Introduction

What is Google Earth?

Google Earth is a free application that allows users to view aerial photography and geographic information for the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority and the world.

For general information on Google Earth version 4.0 for use on your computer, please visit their web site at: http://earth.google.com/

To download and begin using Google Earth version 4.0, please follow this link: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

Minimum Requirements

Please note: Google Earth recommends the following system requirements for computers running their application:

4 PC

System requirements for Google Earth on the PC

The Google Earth client requires certain system configurations in order to run smoothly.

Minimum configuration:

• Operating System: Windows 2000, Windows XP
• CPU: Pentium 3, 500Mhz - System Memory (RAM): 128MB RAM
• Hard Disk: 400MB free space
• Network Speed: 128 Kbits/sec
• Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 16MB of VRAM
• Screen: 1024x768, "16-bit High Color" screen

Recommended configuration:

• Operating System: Windows XP
• CPU: Pentium 4 2.4GHz+ or AMD 2400xp+
• System Memory (RAM): 512MB RAM
• Hard Disk: 2GB free space
• Network Speed: 768 Kbits/sec
• Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 32MB of VRAM
• Screen: 1280x1024, "32-bit True Color" screen

Please also be aware that the following graphics cards will not run Google Earth:

- ATI Rage Mobility
- ATI XPERT
- ATI 3D Rage

4 MAC

System requirements for Google Earth on the Mac

The Google Earth client requires certain system configurations in order to run smoothly on the Mac.

Minimum Configuration:

• Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3.9
• CPU: G3 500Mhz
• System Memory (RAM): 256MB RAM
• Hard Disk: 400MB free space
• Network Speed: 128 Kbits/sec
• Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 16MB of VRAM
• Screen: 1024x768, "16-bit High Color" screen

Recommended Configuration:

• Operating System: Mac OSX 10.4.4
• CPU: G4 1.2Ghz
• System Memory (RAM): 512MB RAM
• Hard Disk: 2GB free space
• Network Speed: 768 Kbits/sec
• Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 32MB of VRAM
• Screen: 1280x1024, "32-bit True Color" screen

4 LINUX

System requirements for Google Earth on LINUX

To use Google Earth on a Linux computer, you must have at least the following:

• Kernel 2.4 or later
• glibc 2.3.2 w/ NPTL or later
• XFree86-4.0 or x.org R6.7 or later
• CPU: 500Mhz, Pentium 3
• System Memory (RAM): 128MB RAM
• Hard Disk: 400MB free space
• Network Speed: 128 Kbits/sec
• Graphics Card: 3D-capable with 16MB of VRAM
• Screen: 1024x768, "16-bit High Color" screen

Note that Google Earth may work on other configurations not explicitly listed here. The recommended configuration for Linux computers:

• Kernel 2.6 or later
• glibc 2.3.5 w/ NPTL or later
• x.org R6.7 or later

Google Earth has been tested on the following GNU/Linux distributions, but certainly works on others:

• Ubuntu 5.10
• Suse 10.1
• Fedora Core 5
• Linspire 5.1
• Gentoo 2006.0
• Debian 3.1
• Red Hat 9

Please make sure your system has properly-configured OpenGL drivers. If Google Earth appears to be slow and unresponsive, it is likely that your system needs different video drivers.

How do I use Google Earth?

After installing Google Earth, it is first recommended that you visit the online Google user guide at http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/ to become familiar with the application and its controls.

If you are a new user, the Getting to know Google Earth link describes the application and some of the features found in the application's main window. If you are an existing user of Google Earth, the New features in Version 4.0 may be of interest.

Viewing Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority Data

Once Google Earth is installed and running on your computer:
1.	Save the SEMSWA Google Earth files below to your local hard drive by right-clicking and selecting "Save Target As..." to place the files in a folder on your local hard drive (remember where you put them). Rivers, Creeks and Streams.kmz SEMSWA.kmz
2.	Navigate to the target folder and double-click the SEMSWA.kmz to open it and zoom to the Authority boundaries in Google Earth. If you want to see the water course features as well, double-click the Rivers, Creeks and Streams.kmz.
3.	By default, Google Earth initially places the SEMSWA layers in the “Temporary Places” folder in the table of contents on the left. If you would like to save the SEMSWA layers for viewing in later Google Earth sessions, you can click and drag the SEMSWA folder up into the “My Places” folder.
4.	In addition, when you exit Google Earth, you are presented with the option to save your “Temporary Places” to your “My Places” folder. Saving these layers will duplicate the drag and drop action described in step 3 above and allow you to reopen Google Earth and view the data without having to re-load the files. However, if new files are downloaded in the future, you should delete the original files from your “My Places” in order to eliminate these outdated files and prevent overlapping data in Google Earth.
To view additional features or turn off the default boundary layers, select or deselect the SEMSWA features in the Places panel found to the left of the main view.

Who do I contact if I have questions/problems?

For online help with trouble shooting your Google Earth installation, please visit the Google Earth Help Center at: http://earth.google.com/support

In addition to the user guide referenced above, Google offers a number of resources that can help you use and enjoy Google Earth. These include:

• FAQs: View a list answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Google Earth.
• Google Earth Help Center: Use the Help Center at any time to find additional information.
• Troubleshooting: View information that specifically pertains to troubleshooting issues with Google Earth.
• Google Earth Community: Learn from other Google Earth users by asking questions and sharing answers on the Google Earth Community forums.
• The Authority does not currently provide Google Earth support, but you can use the Report a Problem function on this web site and we will try to post additional Google Earth information on this page.

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