Science Discovers Google Earth

Scientists are impressed by the features of Google Earth to visualize data. Unlike standard geographical information systems (GIS) the web tool is easy to implement and convenient to use. Google Earth maps satellite images onto a virtual globe. Users may zoom in and out to their need and fun. Manfred Dworschak reports in Der Spiegel (31.7.2006) about options for scientists to present their research data in a new way, for instance by combining maps with population densities, disease outbreaks (on a continent's scale) or floods (on a regional or local scale), to name a few ideas.