Importing Tracks from Google Maps with Associated Lat/Longs

[Lucy Capron]

Hi there,

I am working on an area-usage model for a resident population of killer whales. I have received track lines of sightings via Google Maps and saved them as a KMZ. However, when I import them into QGIS and pull up the attribute table, I don't see an associated lat/long for the tracks. Is there a way to get lat/long positions associated with the track lines to appear? 

For the initial study, I just want to look at sightings frequencies in the area and create a sort of heat map, with darker color being attributed to greater amounts of sightings - something very simple to start with.

Thank you for any suggestion you can give.

Lucy

[cdma...@gisinecology.com]

Hi Lucy,

The issue here is that you are brining in track lines rather than points, and these don't always have latitude and longitude positions associated with them.

One of the easiest ways to generate latitudes and longitudes from such track lines is to use a small stand-alone software packages called DNRGPS (https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/dnrgps). This will allow you to not only extract the coordinates for your track lines, but also convert these data and the associated lines into shapefiles that you can add to QGIS. The most crucial thing when doing this is to make sure that you are using an appropriate projection/coordinate system. However, with a KMZ file grom Google Earth, DNRGPS should be able to automatically identify and select the right one. 

This software package only runs on Windows. If you are using a computer with a  Mac OS, let me know and I'll see what else I can suggest (there may be various online converters available that you can use).

If this solution doesn't work for you, and just reply to this thread, and I can see what else I can suggest.

All the best,

Colin

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[Lucy Capron]

Hi Colin,

I am using a Mac, so I don’t know that that solution would work for me.

While I was just messing around with QGIS to see what I could do, I found a feature that extracts the vertices of the track lines. I tried that and found that I could add associated x/y coordinates. What do you think of my going that route? Obviously, there are missed data in between the vertex points, but it at least is a starting point. 

I’d love to know your thoughts on this. Thank you for your help!

Lucy

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[cdma...@gisinecology.com]

Hi Lucy,

If you're working on a Mac, that does make it a little more complicated. 

The first thing I'd do is open the KMZ file in Google Earth and check that is has additional data associated with it (like lats and longs). It may be that your data set just doesn't have this data in the first place.

If your data set does have lats and longs associated with it, then open QGIS and specifically add the data layer as a KMZ file. This should bring in the associated data.

If your data set doesn't have lats and longs associated with it, or if you just doesn't import, then the approach you found of manually extracting the lat and long values for the vertices will be the way to do. Just remember that you will need to use a 'geographic' projection in order to extract latitudes and longitudes rather than eastings and northings. 

I hope this helps. If you need any more information or get stuck with anything, just reply to this thread.

All the best,

Colin 

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