{"id":5022,"date":"2018-04-10T06:45:27","date_gmt":"2018-04-10T04:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sigterritoires.fr\/?p=5022"},"modified":"2018-10-17T12:09:45","modified_gmt":"2018-10-17T10:09:45","slug":"kml-getting-started","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sigterritoires.fr\/index.php\/en\/kml-getting-started\/","title":{"rendered":"KML: Getting Started"},"content":{"rendered":"

KML(Keyhole\u00a0Markup\u00a0Language)\u00a0is\u00a0an\u00a0XML\u00a0data\u00a0format\u00a0used\u00a0to display\u00a0information\u00a0in\u00a0a geographical context.\u00a0Just as\u00a0Web\u00a0browsers\u00a0read\u00a0and\u00a0display\u00a0HTML\u00a0files,\u00a0 land-based browsers\u00a0such as Google\u00a0Earth\u00a0read\u00a0and\u00a0display\u00a0KML\u00a0files.\u00a0KML\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0language\u00a0readable byeveryone\u00a0,\u00a0composed\u00a0of\u00a0text\u00a0and\u00a0punctuation\u00a0.\u00a0It\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0created\u00a0and\u00a0edited\u00a0through a\u00a0basic\u00a0text editor,\u00a0saved,\u00a0and then\u00a0previewed\u00a0in\u00a0a land-based browser\u00a0.\u00a0You\u00a0do\u00a0not\u00a0need\u00a0to be a\u00a0wizard to\u00a0master\u00a0the basics of KML, and\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0notice\u00a0than\u00a0this\u00a0knowledge\u00a0will\u00a0make it possible to create powerful presentations\u00a0that\u00a0depict\u00a0your\u00a0geographical\u00a0data\u00a0and images\u00a0on\u00a0the numerous land-based free browsers\u00a0such as\u00a0: Google\u00a0Earth, Microsoft Virtual\u00a0Earth, NASA\u00a0WorldWind, ArcGisExplorer, ..
\nYou\u00a0can\u00a0create\u00a0KML\u00a0files\u00a0with\u00a0the interface\u00a0Google Earth,\u00a0or\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0use a simple\u00a0text editor\u00a0to write\u00a0rough\u00a0KML\u00a0from\u00a0Zeron.\u00a0KML files\u00a0and\u00a0their\u00a0related\u00a0images\u00a0can be\u00a0stored\u00a0in KMZ archives\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0all\u00a0related files\u00a0and images\u00a0and\u00a0models\u00a0are included \u00a0in, just, \u00a0one\u00a0zipped KMZ\u00a0container\u00a0.\u00a0To\u00a0share\u00a0your\u00a0KML and KMZ\u00a0 files\u00a0,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0e-mail\u00a0them, \u00a0as\u00a0files attached\u00a0,\u00a0host them\u00a0locally\u00a0to\u00a0be shared on\u00a0a\u00a0private\u00a0or\u00a0business\u00a0network,\u00a0or publicly on\u00a0a\u00a0web\u00a0server\u00a0.
\nOnce\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0correctly\u00a0configured\u00a0your\u00a0server\u00a0and\u00a0shared\u00a0the\u00a0web address\u00a0for\u00a0your KML\u00a0files,\u00a0anyone\u00a0using\u00a0Google Earth (\u00a0or\u00a0any compatible\u00a0application)\u00a0can display\u00a0the KML\u00a0files\u00a0you\u00a0create\u00a0.<\/p>\n

You\u00a0can\u00a0use KML to\u00a0add\u00a0your\u00a0own\u00a0landmarks\u00a0,\u00a0geometries\u00a0, annotations\u00a0and\u00a0images\u00a0on\u00a0Google Earth basic\u00a0image.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u00a0host\u00a0KML\u00a0files\u00a0in a\u00a0server,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0even\u00a0update\u00a0your presentation\u00a0in the system at regular intervals\u00a0or\u00a0whenever \u00a0your\u00a0data changes.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0files publicly hosted\u00a0are indexed\u00a0by\u00a0Web\u00a0search\u00a0 engines\u00a0for\u00a0easy\u00a0access\u00a0to\u00a0all the Web users.<\/p>\n

It is very easy to personalize\u00a0your\u00a0KML\u00a0presentations,\u00a0thanks\u00a0to\u00a0the use\u00a0of\u00a0customized\u00a0icons\u00a0,bullets\u00a0,\u00a0colours\u00a0,\u00a0placemarks\u00a0, and\u00a0labels\u00a0.\u00a0KML\u00a0\u00a0allows\u00a0you to display\u00a0your\u00a0elements\u00a0at specific\u00a0time\u00a0ranges\u00a0and\u00a0change\u00a0the display\u00a0according to\u00a0the\u00a0user’s\u00a0zoom\u00a0level, with\u00a0increasing\u00a0levels\u00a0of\u00a0detail\u00a0as\u00a0the user\u00a0approaches\u00a0the ground.<\/p>\n

\"\"M<\/em>L 2.2 supports the presentation of astronomical and terrestrial data. When you include a special hint (hint = \u00ab\u00a0target = sky\u00a0\u00bb) at the beginning of a KML file, the browser interprets the data in a different way and projects it onto a virtual celestial sphere that surrounds the Earth. In Sky mode, the Google Earth camera<\/em> looks to the sky rather than down to Earth. The main difference for the creator of the KML is that he must perform some arithmetic calculations to convert the astronomical coordinates (ascension and right declination) into terrestrial coordinates (longitude and latitude). Everything else in the KML works the same way in Sky (Sky) and Earth (Earth) modes.<\/em><\/p>\n

To see more examples of this article, download and install Google Earth http:\/\/earth.google.com<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

In these series of articles we will be using a Google Maps plugin. It does not allow to use all the features of Google Earth.<\/p>\n

Your first KML<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here is a first KML to get started.<\/p>\n

\"\"<?xml version=\u00a0\u00bb1.0″ encoding=\u00a0\u00bbUTF-8″?>
\n<kml xmlns=\u00a0\u00bbhttp:\/\/www.opengis.net\/kml\/2.2″>\u00a0\u00a0 <Placemark>
\n<name>Simple placemark<\/name>
\n<description>Attached to the ground. Intelligently places itself\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 at the height of the underlying terrain.<\/description>
\n<Point>
\n<coordinates>-122.0822035425683,37.42228990140251,0<\/coordinates>
\n<\/Point>
\n<\/Placemark> <\/kml><\/p>\n

This is what you get when loaded in Google Maps or Google Earth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Click\u00a0\u00a0the icon\u00a0,\u00a0you\u00a0see\u00a0appear\u00a0the\u00a0bullet\u00a0corresponding\u00a0with the\u00a0text\u00a0defined\u00a0in\u00a0the KML\u00a0file\u00a0.<\/p>\n

To start\u00a0practicing the\u00a0KML\u00a0language\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0enter\u00a0this\u00a0sample\u00a0text\u00a0in\u00a0any word processor\u00a0(Notepad\u00a0will\u00a0do the job\u00a0).
\nSave\u00a0the\u00a0file\u00a0with\u00a0an\u00a0extension.kml and open\u00a0the\u00a0file\u00a0in\u00a0Google Earth\u00a0on\u00a0your\u00a0computer\u00a0Once\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0saved\u00a0the\u00a0file\u00a0\u00a0,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0also\u00a0edit it\u00a0.\u00a0For\u00a0example\u00a0,\u00a0try\u00a0to change\u00a0it, re-save it with a different name and, finally, open it with Google Earth.<\/p>\n

Then\u00a0,\u00a0try\u00a0changing the values\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0element <\u00a0coordinates\u00a0>\u00a0,\u00a0save\u00a0the\u00a0file\u00a0and\u00a0look\u00a0where\u00a0the new\u00a0icon appears.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0best\u00a0way\u00a0to master KML\u00a0is\u00a0to\u00a0experiment\u00a0with\u00a0examples\u00a0of\u00a0files, to modify the\u00a0values and\u00a0\u00a0display\u00a0the\u00a0results\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0browser\u00a0.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u00a0make\u00a0a\u00a0mistake,\u00a0you\u00a0will\u00a0see\u00a0nothing\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0browser,\u00a0and this is\u00a0the\u00a0proof\u00a0that\u00a0there is\u00a0an\u00a0error\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0file.<\/p>\n

\"\"Google Earth provides a feature to control mistakes: Select Options> General and under KML Error Handling, choose Show for all errors.<\/em><\/p>\n

You\u00a0can\u00a0also\u00a0use\u00a0a\u00a0KML\u00a0validator\u00a0to\u00a0check\u00a0your\u00a0KML code.\u00a0For\u00a0example,\u00a0see\u00a0the\u00a0KMLValidator\u00a0by\u00a0Galdos\u00a0Systems\u00a0at<\/p>\n

www.kmlvalidator.com<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Structure of a<\/strong>\u00a0KML<\/strong>\u00a0file<\/strong><\/p>\n

Each\u00a0KML\u00a0file\u00a0starts with\u00a0both\u00a0lines\u00a0illustrated\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0example\u00a0.<\/p>\n

\"\"? <?xml version=\u00a0\u00bb1.0″ encoding=\u00a0\u00bbUTF-8″?>
\n<kml xmlns=\u00a0\u00bbhttp:\/\/www.opengis.net\/kml\/2.2″<\/p>\n

If\u00a0you\u00a0create\u00a0a\u00a0KML\u00a0from\u00a0scratch,\u00a0make sure\u00a0you\u00a0copy\u00a0these\u00a0two\u00a0lines\u00a0textually\u00a0at the beginning of the\u00a0file\u00a0.\u00a0A\u00a0KML\u00a0file\u00a0can only\u00a0contain\u00a0one\u00a0\u00a0element\u00a0<\u00a0kml\u00a0>.\u00a0Do\u00a0not\u00a0forget the\u00a0closing\u00a0<\/\u00a0kml\u00a0>\u00a0tag\u00a0at the end of the\u00a0file\u00a0.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0file\u00a0contains\u00a0an\u00a0element\u00a0that has\u00a0three\u00a0children\u00a0.\u00a0The\u00a0brackets\u00a0<>\u00a0indicate\u00a0the\u00a0names KML\u00a0elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Edit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tag<\/td>\nContents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
<name><\/td>\nLabel\u00a0for the\u00a0Placemark<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<description><\/td>\nText (and optional images) providing additional information<\/p>\n

about the placemark. It appears in the information box.<\/p>\n

This balloon appears when the user clicks on the site.<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<Point><\/td>\nContains the <coordinates> element.<\/p>\n

The <coordinates> element contains values for the longitude, latitude, and altitude of <Placemark>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Modifier<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since the KML\u00a0is\u00a0an\u00a0XML\u00a0data\u00a0format,\u00a0it\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0consistent\u00a0structure\u00a0that\u00a0respects\u00a0some\u00a0rules<\/p>\n

\"\"An<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>element<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>begins with its name in brackets (<<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>Placemark<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>>).<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>An<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>element<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>ends<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>with the name in square brackets<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>preceded<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>by<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>a<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>forward slash<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(<\/<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>Placemark<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>>).<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>The<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>value<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>of<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>the element<\/em>\u00a0<\/em> is contained<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>between<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>these<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>two<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>tags<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simple elements and Complex elements<\/strong><\/p>\n

In KML, any word\u00a0enclosed\u00a0in brackets (<>)\u00a0is\u00a0an\u00a0element.<\/p>\n

\"\"When\u00a0an element\u00a0name\u00a0begins\u00a0<\/em>with\u00a0a\u00a0capital\u00a0letter\u00a0he\u00a0is\u00a0an\u00a0element\u00a0complex,\u00a0which\u00a0means it\u00a0can\u00a0contain\u00a0other\u00a0elements.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For\u00a0example,\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0snippet,\u00a0<item>\u00a0element\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0complex\u00a0that\u00a0contains\u00a0the\u00a0<coordinates>element\u00a0:<\/p>\n

<Point>
\n<coordinates> -122.084583,37.42227,0 <\/ coordinates>
\n<\/ Point><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"The\u00a0names\u00a0of the\u00a0simple elements\u00a0\u00a0start\u00a0with\u00a0a low case letter\u00a0.\u00a0The\u00a0Simple elements\u00a0\u00a0can\u00a0contain other\u00a0elements\u00a0.<\/em><\/p>\n

A\u00a0single\u00a0element\u00a0only\u00a0contains\u00a0\u00a0data\u00a0as\u00a0characters\u00a0(in\u00a0XML\u00a0terms:\u00a0letters,\u00a0numbers and\u00a0symbols\u00a0that\u00a0are\u00a0not\u00a0used\u00a0for XML are utilized for mark-up purposes).\u00a0In\u00a0the example\u00a0Bonjour.kml,<name>, <description>,\u00a0and\u00a0<coordinates>\u00a0are\u00a0examples\u00a0of simple\u00a0elements\u00a0.<\/p>\n

Complex\u00a0elements\u00a0are\u00a0also\u00a0called\u00a0parents\u00a0because\u00a0they\u00a0contain\u00a0other\u00a0elements.\u00a0The \u00a0simple<\/p>\n

elements\u00a0are\u00a0called\u00a0children.\u00a0In\u00a0a\u00a0KML\u00a0file,\u00a0children\u00a0are\u00a0recessed\u00a0more\u00a0spaces\u00a0of the position of\u00a0their\u00a0parent\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0file,\u00a0but\u00a0this\u00a0convention\u00a0is\u00a0simply\u00a0for\u00a0readability.\u00a0Browsers\u00a0do not\u00a0distinguish the\u00a0different\u00a0levels\u00a0of indentation<\/p>\n

A few<\/strong>\u00a0rules<\/strong>\u00a0to<\/strong>\u00a0follow<\/strong>\u00a0scrupulously<\/strong><\/p>\n

A few\u00a0general rules\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0in\u00a0mind\u00a0when\u00a0creating\u00a0KML\u00a0files:<\/p>\n

\"\"The case is important.<\/em> Each\u00a0element\u00a0name\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0written\u00a0exactly\u00a0as\u00a0indicated\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0KML2.2\u00a0Reference\u00a0,\u00a0respecting\u00a0the\u00a0capital and lower case.\u00a0<\/em>
\n<\/em>\u2022\u00a0The order\u00a0is\u00a0significant.\u00a0TheKML\u00a0children elements\u00a0 must\u00a0be\u00a0listed\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0order indicated\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0KML\u00a0Reference\u00a02.2.\u00a0You\u00a0can\u00a0omit\u00a0children elements\u00a0 but\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0not rearrange them.\u00a0<\/em>
\n<\/em>\u2022 The\u00a0children elements\u00a0\u00a0can\u00a0only belong\u00a0to the\u00a0allowed\u00a0parent\u00a0elements\u00a0.\u00a0You\u00a0must\u00a0follow the individual \u00a0syntax\u00a0individual\u00a0of the\u00a0KML<\/em> 2.2\u00a0Reference.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

And the cherry<\/strong>\u00a0on<\/strong>\u00a0the cake …<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Google Earth copy and paste.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"When\u00a0displaying\u00a0a\u00a0KML\u00a0file\u00a0in\u00a0Google Earth,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0easily\u00a0copy the\u00a0functionality\u00a0of Google Earth\u00a0and\u00a0paste\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0text\u00a0editor\u00a0such\u00a0than\u00a0<\/em>Notepad\u00a0.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It is\u00a0somehow counter intuitive\u00a0that\u00a0you\u00a0could\u00a0copy\u00a0a\u00a0graphic feature\u00a0of the\u00a03D\u00a0viewer\u00a0of Google Earth and\u00a0when\u00a0you\u00a0paste\u00a0it in\u00a0a\u00a0text\u00a0editor,\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0converted\u00a0in\u00a0its\u00a0corresponding\u00a0KML text\u00a0format\u00a0,\u00a0but\u00a0try\u00a0!\u00a0it\u00a0works\u00a0!<\/p>\n

Follow\u00a0the\u00a0following steps\u00a0\u00a0to observe the KML code\u00a0of a\u00a0feature\u00a0such\u00a0as\u00a0reference\u00a0mark, GroundOverlay\u00a0,\u00a0Polygon (shape)\u00a0or\u00a0LineString\u00a0(path\u00a0)\u00a0in\u00a0Google Earth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the\u00a03D\u00a0viewer\u00a0(or\u00a0panel\u00a0Places\u00a0) from Google Earth,\u00a0place\u00a0your\u00a0cursor\u00a0in the\u00a0feature\u00a0to highlight.<\/p>\n

Click\u00a0with the\u00a0right button\u00a0of the\u00a0mouse\u00a0and\u00a0select\u00a0Copy<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0drop-down\u00a0menu\u00a0that appears\u00a0.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Open a\u00a0text\u00a0editor\u00a0and\u00a0paste\u00a0the\u00a0contents\u00a0of the\u00a0clipboard.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

KML code for the\u00a0function\u00a0selected\u00a0appears\u00a0in\u00a0the text\u00a0editor.\u00a0(Make sure\u00a0to use\u00a0a\u00a0text\u00a0editor\u00a0that\u00a0does\u00a0not\u00a0add\u00a0formatting\u00a0additional\u00a0or information\u00a0to the\u00a0file\u00a0text).<\/p>\n

Save\u00a0the\u00a0file\u00a0with\u00a0an\u00a0extension.\u00a0kml\u00a0.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0the next article we\u00a0will discuss\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0tags\u00a0KML\u00a0flagship\u00a0: <\u00a0Placemark\u00a0>\u00a0and<description>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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