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I have heard of the fame of Venice but never had the chance to really know the so called magical city. Itʼs hard to imagine what a water city looks like. By chance, my daughter is working on a book relate to Venice. Therefore, I want to use Google Earth to introduce this city to you. By collecting information from the web, I build a virtual tour by using Google Earth. Now, follow me to a journey to this city of northeast Italy on islets within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice, a wide inlet of the northern Adriatic Sea.

I feel that every creation is like preparing a feast; the dish list include as follow:
1. Google Earth 3D Model.

2. Dynamic Gondola; I adopt Kleran Orrellʼs Gondola model, however, I kept only hull to decrease the file size.

3. PanoTour: I put 328 transparent panos on the Canal; by press play, it will take you to a 360 panoramio view with several Gondolas slide passing you during the journey.

4. I recorded two Tours; one is from Earth global fly down to Venice; the other is circle around the Venice.

5. Important landmark.

6. Panoramio picture.

7. “Family Tree” song from Venice Band.

8. “Venice, Italy - August 3 2006” from youtube; recored by VeniceArtists.

So, how do you like the feast! Enjoy!

GE operation Instructions:

Even though thereʼs lot of hints, itʼs better to have a well explained operation instruction.Iʼll provide the instruction based on my experience.

1. Itʼs better to download Google Chrome application to view the 3D object. It makes no difference if you just view 2D object, however, Google Chrome product gives better effect.

2. To start, you may turn on layers by check the border box then press “Fly to” under “Venice”. It start from global earth fly over the Mediterranean, and then fly to northeastern corner of Italy in the Venice lagoon; to provide everyone a basic understanding of Veniceʼs geographic location.

3. Now, you may turn on the Gondola layer by check the box; on the upper left corner will show Time Slider; Click “options for the time slider” icon (on the right corner) , set the speed of the animation slow, click the checkbox of loop animation to play continuously; then press the second left “play” icon; it can make more than 10 shuttle fleet Gondola flow on the Grand Canal.

4. Turn on “3D Building” layer. City of Venice model has finished.

5. Turn on “Placemark” layer. I have labelled some major landmarks in Chinese.

6. Pressed “Fly to” under “Get around”; you may zoom in the fly over Venice. First, itʼll take you to the international Airport, youʼll see several piers near the Airport. It takes 15 mins to Venice by boat. Then fly to a bridge that connect the local and Venice. On the bridge, you can see the railroad and road were constructed. At the end of the Bridge, thereʼs a rail station and a big parking lot. Venice does not take into account the traffic within the vehicle so there is a need for a large parking lot. Then along the Grand Canal and then fly over the most famous San Marco Piazza, and then fly to the north of serval islands over the the last stay in Venice.

7. Now you can press “Play” under “Grand Canal pano tour” to lead you to a 360 panoramio journey which will simulate the tour boat sailing. You can see the scenery along the coast, through the bridge, occasionally can be seen Gondola boat floats through the side. You can move the view to change the 360 view angle; by pressing “+” will accelerate the speed; by pressing “-” will decelerate the speed; to press “>>” will move down; to press “<<“ will move up; or press “||” to pause; and press”▊” to stop the fly over.

8. It’s up to you how would you like to enjoy your journey from different sources: Youtube, Panoramio picture, wikipedia or basil web sites, or/and along with music from Venice band.

<This post was translated to English by Chiuwen Ray>

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According to Google Earth Blog on July 2 ,Thomas Vergouwen has built some great files for the 2010 Tour de France. Because the route of the kml file has been completed, so I couldn’t help but want to make a Google Earth flight tour applications.

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Chipolin, One of Taiwan’s leading aerial photographer, produced the “Kenting flight” video last year. That pushed me to create “Kenting Google Earth Flight Tour“. In particular this soundtrack is impressive, so this time I once again base on this soundtrack to create “Yanmingshan Google Earth Flight Tour”.

Like the movie scripts, I have to create several clips by myself. It is a challenge for me, but the results are always sweet. Sharing with you!

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“Born to Run” is a book of a hidden tribe, super athletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen. The author, Christopher McDougall, gave an incredible detail basis on science to show us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong. However, a book about the greatest race the world has never seen without a map to provide a clue is pity. After I read few chapters, it’s hard for me to picture the route by words. Therefore, I decide to create a map based on the story and link it with Google Earth. From this virtual Earth to simulate the route and follow the story, I can finally relate to the story as if I’m watching the race; a live event right in front of me. It has become such a joy to follow the story.

Since the book did not provide any kind of map. I would like to share this Marathon route simulation with all of you. So, please take my virtual earth to lead you to the plot.

According to the author’s description of the traveling route from US to Copper Canyon. I made a virtual fly over the Copper canyon. According to the book and Brooke Kantor’s gps route, I am able to simulate the 47 mile Ultramarathon route/scene from Caballoblanco’s official site. At last, I put everything together in an virtual fly over, you’ll be able to see the best runner, Arnulfo Quimare pushing his body to the limit running in the canyon. In addition, Ron_osborn’s Cooper Loop has been a big help on getting familiar with the Copper Canyon. I will set up a link as well.

The Cooper canyon is a group of canyons consisting of 6 distinct canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara in the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. The overall canyon system is larger and portions are deeper than the Grand Canyon in the neighboring United States. The canyons were formed by six rivers which drain the western side of the Sierra Tarahumara. All six rivers merge into the Rio Fuerte and empty into the Sea of Cortez. The walls of the canyon are a copper/green color which is where the name originates. With the simulation of sea of the cloud at various height in order to give you a feel of the grand scale of the canyon . I hope that you will enjoy the journey as I do.

At last, I selected 9 observation points along the route to provide a 360 degree telescope of the individual scenic. You may click the red dot from the map to get into the detail view.

Note: there’s seems to be a problem/bug while I’m working on Google Earth API and it won’t work until Google Earth fix it.

<This post was translated to English by Chiuwen Ray>

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This Summer my daughter is going to Disney World to visit her friend who is working there. I thought about GEB has introduced a “Disney World in 3D in Google Earth has Arrived!“. Looked so beautiful 3D models, including not only the rides and buildings , but also trees, statues, benches, posts, banners and more! really amazing! I said to myself, why not extend my technique on panorama and make a Pano Tour on Disney World.

The Disney World in Orlando, Florida includes the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Resorts. I chose the traditional Magic Kindom to designate as a tour route. During the simulation, the images brought back all the wonderful memories of our family’s first visit to the USA. We spent a few months traveling from place to place. As I remember,we spent 5 days in Tampa, staying at a friend’s place. Back then my daughter was 5 years old. Every morning we took off, driving one and half hour to be sure to get a good spot. We spent the whole day stayed there until the fireworks went off around Lake EPCOT then drove back to Tampa around midnight. We kept this schedule for 3 continuous days and finally took a break for a day, came back the next and then got bored of the whole thing entirely.

There are 5 Disney World locations in the world. The first is in California, then in Florida, Japan, Hong Kong, and Paris. In Google Earth, in addition to refined 3D models of Orlando, Disneyland Paris is also the same refined 3D model, Tokyo Disneyland was the gray plain of the model, I place these five Disney made a placemark kml File, those who are interested, please download here.

<This post was translated to English by Chiuwen Ray>

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Google Earth Blog on 2010/3/18 describes a 3D city titled the “Remarkable 3D models in Spain“. I could not help to have a curious peek, and wow! What a amazing place! In accordance with a Chinese Geomancy Geography statement, it’s a place “left of the green dragon, right of the white tiger, and in the middle with a pearl in the dragon’s mouth”.

I think “San Sebastian” is an excellent 3D city. In addition to the completely 3d models of buildings that have been built, Google Earth’s terrain is excellent, even the sea reefs are very lifelike. It is such a great platform that I decided to make this “San Sebastian GE 3d tour”.

There is a castle located on Hill Urgull, and a fishing village located at the foot of the hill. I planned a route, from the starting small fishing port, through the old town area, bypassing the beach, and then along the hiking trails, directly across to the Castle.

Along the path, I placed 303 transparent pantos. I used my self-designed street view navigation method, and designed a navigation controller. This includes the automatic play button with acceleration and deceleration functions, and you can move to a 360-degree field of vision on screen anytime.

Such a wonderful place! I decided to place more super-observations on spectacular places, including the two hills, islands, fishing ports, beaches, yachts, as well as the Imperial Palace. They are 360 degree panorama with high High-magnification binoculars.

Finally, I made a 4D Gondola. I placed 3 stations on Hill Urgull, Hill Igueldo, and the St.Clara island, and placed 60 cars between the three places. When you open the “Gondola” layer, you will find the time line controller. Before pressing ‘play’ its best to initially set the appropriate speed, as well as press the “Loop animation” button.

This fictional cable car can be used as a landscape analysis of the simulation. Different people have different views, so if some may think that to set up a virtual cable car at this site is too earth-shattering, then do not open the Gondola Layer. It is the viewer’s decision whether to experience this amazing technological advancement, but to chose not to would be to miss the ride of a lifetime.

<This post was edited by michelle Leipnik>

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Shanghai World Expo in May this year, the Taipei Museum officially opened its doors, to marketing the Taipei Museum, the Taipei City Government organized a number of activities. I have read news reports, some people deform the “Love” four letters as a “taipei” in Chinese characters, which has led to the creation of my desire for it in Google Earth up marketing in Taipei!

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Hengchun Ancient City had been constructed in since 1875. During one hundred and thirty years, it experienced several historical tests, such as typhoons, wars, earthquakes, metropolis plan, artificial destruction and improper maintenance etc. At present, due to its original construction and the better scale of Ancient City, Hengchun Ancient City is designated by Ministry of The Interior as the second-class National Heritage Site.

Recently, Kenting National Park Headquarters authorized GAIAS GIS Consultant Co., Ltd. to develop and establish “Kenting national park Geo-layer demonstrative system”. In this project, the 3D model of Hengchun Ancient City, Dajiansh Mountain, tourist center and Eluanbi Lighthouse all have been accomplished completely. If you are interested in, please go to its official website and download whatever you need. Additionally, there is a webpage which is especially manufactured to compare the presence and the past of Hengchun Ancient City, with a song “the thought gets up” singing by Zheng Yi. This webpage introduces the historical construction, gate structure and the comparison between the remains and new street blocks of Hengchun Ancient City and the comparison of 3D models between the presence and the past could be downloaded and saved as KMZ files. Therefore, I would like to combine this material and the crystal ball of street scenes which were shot when I was walking on the Ancient City to roam around the whole Hengchun Ancient City.

I make use of Space Navigation to record a three-mins flying view around the Ancient City. Besides the model of Ancient City, I also employ ancient streets, temples, Hedong hill in landmark layers and put above them. When you operating, please click the button “fly to Hengchun” in advance, the screen will bring you from outer space to Hengchun Ancient City. The following step is to click “flyover Ancient City” the screen will present that from southern door to entrance looking around the whole inner city firstly and then fly to eastern door take a look at special roof with single eaves and double swallowtail, again, from northern door pass through the city. I furnish a crystal ball within the hole. Through this ball you will feel the experience of travelling through time, back to the old days. Walking out the door, Mt. Hu-Tou will come into your sight and then Looking around the Geomancy Geography, the four spirits Cerulean Dragon, Red Phoenix, White Tiger and Basaltic and the barrier of northwest gap Gueishan and lastly turn to the western door, fly into the building, pass through the window and go back to the Ancient City.

Finally, I design a roaming path; please click play to start this unforgettable trip. This trip will start from northern door, enter in Ancient City, go upstairs floor and then follow the eastern door to begin roaming…..

<This post was translated to English by Joyce Chang>

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The founder of Google Earth Blog - Frank Taylor was scheduled to start his round- the-world tour for global sailing tour on 13/Nov/2009 with the location in the Caribbean at the moment. It deeply inspire me by looking at his project of ‘The Tahina Expedition‘ website which for this worldwide tour’s purpose. It indeed touches my heart to see his dream coming true step-by-step.

For the past four years, his founded ‘Google Earth Blog’ was still simulating my similar project in a later time and I always enjoy reading and understanding his each article for advanced application of Google Earth. Gradually, my capability for the application of Google Earth is having improved as well. Several of my creative work, Frank Taylor will be introduced as well, which indeed give me great encouragement. His kindly introduction and opinion provided is very much appreciated.

In order to express my gratitude, I decided to make a Google Earth works to him, These material in this works are taken from “The Tahina Expedition” website, including:
1. Global tour planning routes
2.Tahina 3D Models by Gerardo Paz and Frank Taylor
3.Tahina real-time position
4.Tweeted position
5.Song by Styx - “Come Sail Away”.

For the first and second items, I can use my best “4D” skills, to make a 4d sailing boat along with the globe route. For the third and fourth data, it could be made real-time dynamic linkage and understand the real-time status of the future five-year of Tahina. I made another with my recent original approach, along the planning route laid by 29 super-high-altitude observation deck (I call the GE satellite), and it can be used to automatically (or manually) play slider-show controller, from a bird eye’s to overlook the fast-sailing in Tahina , (The GE timeline slider slowest time is 30 seconds interval, in order to finish the 70,000 kilometers of planning routes, it indeed need very, very fast sailing, only from the high sky that can clearly see), The fifth is one of Frank Taylor favorite songs, I also borrowed this as a soundtrack.

I make two flying tours, tour1 is a quick lap around the Earth along the planned route, firstly it fly to North Carolina that is the starting point of Tahina Sailing , you will see a 4000-times amplification, called Tahina yacht. The operation of tour2 that you can firstly press the ‘play’ bottom in timeline controller. Howervr, you’d better initially set the slowest speed, as well as ‘tick’ the “Loop animation” buttom. Then, you need to press the ‘repeat’ bottom in tour controller, and then press the ‘play’ button following on. Finally, you will see a 30 seconds lap of journey by surrounding the world. During the period, you may see the Tahina like a spaceship in a fast speed. Sometimes you can also press the ‘pause’ bottom to wait for the space ship showing up.

If you like my works, you are advised to surf the ‘Google Earth Blog’, and the ‘The Tahina Expedition’ website on a regular basis. You will see so many application of Google Earth projects worldwide, and find how Frank Taylor’s dream becomes true. Also, you may concern about our Earth as well. Let us some other time follow Frank’s step to plan another five-year global tour.

<This post was modified by Michael Weng>

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Miramar is a leading shopping centre located in northern Taipei City. It is particularly noted for its very popular Ferris Wheel (48 cabins), which is just like the London Eye. Three years ago, barnabu’s successful work on the new Ferris Wheel inspired me to concentrate on a similar project. This allowed me to focus on the KML language and, one month later, to produce a 4D miramar Ferris Wheel. Since then, I have had a fair amount of confidence to use Google Earth, including the 4D MaoKong Cable Car and the Muzha-route Metro in Taipei.

The GE4.2 version has the newly added PhotoOverlay function which allowed me to try some new applications, including the super observatory function created by myself. Since then, I have been wondering whether I can put a high-powered telescope with 360-degree panorama super-observatory capabilities into the cable car, to simulate the visitors’ view from inside the cabin.

The ‘Tour’ function of GE5.0 also allows me to record much more for the sightseer in terms of Space Navigation. The result is reminiscent of the movement of a cable car, which is similar to a bird’s eye view though it does not come with a 360 degree panorama.

Two weeks ago, I discovered that Google had provided the function ‘Entering a photo Overlay’ in Google Earth API. This gave me the idea of producing a ‘Google Eearth PhotoOverlay Slideshow’ using Web language to automatically transfer from one panoramic scene to the next. If I can produce such panoramic scenes, which simulate the movement of the Big Wheel, and play it automatically, won’t that be a good attempt at making my original dream come true? Well, let me try it in the near future.

Unfortunately, I just like a wall-passer to see the computerised cable car to become fractured image. Obviously the current ‘GE’ function is still unable to satisfy my demands, but the ‘Slideshow’ I created, as described above, can still simulate the Wheel’s movement and provides a good view of the beautiful panoramic scene.

With regard to this project, my ultimate aim is to integrate the three functions referred to above. Firstly, it will be possible to press the ‘Icon’ button (second right at the top), to begin the Wheel’s rotation. Whilst you listen to the song ‘Taipei’s sky’, press the ‘Play’ button and the movement will be similar to that of the turning Wheel. Now, if you so choose, you can pull the slider to control the speed of the movement, and select the two high-rise towers, Taipei 101 and the Shin Kong Life Tower, as an optional background to the computerised scene. By so doing, you can panoramically view the rotating Wheel, or alternatively, press the ‘Pause’ button and leave ‘PhotoOverlay’ mode to observe Taipei from a bird’s eye view.

<This post was translated to English by Michael Weng>