Question about google maps..

[KenM]

Is there any way to add depth soundings to google maps or google earth? Would be convenient when looking for new places to go...

 

[Shrew]

Use Active Captain instead

 

[DavidM]

Active Captain has several views that you can select from: nautical, which is Garmin's raster charting, sonar which has more bottom detail, road which is like Google Maps, and satellite which is like Google Earth.


David

 

[Tamrow]

Yes, you can open NOAA raster charts as a layer in Google Earth and it’s easy. Here is the link to download the chart kmz file to open in Google Earth...
https://seamlessrnc.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/RNC/NOAA_RNC/ImageServer

Click on the View In: Google Earth link at the top of the page to download the chart kmz file. Open Google Earth and then navigate to where you saved the kmz file and drag and drop the kmz file you downloaded onto the earth. The Charts will open as a layer in Google Earth. The chart layer will include all the current NOAA charts throughout the United States.

 

[NWSeadog]

Tamrow -- Nice idea. Great idea when exploring new areas.

 

[caltexflanc]

You can also view and download the current USACE hydrographic surveys of various inlets,harbors, channels (such as ICW) in kmz form. Often more current than the latest NOAA chart edition.

 

[Shrew]

The reason I like Active Captain over Google Maps is it has views that include NOAA charts and markers (apparently Google has a plugin for that), along with boating resources (Fuel, marinas, anchorages, etc).

 

[Tamrow]

Each application has its strengths and it makes sense to use the tools you feel are relevant for you. Google Earth, beyond the chart overlay also has an enormous geo-referenced photo library layer which can help the user visualize a location beyond the chart content. The example I have included is a panoramic image I took and uploaded to the website 360cities.com of Outer Island in the Thimble Islands, they share their panoramic images to Google Earth. When you click on the photo icon on the chart, the image is represented in a pop-up, and when you click on the image in the pop-up the panorama opens. The panoramic image can be navigated to display a 360 degree view of the location.

Here is a link to the panorama in 360cities.com...
https://www.360cities.net/image/outer-island-north-end-in-the-thimble-islands