecture, and parks. A city is a dynamic environment, constantly changing based on the events that have occurred there. As such a city’s history can explain many things about how it evolved to become the way it is. Additionally, a city’s buildings and skyline are often among its most defining aspects. Hear the words New York City or Chicago and you likely picture its buildings standing out against the horizon. Lastly, a city’s parks influence the way its people interact. Is there a large central park that brings everyone together, or are there many smaller parks that create more of a neighborhood feeling? All three of these city features influence the unique feel of a city.
We have specifically focused on Google Earth’s ability to help people interested in cities’ evolution, architecture, and parks, though these are just a sampling of the many aspects that Google Earth can illuminate.
For more information on the topic, please visit our Further Resources section. If you are interested in downloading any of the KML layers or programs mentioned on this site, please visit our Google Earth and KML Downloads section. If you are unfamiliar with Google Earth or do not understand a term used on our website, please see either the What is Google Earth? section or the Jargon Dictionary of key terms.
This site was created by Charlie A., Julian T., & Sebastien V., students of the Google Earth’s Impact class at Duke University.