Google Earth implements coordinate system as defined in the OGC KML 2.2 standard. The vertical component (altitude) is measured from the vertical datum, which is the WGS84 EGM96 Geoid. Typically altitude can be thought of as a measure in meters above sea level (MSL) for absolute height.
This is what we learned. an often overlooked feature of Google Earth, elevation profiles were first introduced in version 5.2. The feature is easy to use, all you need is a path selected in your ‘My Places’ then go to the ‘Edit’ menu and select ‘Show Elevation Profile’.
While I was researching we ran into the inquiry “Where to find elevation on google earth?”.
The Elevation Profile tool allows you to create a path, and display its elevation profile. Additionally, Google Earth displays location elevation wherever your cursor is on the map. You can find the current cursor elevation in the lower right corner.
Google Earth itself doesnt do any projection or anything, but by convention all the data (imagry, KML etc) ‘imported’ into Google Earth uses WGS84. The heights on google earth refer to EGM96 and are, therefore, Geoidal heights.
Draw a path or open an existing path. An elevation profile will appear in the the lower half of the 3D Viewer. If your elevation measurement reads “0, ” make sure the terrain layer is turned on.
Simply open Google Earth, navigate to the location in question (either by manually zooming in or by typing the appropriate name in the search box). In case you’ve found your target location, the elevation of that specific point will be displayed at the bottom right of your Google Earth window.
What is a geodetic datum?
Geodetic datums form the basis of coordinates of all horizontal positions on Earth. All coordinates on Earth are referenced to a horizontal datum. The North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27) is one of the main three geodetic datums used in North America. NAD27 uses all horizontal geodetic surveys collected at this time using a least-square adjustment.
What does the “elev” number mean on Google Maps?
The “elev” number is the one that shows you the elevation of the point you’ve browsed for. Of course, the basic location search can essentially tell you the height of the location you choose. However, you may want to see the profile of a particular path of a geographical location.