Export

Rasters for Google Earth

Google Earth permits the selection of local raster files as over-
lays for local “flying.” Any of the various types of geodata
objects prepared in TNTmips and TNTedit can be used to create
TNT vector object these raster overlays for Google Earth. These rasters must be in
GIF (*.gif), TIFF (*.tif), PNG (*.png), or JPEG (*.jpg) format and
TNT raster object
be accompanied by a Keyhole Markup Language (*.kml) header
file in the same directory with a matching name. The KML file
contains the positional information and other data Google Earth
needs to use the raster as a local layer.
Vector, CAD, shape, and other TNT objects can also be added as
overlays by converting them to one of these four raster types.
Using PNG is recommended since it has transparency, compres-
sion, and can be used as 8-bit composite color or 32-bit true
color RGBalpha. Geometric objects, pin maps, or other content
converted to a PNG file will contain the geometric elements (for
export TNT transpar- example, styled points, lines, and/or polygons) as shown in this
ent raster to PNG illustration while the rest of the PNG raster will be transparent. If
your polygon elements or components of your symbol use par-
tially transparent colors, they will retain this partial transpar-
ency as illustrated by the floodplain polygons.
Any TNT raster object can be exported with an optional, co-
named *.kml header file. Google may add new formats to the
accepted list. As a result, this export option can be selected for
any of the many TNT raster export formats, for example JPEG2000
export produces compressed raster (.jp2), MrSID (.sid)... Other software
two files may also adopt this KML file as a means to provide the
same geoposition information for other formats similar
to the general use of ARC/INFO world and MapInfo
Double-clicking on TAB files. For these reasons, TNT’s Export process per-
the KML file opens mits the creation of these auxiliary files for any ex-
Google Earth with
ported raster format.
the transparent PNG
file in the correct The only coordinate reference system used at this time
geoposition.
by Google Earth is WGS84 latitude and longitude in
decimal degrees with an optional altitude above mean
sea level. Plan ahead and create all your different types
of objects in this system if Google Earth is the target or
convert them later before exporting.

The Google Earth Lodging

layer is turned on but is not
visible at this zoom level.

TNT-derived floodplains overlay and Google Earth

Lodging layer over Google Earth image

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