Instructions for Creating Google Earth Overlays

Here are some brief instructions for creating the Google Earth KML files that display allow MichiganView users to browse the Landsat imagery collection.

Step 1: Download a 4-band TIF dataset from the MichiganView website

Datasets are located on the LANDSAT imagery, all page.
(For example: download the L5_p20r31_20030819_4band.zip)

Step 2: Extract the zipped files

Extract the zipped files to a location on your local hard drive.

Step 3: Reproject the image to geographic coordinates

Open ArcCatalog and navigate to the *.tif file

Use the Project Raster tool to reproject the image to geographic coordinates

ArcCatalog > ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Raster > Project

parameter	value
output raster:	temp_gg
Output coordinate system:	WGS 84.prj
Resampling technique:	BILINEAR
Output cell size:	0.01 (degrees)

Tool Dialog:

Resulting Dataset:

NOTE:
The output raster file may have any name and should be saved on local drive with the extracted files.
The output coordinate system is located by clicking on Select > Geographic Coordinate System > World > WGS 1984.prj
This operation should take about 10 seconds.

Step 4: Create a 3-band composite TIF

Use the Composite Bands tool to create a 3-band TIF image file

ArcCatalog > ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Raster > Composite Bands

parameter	value
Input Rasters:	Bands 3,2,1
Output Raster:	temp_321.tif

Tool Dialog:

Resulting Dataset:

NOTE:
The Input Raster bands should be selected from the new file created in step 3
The output raster file may have any name as long as it is saved as a .tif file type. This file should be saved on local drive with the extracted files.
This operation should take about 40 seconds.

Step 5: Create/Update Metadata and record the extent

Step 6: Export to PNG

Export the raster to the PNG format.

ArcCatalog > ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Raster > Copy Raster

parameter	value
Output Raster Dataset:	temp_321.png
Ignore Background Value:	0
Nodata Value:	0
Pixel Type:	8_BIT_UNSIGNED

Tool Dialog:

Resulting Dataset:

Step 7: Edit in Gimp

Open the PNG image in Gimp

The colors will probably look distorted.

Add an Alpha Channel

Menu -> Layer -> Transparency -> Add Alpha Channel

Delete the border

Use the 'Select By Color' tool
Click on the border color
Clear the border

    Menu -> Edit->Clear (Ctrl-K)

Invert the selection

    Menu -> Select -> Invert

Adjust the colors

Menu -> Layer -> Colors -> Auto -> Equalize

If necessary, adjust the brightness and contrast

Tools -> Color Tools -> Brightness & Contrast
Brightness ~70
Contrast ~80

Save the Modified PNG File

Use the Landsat filename as the root.
Example:  L5_p20r31_20030819.png

Accept the default options in the save dialog box. 

This document can now be uploaded to the MichiganView Website in the following location:
MichiganView Home > Downloadable Datasets > LANDSAT Browse Images (unprotected) > Attachments

Step 8: Create the KML document to link to this file.

Use the following text as a template.  Update the code to match the dataset you are working on.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.1">
	<Folder>
		<name>L5_p20r31_20030819</name>
		<open>1</open>
		<Placemark>
			<name>LANDSAT 5 - 8/19/2003</name>
			<description><![CDATA[<hr>
Satellite: LANDSAT 5<br/>
Path/Row: 20/31<br/>
Date: 8/19/2003<br/>
<br/>
Available Downloads:<br/>
	<ul>
	<li><a href="http://apache.mtri.org:8080/download/attachments/884918/L5_p20r31_20030819_AllBands.zip">Individual-band GeoTiffs</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://apache.mtri.org:8080/download/attachments/884918/L5_p20r31_20030819_4band.zip">4-band GeoTiffs</a></li>
	</ul>
	<hr/><div align=center>
<a href="http://www.michiganview.org"><img src="http://apache.mtri.org:8080/download/attachments/1310885/MichiganView_logo_289by150.png" width=100></a></div>]]></description>
			<TimeStamp>
				<when>2003-08-19</when>
			</TimeStamp>
			<Point>
				<coordinates>-83.698663,41.746276,0</coordinates>
			</Point>
		</Placemark>
		<GroundOverlay>
			<name>Image Overlay</name>
			<TimeStamp>
				<when>2003-08-19</when>
			</TimeStamp>
			<Icon>
				<href>http://apache.mtri.org:8080/download/attachments/2785317/l5_p20r31_20030819.png</href>
			</Icon>
			<LatLonBox>
				<north>42.761134</north>
				<south>40.731134</south>
				<east>-82.235717</east>
				<west>-85.185717</west>
			</LatLonBox>
		</GroundOverlay>
	</Folder>
</kml>

The completed KML document can be uploaded to the MichiganView Website at the following location:
MichiganView Home > Downloadable Datasets > Available Datasets > Dataset Image Overlays > Attachments