Map Overlay Google Earth?

[mlamp20412]

I just read something about using transparent map overlays within Google Earth. It sounds like you could import a bitmap of a historical map and have it appear as a transparent layer over a modern satellite image/map. The bitmap could be scaled to match the scale of the base map and positioned accordingly. This would enable finding the approximate location of old sites on a modern map. I know this can all be done manually, but this sounds great to do it digitally.

Has anyone done this? Did it work well? Are GPS coordinates provided and downloadable to handheld?

I am going to try this out when I get the time and I will post my findings...

[turnerscc]

In Google Earth find your location and then choose the following from the menu:

Add, Image Overlay

A pop up will appear and you can browse to your image. There is a transparency slider to fade out your image

[longgunner]

I use this method (when I can) and it has worked very well for me!

problem is, I can not always find a good enough chunk of historic map to overlay on my google earth map or the historic map is in a very low resolution or they were standing too far away when they took the image of the historic map etc.

I am telling you that this is the very best way to find old towns, houses, farms, factories etc! I just joined but am going to post some of my finds in the next 2 days. when you see them you will see this system really works out! You can always just look at the historic map and then do a search for the old name or the name of the nearest town which still exists on google earth. I can usually find the location without doing an overlay and worrying about coordinates. Hope this makes sense???

Good Luck!

[mlamp20412]

Thanks for the input guys! I have not had a chance to mess with it much. Any spare time I get, I am swinging. I will probably end up working it this winter when I reasearch.

longgunner- did you try the Library of Congress Map Page? They have some supper high res JPEG 2000 maps. Guess it all depends on where you are.

HH-

[longgunner]

I think I was there once, I believe I found better resources through the U of Wisconsin as far as my local area is concerned. I will go back and give it another try.

Thanks

[turnerscc]

Where are some good places online to get maps?

I have been looking but cannot find anything worth using.

[mlamp20412]

the library of congress site?

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