Animate GPS Track with Google Earth.

I have been asked many times how I create a video of our sail using Google Earth.

Garmin Chartplotter

    • Download “User Data” from the Garmin Chartplotter (From Home Screen – Information-> User Data -> Data Transfer -> Save To Card)

Garmin “Homeport” S/W on PC (https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/64242)

    • Import “User Data” file into Garmin Homeport S/W (File->Import into My Collection…)
    • Highlight/Select “GPS Track” (Active Log xxx)
    • Export Active Log xxx as gpx file. (File -> Export -> Export Selection)

Rename “Name” within gpx file to “S.V. Thanks Dad”

    • Open gpx file using Windows “Notepad”
    • Change track “name” to “S.V. Thanks Dad”
    • Save modified gpx file (be sure to keep gpx extension) File -> Save

Google Earth Pro (https://www.google.com/earth/versions/)

    • Import gpx file.
      • Tools ➔☑GPS
        • Import Tab
        • Device: ➔ ☑ Import from file
        • Import:  Waypoints ☑ Track  Routes
        • Output: ☑ KLM Tracks  KLM LineStrings
        • ☑ Adjust altitudes to ground height
        • Click Import button
        • Navigate to and select gpx file
    • Use “Time Slider” to play GPS track.
      • Adjust animation speed using “Options” on Time Slider

      • Click “Play” on Time Slider

    • To Play the GPS track as a Google Tour
      • The imported GPS track will show in the “Places” window under “Temporary Places”.  Click to select it.

      • Click the Play Tour Button.

      • To adjust settings for a Google Tour
        • Tools ➔ Options ➔ Touring
        • You can adjust several options here to get the tour view you like best. Start with these option settings.
          • ☑ Fly along lines
          • Camera Tilt Angle: 60 degrees
          • Camera Range: 2000
          • “When creating a tour from a track”-> Speed: 20

Record Google Earth Track and Tour by using Windows 10 Xbox Video Capture

        • Press the Windows button + the “G” key
        • Press Record button
        • Play Track or Tour on Google Earth

Edit the recorded track and tour together.  I use Adobe Premiere Pro.