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There are several differences between the free version of Google Earth and Google Earth Pro. The free version of Google Earth lets you print screen resolution images, whereas Google Earth Pro offers premium high resolution photos. The free version of Google Earth requires you to manually geo-locate geographic information system (GIS) images, but Google Earth Pro helps you automatically find them. And the free version of Google Earth only allows you to import image files that are up to a max texture size, but Google Earth Pro offers Super Image Overlays that are more than the max texture size.
Google Earth Pro uses the same imagery as the free version of Google Earth. However, Google Earth Pro offers additional tools designed for business users like the ability to create animation movies and an option to set up measuring areas of polygons or circles. Google Earth Pro also lets you map multiple points at once and lets you access demographic, graphic and traffic data layers.
“Over the last 10 years, businesses, scientists and hobbyists from all over the world have been using Google Earth Pro for everything from planning hikes to placing solar panels on rooftops. Google Earth Pro has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights around the world,” said Google Earth Pro product manager Stafford Marquardt.
Google Earth Pro / Credit: Google
Data in Google Earth Pro that I find most compelling is the U.S. demographics information. For each state, you can find out demographic information in regards to the age, education, gender and income for the current year or the five-year projected. This data could be useful for businesses to conduct marketing research.
RockWare, a geological software company based in Golden, Colorado founded in 1983, is known for taking field measurements at the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to determine the mysteries underneath the surface that are causing the tilts of rock formations. With a GPS device and specialty tools, RockWare plots the data on a map to gain intuitive 3D understanding of the rocks and then imports this data into Google Earth Pro. Using this data -- Google Earth Pro produces interactive 3D visuals, which RockWare shares with their customers. If a toxic spill leaks into the water table, RockWare can model the spread and speed of the contamination using animations. RockWare’s clients can understand the impact of these types of geological events so that they will know how to act upon them. Here is a video featuring researchers at RockWare discussing how they use Google Earth Pro:
You can request a free key for Google Earth Pro at: https://geoauth.google.com/gev0/free_trial.html. The e-mail address that you use to register for Google Earth Pro will be your username. After you sign up, Google will send you a key to enter when you open Google Earth Pro.
Do you use Google Earth or Google Earth Pro? What are your thoughts about Google Earth Pro becoming a free service? Let us know in the comments section below!
- Check if your computer has complied with the minimum requirements. Basically, you can use a PC running Windows XP or later with a minimum CPU requirements of Pentium 3 and 500Mhz. RAM must be 512MB or higher and a free hard disk space of at least 500MB. Graphics card must be at least DirectX 9 and 3D capable, aside from the 64MB of VRAM. Screen resolution should also be at least 1024x768p wit 16-bit high color resolution.
- The Recommended system requirements should be running at least Windows 7 or 8 or higher. CPU setup should be at least Pentium 4 with 2.4GHz or higher. The system memory or RAM must be around 1GB capacity with at least 2GB of hard disk space free. Take note of the 256MB of VRAM as recommended graphics requirements or at least a DirectX 9 and 3D capable graphics card.
- You need at least Mac OS X 10.6 or later with a CPU of any Intel Mac. System memory must also be around 512MB with at least 500MB of free hard disk space and screen resolution of 1024x768p, thousands of colors with a graphics of 64MB of VRAM.
- However, the recommended requirements include a Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later and a CPU of a dual core Intel Mac. The system memory or RAM should also be at least 1GB or higher and a free hard disk space of 2GB. It should also have a screen resolution of 1280x1024p millions of colors with a graphics of 256MB of VRAM.
- For a minimum requirement, it requires a Kernel of 2.4 or later, CPU of at least Pentium 3 with 500MHz speed. System memory or RAM must also be at least 512MB or higher. Take note of the hard disk space, which must be at least 500MB free. You also have to use at least a DirectX 9 and 3D capable graphics card and 64MB of VRAM, aside from the 1024x768p of screen resolution.
- For the recommended setup, the Kernel 2.6 or later is needed. System memory or RAM should also be at least 1GB. Free hard disk space must reach at least 2GB and the graphics card must be at least DirectX 9 and a VRAM of 256MB. Moreover, the screen resolution must be at 1280x1024p, with minimum settings of 32-bit color in order to run Google Earth Pro flawlessly in your computer system.
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