Module 7: Google Earth-South Florida Population and Features

The final week of Computer Cartography utilized Google Earth Pro software to create an interactive dot population density map of south Florida. Surface water vector data was provided in shapefile format. In order to open this data on Google Earth, the features were symbolized based on the water feature type and then converted to a KML file using the LAYER TO KML tool in ArcGIS Pro. Dot density data was then overlayed on Google Earth with the surface water KML file. This created an interactive map of south Florida. A screenshot of the map is included below: 

Lake and ponds were symbolized as navy blue, streams a light blue, and the marsh/wetland/swamp/bog features were symbolized as a green color. Population density points were formatted as a light teal color to contrast with the aerial basemap. In addition to this map, a recorded tour of the following places was created: Miami Metropolitan Area, downtown Miami, downtown Fort Lauderdale, Tampa Bay Area, downtown St. Petersburg, and downtown Tampa. Points for each of these locations was created and zoomed in to view the 3D buildings and the city's main features in the final recorded tour. The Google Earth tour feature was new to me and seems like a great way for anyone to create presentations without the use of ArcGIS software.