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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Google Earth Builder.
General
Where can I learn more about Google Earth Builder?
Information about Google Earth Builder is available directly from our website and our Help Center.
How do I contact the Sales team?
Please contact our sales team.
Can Google Earth Builder create a 2D map like Google Maps?
Yes, Google Earth Builder can create maps compatible in 2D with Google Maps and 3D with Google Earth.
What do I need to log into Google Earth Builder?
A standard web browser is all that's required to access Google Earth Builder to create maps. A list of currently supported web browsers may be referenced on our support site.
Can Google Earth Builder be hosted from a private cloud, or on-premise hardware?
Google Earth Builder is available as a platform hosted from Google infrastructure.
Can access to my data be restricted in Google Earth Builder?
Access to data upload into Google Earth Builder can be restricted in a different ways:
- Data published for end-user access can be restricted to specific users for viewing;
- Data uploaded into Google Earth Builder can be restricted to specific users for building maps.
Can source data be downloaded from Google Earth Builder?
At this time, source data may only be uploaded to Google Earth Builder.
How will software updates be made available?
New versions of the Google Earth Builder platform are launched directly into the service and available for use.
Can imagery and vector data uploaded in Google Earth Builder be overlaid on Google Maps or Google Earth?
Yes, all imagery and vector data uploaded and built with Google Earth Builder can be viewed as overlays on Google Earth and Google Maps.
How can I track usage within Google Earth Builder?
Two usage dashboards are available within Google Earth Builder to display usage for published, as well as storage quota usage and total pageview usage. Additional information for monitoring pageview and storage quota may be accessed from the Google Earth Builder Help Center.
Can layers in Google Earth be viewed with Google Earth Builder?
When viewing 3D maps published from Google Earth Builder, the online Google Earth can be the backdrop for your own imagery and vector overlays. Layers within Google Earth will be available to select within the Layers panel.
Licensing
How is Google Earth Builder priced?
Google Earth Builder pricing is based on the amount of storage quota and pageviews for the account.
What is a page view in Google Earth Builder?
A page view counts as access to a map published from Google Earth Builder. A page view will be counted for Google Earth application initially logging into the map, load of the JavaScript bootstrap API for either Google Maps or Google Earth API, or for tile requests via WMS.
How is storage quota counted in Google Earth Builder?
Storage quota will be counted for all source datasets, compressed and uncompressed, uploaded to the Google Earth Builder account.
Can additional page views be purchased for a Google Earth Builder account?
Yes, additional page view quota may be purchased.
Are there any network bandwidth or machines usage costs with Google Earth Builder?
Pricing for Google Earth Builder is based on the number of pageviews and storage quota.
I have an exiting Google Maps Premier license. Will I be able to access Google Earth Builder?
Google Earth Builder is a separate product from Google Maps Premier, Google Earth Enterprise, and Google Earth Pro, and must be licensed separately.
Do I need to license Google Earth Enterprise to use Google Earth Builder?
Google Earth Builder and Google Earth Enterprise are two separate available product offerings. Google Earth Builder may be licensed independently of Google Earth Enterprise for your organization.
What are the terms of service for Google Earth Builder?
The full Google Earth Builder Terms of Service is available here.
Support
What support services are available for Google Earth Builder?
Technical support services will be available for each Google Earth Builder customer by our Google Enterprise Support team. A dedicated web portal is available to file technical support requests for existing Google Earth Builder Customers.
What service level agreement (SLA) is available for Google Earth Builder?
The Google Earth Builder Service Level Agreement (SLA) is available for review at here.
Technical
Does Google Earth Builder support any OGC standards?
Yes, Google Earth Builder can serve built maps via WMS for consumption by WMS-compatible client applications. KML is also supported vector source data format.
What type of data does Google Earth Builder support?
Imagery and vector source data can be uploaded to Google Earth Builder to build custom maps.
Can LIDAR data be utilized with Google Earth Builder?
Imagery and vector source data are currently supported for building maps with Google Earth Builder. Terrain data from Google Earth can be utilized as a foundation for imagery and vector data uploaded to Google Earth Builder.
Can 3D models be uploaded to Google Earth Builder and displayed on the 3D Earth?
Google Earth Builder is capable of rendering 2D point, line, and polygon vector datasets. 3D models can be loaded directly within the Google Earth desktop application via KML. Additional information about loading 3D models within Google Earth is available in the KML developer guide.
Are analytical functions with vector data possible with Google Earth Builder?
Google Earth Builder currently does not offer tools for performing analytical operations on uploaded vector data.
Can Google Earth Builder create custom heat maps?
It is not currently possible to build heat maps with Google Earth Builder.
Does Google Earth Builder offer radiometric enhancement tools for imagery?
Radiometric enhancements must be applied prior to importing imagery into Google Earth Builder.
Is it possible to perform search queries against data in Google Earth Builder?
It is currently not possible to query data stored within Google Earth Builder. We are currently investigating options for an API to directly query vector data stored in Google Earth Builder.
Can imagery data be styled within Google Earth Builder?
Cartographic styling capabilities are available for vector data within Google Earth Builder.
Which source file formats are supported by Google Earth Builder?
Many standard geospatial source data formats are supported with Google Earth Builder. A list of all supported source file formats is available to view on the Google Earth Builder Help Center.
Can custom oblique imagery be used with Google Earth Builder?
While oblique imagery is not directly supported to be built with Google Earth Builder, it is possible to view custom oblique imagery within the Google Earth desktop and Google Earth API applications as KML PhotoOverlays. Further information about KML PhotoOverlays may be found online at the KML developer guide.
Can custom StreetView imagery be used with Google Earth Builder?
While Google Earth Builder will not directly build custom street-level panoramic images, like Google StreetView, it is possible to view these custom imagery collections as KML PhotoOverlays directly within Google Earth and the Google Earth API. Further information about KML PhotoOverlays may be found online at the KML developer guide.