How to Convert Google Earth kml to a shapefile

Working with non gis data formats can often add benefits to a GIS project. One of them is that there can be existing data in a consumer format such as Google Earths KML. Using existing data can help you become familiar with the area of the project and also cut down on the amount of field time that it would take to recollect the data. I will show the best way that I have found to import Google Earth KML files into ESRIs shapefile format.

There are a couple of tools out that can help you import kml to shp but the best one that i have found is the Department of Natural Resources of Minnesota DNR Garmin extension. You can download the script at the DNR website. This program can also be used as a stand program if you do not have ESRI ARCgis. Open the kml file by going to the file menu and selecting Load From -> File. On file type drop down select the kml file extension and browse to the file you want to load. An Output Shape dialog box will appear and select between Point, Line, or Polygon depending on the format you want the data displayed as. When the file has successfully loaded you will not want to save it as a shp by going to File -> Save To -> File. In the Save as Type drop down menu you will have two choices of shapefile to save it as. You can save it as a projected or unprojected shapefile. Select the one you want, browse to where you want it saved and name the file. When the process is complete you will have the kml data in a shapefile that you can open in Arcview or many other GIS software packages. Before you bring it into ARCgis remember to define the projection as DNR Garmin does not do it.

Converting KML files to shapefile is only one of the many great features of DNR Garmin, and they are continually updating and improving it. If you work with Garmin GPS receivers in your GIS work flow this utility will help you easily incorporate the data into you regular working environment.[ad#Google Adsense under post links]

Setup a Garmin GPSmap60 for mapping

If you are going to use your Garmin GPSmap60 as a mapping reciever, here is a quick tutorial on how to set it up so that you can get the most accuracy out of it. This tutorial is to set up your track log to record a postition once every second, some might think that this is to much but unless memory is an issue i try to alway collect all the data I can, at the best resolution possible. This way it might possibly save you a trip back out to the field because you already have the best data you can collect. OK to get on with it, First turn on your GPS unit and bring up the main menu.

Main menu Screen

Here you will select the Tracks icon, this will take you into the tracks access menu.

Garmin track menu.

At the tracks menu page you can; turn tracking on/off, clear your track log, save it, trackback, and access the track setup screen, which is where we want to go.

Garmin time track

Use the drop down menu to select the TIME interval, and then set the interval to 1 second.

Garmin track interval

I also make sure that the Wrap When Full box is Not checked. If you think that you will run out of memory adjust the time interval possibly to 2 seconds. If this is not an option you will have to make arrangement so that you can download your gps in the field when it gets full.