My First Google Earth Project - Alquézar - #CommunityChallenge

Google Maps contribution stories
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Today, I created my very first #GoogleEarth Project. I tried out some of the different features of this new exciting, application.

Since the announcement by @Raleigh in this article, I have been thinking about some ideas of what I and other Local Guides could do with Google Earth Projects. Knowing myself, they would just remain ideas, unless I force myself to get hands-on-experience. What better way than to organize a #CommunityChallenge? So, I picked a topic close to my heart. One of my favorite holiday destinations on the Iberic, Spanish peninsula: Alquézar.

A photo of a large sign with the name Alquezar. You see my dog and myself outlined as shadow in the foreground.
A photo of a large sign with the name Alquezar. You see my dog and myself outlined as shadow in the foreground.1008×756 520 KB

I can tell you, working with #GoogleEarth Projects is a lot of fun. As this was my first project, I think I only touched the surface of what can be done. Getting familiar with the User Interface (UI) was very easy, but then I am generally rather tech-savvy. Whilst building my project, I learned a lot. I have gotten some insights that I shared in this separate post on the LGC “How to” forum. The one BIG learning-curve that I do wish to share here with you now, though, is that you build your project on a desktop, but it looks VERY different on mobile.

A sample on my desktop:

A screenshot of what one particular stop looks like on a desktop computer. It shows the whole church in 3-D in context with its surroundings.
A screenshot of what one particular stop looks like on a desktop computer. It shows the whole church in 3-D in context with its surroundings.1916×837 471 KB

The same sample on mobile:

A screenshot of the same stop with the church, but this time on my Pixel 2XL mobile .
A screenshot of the same stop with the church, but this time on my Pixel 2XL mobile .360×720 390 KB

As you can see, the Google Earth view of the church on my desktop is nicely framed, but the one on my mobile is not. There you need to pinch (zoom out) the Google Earth view to see the whole church.

It gets worse in this example when I was trying to show an aerial view of the section of a walk from the church to the Mirador.

Here is my desktop again:

A screenshot of the aerial view of the walk. You can see the church on the bottom left and the destination on the top right. The whole section of the walk is visible.
A screenshot of the aerial view of the walk. You can see the church on the bottom left and the destination on the top right. The whole section of the walk is visible.1917×840 689 KB

Here is the same on my mobile:

A screenshot of the same aerial view of the walk. You cannot see the church or the Mirador (destination ) but only a small section of the walk .
A screenshot of the same aerial view of the walk. You cannot see the church or the Mirador (destination ) but only a small section of the walk .360×720 452 KB

So the project that I am about to share is designed for desktop and not optimized for mobile. I purposely did not change anything once I found out this shortcoming of #GoogleEarth to showcase this issue. But honestly, I shall mostly use my desktop to enjoy this project myself, so I have no intention to spoil it on a desktop to make it better for mobile.

So here it is. My first Google Earth project:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DePv9YkNkE78-4T8r3lvf277IBIaW78S&usp=sharing

Please let me know in the comments what you think. I am soliciting constructive feedback as I am also here to learn and improve my Local Guides’ skills.

CommunityChallenge Entry for “My World” Category

I am submitting both this post and the URL of my #GoogleEarth project to the #CommunityChallenge. The whole ethos of the project is to learn hands-on and inspire one another.

Here are the categories you can choose from:

#CommunityChallenge Categories:

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@JeroenM

In Spanish

Gracias por los consejos y el avance, es divertida la propuesta e incentiva a desafiarnos a nosotros mismos.

Ver tu proyecto presentado nos quita también un poco del miedo!

No es tan difícil como pensaba.

Gracias por compartir!

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Hi @JeroenM

Wow… cool project you have here.

I am still processing all the information you post. I am a slow learner. Hahahaha…

Btw, I still don’t know community challenge. What do you mean by that.

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Hi @JeroenM well done on your Goolge Earth project, you did a very good job there, you used all the required tools or media types such as photos, videos and 360 photos. Thanks for sharing.

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Thanks @JeroenM sharing us a knowledgable and informative article about Google Earth project

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Hello @JeroenM ,it’s great

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Thank you @LuaPL , @Raphael-Mahumane , @Zalik1 and @MAHBUB_HYDER for your positive responses.

@Ddimitra Thank you as well and thank you for reaching out. The #CommunityChallenge is simple. You are invited/ encouraged to get hands-on experience with Google Earth and challenged to use it in a creative way to inspire other members of the community.

Once you have created your Google Earth Project (before December 31st) simply submit it to one of the categories listed in my post above. Your project will be featured and discussed as part of the learning experience. The #CommunityChallenge is presented as a competition because a lot of Local Guides seem to like competing. For me personally, it is all about participating and leveraging my own insights and capabilities.

Let me know if you need any help with your project. Feel free to privately share it for review if it makes you feel more comfortable than sharing it with the community here straight away.

Happy Mapping and Let’s guide and be guided.

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@nyevla_local_guide I enjoyed your post about Alquezar. Hopefully, this Google Earth Project will bring back some nice memories.

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Wow @JeroenM ! :heart_eyes: :earth_africa:

I’m so fascinated of your amazing Google Earth Project! :star_struck: :+1:t2:

Thank you very much for sharing it here! :star_struck:

Many greetings from Hamburg, Germany

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Thank you so much, for your enthusiastic response @ChiaraMariaC . I have already started to build my second Google Earth Project. You should try it yourself and participate in our #CommunityChallenge. Before you do, you may wish to read my 9 Insights When Creating Google Earth Projects.

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Namskar…

** @JeroenM **

I found some new info when I read it, photo was very good, I m trying to to learn from this, no Idea how I will, but thanks for Sharing…

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Thank You for your support. @JeroenM

You are very kind

Hmmmm… I have already tried, and will post for community challenge

Where should I post. In here or in Facebook Groups?

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Thank you @Shrut19 and @Ddimitra for your comments. Devi, I have tagged you under the #CommunityChallenge category for Google Maps Lists, so you can share your own Google Earth Project and participate. Let’s guide and be guided.

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