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Outputting Rasters to Google Earth
Up to Tips & Tricks
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1) Load your Idrisi/Arc/Surfer/USGS raster into openWind by using File->Open Raster or alternatively you could use an openWind generated raster. Remember that all rasters are created equal 
If the file is in geographic coordinates, it will ask you to convert to
UTM. say yes and choose a resolution in meters which is smaller than or
roughly equivalent to the original resolution of the raster.
If the file is in UTM already then you wont need to convert it but you
will need to go to Settings->Globals and set the UTM zone by hand so
that it knows which zone it is in and can then output to the
appropriate google earth coordinates which are in geographic.
2) Use the layer properties to determine the colour scheme and to set
the name if no name is displayed. Also, its a good idea to set the
invalid value to -9999. What this does is make sure that areas outside
of the raster are painted as transparent due to being interpreted as
NoData values. This is in the Interpretation Tab of the layer
properties.
3) Right-click on the raster in the left hand panel of openWind and choose Export from the pop-up menu.
4) Choose a new empty directory. In the File Save dialog, choose the
output type at the bottom of the list "Google Earth Overlay" and enter
your filename and press OK.
5) You are given an option to create a legend for you raster. This
isn't shown in Google earth but might be useful for your clients or for
you when you write your report. Otherwise please feel free to delete it.
6) You will notice that you made a kml file and a folder called files.
Select both these in windows explorer and right-click and choose "Send
To Compressed Folder". This will create a zip file. Change the
extension of the ZIP file to KMZ and then you can send this to your
client. I am planning to do this step in the software in the near
future.
That should be it.
Have fun!
Hi Nick,
I have been trying to export some location filesfrom Openwind to Google Earth. I read our FAQ and placed them in WGS84 format using UTM coords, however, they consistently sit in the wrong spot. These coordinates are based in the State of Victoria in Australia. (Zone 54H, WGS84). Is there a way to solve this problem?