Using KML

Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is the primary mechanism supported by Google for interchanging GIS data, maps, and graphics information in the Google Earth and Google Maps communities. The sheer number of Google Maps and Google Earth users makes KML one of the most widely used interchange mechanisms for exchanging, sharing, and viewing geospatial information.

The ArcGIS user community represents thousands of organizations that are updating GIS information for many industries and applications every day. The ability to publish your information for use within this broad Web mapping community and also to access and use others' data in ready-to-use KML formats can help your work significantly.

As an ArcGIS user, you can apply KML in three strategic ways:

A key aspect of leveraging KML in your GIS work is based on a solid understanding about how to translate your geographic features, imagery, and map layers into KML graphics—for example, how you prepare your GIS data for translation into KML.

See KML support in ArcGIS to get an overview of how to do this work and a comprehensive guide for using KML.

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5/2/2011