If asked which software truly brought GIS (Geographic Information Systems) out of the ivory tower and made it a "must-have" on the average person's computer, the answer is likely one and only: Google Earth. Recently, the official Google Maps Platform released a special commemorative page celebrating the 20th anniversary of Google Earth's release. Hearing this news will surely take many veteran GIS professionals back to the moment they first spun the blue planet on their screens and first searched for their own rooftop. This editor first used Google Earth before university; perhaps by chance, or perhaps inspired by it, I ended up entering this field. Taking this opportunity, let's talk about the evolution of the world's most influential GIS software.
The Beginning: Keyhole
Although Google Earth officially marks 20 years, strictly speaking, the software is closer to 24 years old. This is because its predecessor was EarthViewer 3D, developed by Keyhole Inc. Founded in 2001, this company innovatively solved the technical challenge of browsing massive amounts of satellite imagery data on home computers with limited bandwidth and average graphics cards. In 2004, Google acquired it, and on June 28, 2005, Google officially launched the rebranded Google Earth.
Unlike Keyhole's 7-day trial version plastered with "TRIAL MODE" watermarks, Google defined the basic version as permanently free. This decision allowed it to rapidly "break through the circle": downloads exceeded 100 million in the first week, and it was named one of "The 100 Best New Products of 2005" by PC World Magazine. From then on, ordinary people could sit at their computers and zoom in to view satellite imagery of any corner of the Earth.
The Period of Explosive Growth
The following decade was a period of incredibly dense feature iteration for Google Earth. It evolved from an "image viewing software" into an all-encompassing digital Earth. During these roughly ten years, Google Earth updated numerous well-known core features.
2006-2007: Introduced SketchUp integration, allowing users to upload 3D models; launched Sky mode, expanding our view beyond the land beneath our feet to the stars above.
2008: Street View officially landed in Google Earth. This was a revolutionary moment, bringing us from a "god's-eye view" down to a "pedestrian's perspective."
2009: Google Earth 5.0 was released, bringing Ocean mode (revealing seabed topography), Mars mode, and, most importantly, Historical Imagery.
During this period, KML became one of the industry's de facto standards for data exchange. Countless GIS professionals became accustomed to converting Shapefiles to KML to share results with clients.
Cloud Migration and AI Integration
Entering 2017, Google Earth underwent a major technical overhaul.
2017: The new web-based Google Earth was launched. Leveraging WebAssembly technology, you no longer needed to download the several-hundred-megabyte .exe installer; you could run the 3D globe directly in the Chrome browser. This epitomized the trend of GIS software moving to the web.
2021: Launched the Timelapse feature. Google processed 24 million satellite photos from the past 37 years to create a dynamic, interactive 4D Earth experience.
New Features at 20
On its 20th anniversary, Google Earth has updated its features, with several highlights:
- Historical Street View: Previously available only on the web version of Maps, this feature is now integrated into Google Earth. Combined with existing historical satellite imagery, you can now perform a complete "time travel" from both macro and micro perspectives.
- AI Integration: Google is infusing AI capabilities into Earth. For enterprise users, it offers automated tools such as tree canopy coverage analysis and solar potential assessment. This marks a deep shift from a "visualization tool" to an "analysis tool."
- Multi-Platform Synergy: Today's Google Earth places greater emphasis on integration with GIS workflows. Through new APIs and cloud project features, you can more easily use Earth as a front-end for data presentation, directly rendering large datasets from the cloud.
Conclusion
From 2005 to 2025, Google Earth has journeyed for 20 years. For the public, it's a window to view the world; for the GIS industry, it's an teacher and an excellent reporting tool. It made the obscure term "geographic information" captivating and embedded spatial thinking into our minds.
At 20 years old, it's in its prime. With the rise of concepts like Digital Twins and Real 3D China, the "3D base map" represented by Google Earth is taking root across various industries.
Happy Birthday, Google Earth. For the next 20 years, let's continue to meet in the cloud.