Converting Shp to KML via GeoCommons

Transcription

1 Converting Shp to KML via GeoCommons Users wishing to use GIS files in Google Earth will first need to convert their GIS shapefiles into KML file format. This task can be accomplished using some online services. GeoCommons is currently one of the best online geospatial data conversion and mapping service providers, available at This guide will help you learn this process better by walking through the entire procedures of converting shapefiles into KML files in GeoCommons. Step 1: Registration Geocommons is available at the link shown above. The home / welcome page will look similar to Figure 1. Although the SHP to KML conversion service is free, GeoCommons requires registration for an account. If you are a first-time user of their service, please click on Sign up for Free button, then follow their instructions to get your account. Registration Button Figure 1: The start webpage of GeoCommons

2 Step 2: Upload Your Data (Shapefile) When you have registered and logged in, the top of the webpage will change (Figure 2), allowing you to upload your data into your library. Thus, the most useful two buttons will be Upload Data and Your Library, which are marked in Figure 2. Upload Data Buttons Figure 2. Geocommons webpage Please note that a shapefile comprises MULTIPLE files with SAME file names but different extensions. You MUST upload all MANDATORY files in order to ensure correct results. They are: {samename}.shp file (mandatory): The main file stores all geographic features; {samename}.shx file (mandatory): The spatial index file stores the index for searching; {samename}.dbf file (mandatory): The database file contains all tabular attribute data; {samename}.prj file (optional): The file defines the geographic projection the file uses; {samename}.shp.xml file (optional): The file has metadata for the shapefile.

3 When you click on the Upload file button, a wizard will guide you on how to upload files in five steps. Click on "Upload File Button" to upload your data as shown in Figure 3. Upload File Button Figure 3. Step 1 of 4 for uploading shapefiles The upload file dialogue will pop up at the second step when you click the add File button under the green mark (Figure 4). Please note that multiple files can be uploaded at one time. When you finish selecting files, click open will close the pop-up window and start uploading files. Please wait for a while until all files are marked with complete (Figure 5). Then, click the next button below the file list. If there is anything wrong, Figure 6 will show an error message. You can go back to the previous step to add more required files, if need be. When the window shown in Figure 7 appears, the shapefile has been successfully uploaded. Select the top option of Using existing geographic data in your files, since the shapefile contains geographic information thus there is no need to conduct geocoding.

4 Pop-up file selection dialogue window Figure 4. Step 2 of 4 for uploading shapefile Upload Status Figure 5. The window after data has finished uploading

5 Figure 6. The error message page Select the top option Figure 7. Step 2 of 4 for uploading shapefiles

6 At the third step, you can review all attribute data associated with the geographic information (Figure 7). If everything is ok, you can just click Continue to the final step, which is to add metadata of your shapefile (Figure 8). The last two steps are not critical to your results but they can be helpful. Since you have a chance to correct any mistakes made in Step 3, you can add some explanations in Step 4 as well. But they are optional and will not greatly impact the final output. Figure 8. Step 3 of 4 for uploading shapefiles You can simply click Save in Step 4 and continue to data conversion.

7 Figure 9. Step 4 of 4 for uploading shapefiles Step 3: Convert Uploaded file into KML After clicking on the Save button, the uploading data process is completed. Figure 10 will show the list of data available in your library, which can be converted into KML. You can download your geospatial data in KML format by simply clicking on KML button marked in Figure 10.

8 Download KML Figure 10. Data list that is ready to convert Step 4: Check the Converted KML File Now, you have the KML file (Figure 11). Enjoy it in Google Earth! Figure 11. Download windows in Firefox showing files

9 Result The final KML in Google Earth looks similar to the image below (Figure 12). Added KML Layer Figure 12. Converted KML in Google Earth Edited by Allen Yu Spring 2014