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The Megalithic Portal meets Google Earth |
Andy B
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|  Posted 15-08-2006 at 23:02
After much work, here is a download of the locations of all 15582 ancient sites we have listed on the Megalithic Portal, with summary descriptions and thumbnail image, where available.
This is almost ready to release to a wider audience, but it's posted here to allow you to try it. It's currently a test version, we have ironed out the majority of the problems. Please let me know how you get on with it.
http://www.megalithic.org.uk/megp/megalithic_earth.kmz (1.6MB download)
You will need to download, install and run the Google Earth application first. http://earth.google.com
You will need version 4 (beta). I've not come across anyone who's had any problems with this version so it seems reliable to use. You will need quite a high spec computer though.
Once installed, download our file above and do a File/Open to open the file in Google Earth.
Another innovation from the Megalithic Portal. Thanks to everyone who's contributed to this, especially Jan (Klingon)
The contents of this file are copyright to the many Portal contributors, it is for personal use only and it is not for redistribution outside of Google Earth. No warranty is given as to the accuracy or suitability of this data - ie. please don't try to fly any planes or aim any missiles with it!
Let us know how you get on with it, and please submit corrections, updates and new text and images for inclusion back at the Megalithic Portal site pages that are linked.
Cheers,
Andy
[ This message was edited by: Andy B on 2006-08-22 21:09 ]
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PeteG
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| Posted 15-08-2006 at 23:14
Wow! Well done to all of you, a very useful resource,
PeteG
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Jimit
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|  Posted 16-08-2006 at 13:06
Well done everyone 
However  Google Earth's coverage of Britain is patchy in detail, compare pics of Stonehenge with some of the sites in Scotland.
For a comparison FlashEarth is generally more comprehensive and can be linked directly from any site.
Compare this pic of Danebury in Hants http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.137249&lon=-1.538907&z=16.1&r=0&src=2
with the Google version.
I'm beginning to up-date any sites I have contributed here and elsewhere with a link to FlashEarth.
Jim.
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Andy B
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 15:24
Jim,
I've not come across this mapping system before, I can easily add links from all our sites. I could replace the existing Multimap aerial photo link if the res is better? Does it have worldwide coverage?
Andy
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Jimit
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|  Posted 16-08-2006 at 15:45
Hi Andy,
I've just done a quick tour and it seems to be a better choice for the UK but Google does Paris and Madrid better. Flash Earth may be better for UK and Google for Europe.
Use my link above (active) to experiment as you can toggle between the two to compare. Hints...Left click to drag map and double click to centre. Bottom right to create a link.
Warning! Hours of time-wasting 
Jim.
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Jimit
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:05
Just done a few more experiments and Flash Earth is better for mainland Britain, Google for Ireland but neither cover the northern islands well.
Jim.
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Andy B
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:18
It seems to be using the same maps as the Multimap aerial photos we already have, but the maps are a bit bigger so worth having. It appears to need different zoom levels for England, Wales and the USA compared with other countries, where the resolution is nothing like as good. I've added the link to the sute pages (aeroplane logo), adjusting the zoom level depending on which country you're in.
The thing Google Earth gives you is a chance to see sites in relation to one another, with 3D contours and from any angle. That's got to bring out some new insights into the relationship and siting of one site to another.
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cropredy
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:23
Have to agree about flashearth, you can make out features really well, its like having your own plane to fly about in?
Trouble is its a bit hypnotic, you end up looking for sites all over the place, and the names in Welsh are so strange?
If a really good compass arrangement could be fixed onto this site, many of these straigt line alignments that these daft dowsers go on about could be tested?
With the basic n,s,e,w.there at the moment its quite good for looking at the alignment of sites and churchs.
Kevin
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Andy B
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:29
The trouble is that the same zoom level doesn't appear to work for different parts of the country, and if you get the zoom level wrong you just see a black screen. Zoom of 16 (as currently set for England) doesn't work for Dartmoor or Devon. So it's difficult to get the Portal to link to the extreme close-up views as it doesn't what to set the zoom to.
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Andy B
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:31
I seem to have found the edge of the high res maps.
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=50.4551992455&lon=-3.93690322371&z=15
Zoom of 15 in this part of Devon and you get half a black screen. That's a bit pants...
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Jimit
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:51
Sorry Andy, seemed OK to me. Res better than Google though. I think it's a case of sucking and seeing to find out which is better for a particular site.
Jim.
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Andy B
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| Posted 16-08-2006 at 16:55
Not to worry, I'll keep the links in as it's useful and does work worldwide if you can get the zoom level right.
Back to Google Earth - has anyone else tried our download?
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davidmorgan
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| Posted 27-11-2006 at 13:40
Any chance of splitting it down into more manageable chunks?
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Andy B
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| Posted 27-11-2006 at 20:37
Yes, once I've sorted out the current spate of connection problems and got the 2nd internet link up 100%
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