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Plotting Data In Google Earth Using GE-Graph



If you were wondering how I created the Google Earth rainfall plot in yesterday’s post on FAO climate data, I didn’t use one of the shapefile to KML converters I’ve posted about. Instead, I used a free program called GE-Graph that takes tabular data and lets you plot it in colors and polygons that depend on the value you’re plotting.

You can enter data directly in GE-Graph using its table editor, including pasting columns from a spreadsheet, but it will also accept CSV-format text data createable in a spreadsheet in the proper format:Name, latitude, longitude, value to be plotted (data only, no column headers).

Open the data in GE-Graph (click on image for larger view):

Interface for GE-Graph for use in plotting spreadsheet data in Google Earth

Here you can set:

Graph of Type: Flat (pinned to the ground, with colors describing the data value) or 3D (Polygons, with the number of sides set by the dropdown). You can also link data to a custom KML polygon file (e.g. state borders), and use those as the plotted shapes.

Height (3D only): Whether the height varies with the data value or not

Color: Whether the color of the polygon or flat area varies with the data value; colors set using the Color Scale section

Size: The size of the flat area or polygon as plotted in Google Earth

… and so on - you can set the specific scales for the data, or have GE-Graph do that automatically, enter labels, specify a grid, etc.. There’s a full help section included with the program.

Here’s the plot from yesterday’s post, created with the above settings and data, as displayed in Google Earth:

Plot of precipitation in Peru in Google Earth created using GE-Graph and LocClim data

More examples of the kinds of plots that GE-Graph can create, along with the download link, are available at the GE-Graph website.

Other posts in the Google Earth Data Tools series

  1. KML Editors
  2. Diagramming In Google Maps And Google Earth With Smoot
  3. Plotting Data In Google Earth Using GE-Graph
  4. Drawing Grids, Paths And Polygons In Google Earth Using GE-Path
  5. Online Google Earth Utilities For Buffering And Area Calculations
  6. Easy Display Of Thematic Data In Google Maps And Google Earth
  7. Using GIF/PNG Transparency In Displaying Raster Graphics In Google Earth
  8. Adding Vector Graphic Objects To Google Earth
  9. Animated GIFs In Google Earth
  10. Creating A Network KML Link To A Google Spreadsheet
  11. LIDAR Tools
  12. EarthPlot Software Tools For Google Earth
  13. Geographic Time Animations
  14. Convert TIGER Polygons To KML Files
  15. Putting Time Data Into A KML File
  16. Using The KML Time Embedder To Stamp Time Data Into A Google Earth File
  17. Using The KML Time Embedder, Concluded
  18. KML Time Embedder Improved With Hour-Minute-Second Ability
  19. Grid Creation And Path/Polygon Measurements: Two New Online KML Tools
  20. Google Earth PhotoOverlay Tool
  21. KML Random Placemark Generator
  22. Update For Online Google Earth Utilities
  23. KML Time Code Utility
  24. Screen Overlays In Google Earth
  25. The KML Screen Overlay Maker Utility
  26. KML Screen Overlay Maker Utility, Concluded
  27. KML Circle Generator
  28. Creating Google Earth Screen Overlays With EarthPaint
  29. Text Editor With KML Validation
  30. Online Spreadsheet To KML Converter
  31. Version 2.0 Of Google’s Online KML Spreadsheet Mapper Tool Released
  32. Creating Google Earth Ground Overlays From Georeferenced Images
  33. Google Earth Ground Overlays With GIF Transparency
  34. Creating "Transparent" Topo Map Overlays For Google Earth
  35. Using Google Earth Ground Overlays To Display Shapefile Data
  36. Converting 3D Objects Into Google Earth Format
  37. Thematic Mapping In Google Earth
  38. An Online KML Validator
  39. Modify A KML Polygon File With Excel Data


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1 Response to “Plotting Data In Google Earth Using GE-Graph”


  1. 1 Marcin

    Looks like a fantastic visualisation tool :)

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