Google Earth
Reference Projects Feature

How To Use The Reference Project Feature

Overview:

"Reference Projects" is a feature that allows you to overlay data from different Google Earth projects onto your current map view. This lets you see information from multiple sources at once, without having to merge everything into a single project.

How to Use It:

1. Open the Layers Menu: Go to the "Layers" section in Google Earth Web.

2. Manage Reference Projects: Click on "Manage reference projects."

3. Add a Project: You will see the list of Google Earth projects you have in Drive. Select the project you want to add as a reference.

4. The title of the project you selected will appear in the "Layers" window. 

What You'll See:

• The features from your reference project will now appear on the map, overlaid on your main project.

• You can interact with these features (click on them to get more information), but you can't directly edit them.

• The reference project data won't show up in the left-hand panel where your main project's features are listed.

Why This Is Useful:

• Comparing Data: You can easily compare different datasets or projects. For example, you might overlay a map of earthquake fault lines with a map of population density to see which areas are at higher risk.

• Analyzing Information: By combining data from multiple sources, you can gain a more complete understanding of a particular area or issue.

• Streamlining Workflow: Instead of constantly switching between projects or merging data, you can keep everything organized and accessible in one view.

Important Things to Remember:

• Viewing Only: You can only view the data from reference projects. To edit them, you'll need to open the original project.

• Personal View: Reference projects are only visible to you. They won't be shared with others when you share your main project.

• Works with KML Files: You can also add local KML/KMZ files as reference projects, giving you even more flexibility.

Example:

Imagine you're studying deforestation. You might have one project with a map of forest boundaries, and another project with data on recent deforestation activity. By adding the deforestation data as a reference project, you can see exactly where the forest is being lost and how it's changing over time.

This new feature in Google Earth Web is a great way to combine and analyze data from multiple sources, making it a powerful tool for research, education, and exploration.