I know your extremely busy right now and I am hoping that once things calm down, you would post a how to guide on how your are getting the MODIS data on Google Earth maps. I’m sure it’s easy but I just haven’t been able to figure it out.
Thank you for the great information…
There is a download link for a kml. Just click the “current” button and “open in” google earth.
Read up in this thread for answers. Same workflow as my Mendo Complex work, same frustrations etc. Some of the SIT people from Mendo are on Camp and have been producing the KMZ with the Ops Map in low and high resolutions, but once you export it in KMZ/KML, you lose the ability to modify the properties in GE, especially the transparency of the overlay, so the only benefit to that premade one is quick and dirty Ops over the terrain features of GE. If you want to combine data like Ops, terrain, MODIS etc you’ll have to bring all the ingredients into your own Google Earth and bake it locally.
I noticed it was a bit easier than doing this for the forest fires because the more urban features allowed for a quick alignment, especially Hwy 32, 99, 149 and 70.
Thank you. That was too obvious.
Sorry - missed your question on the MODIS data. I use the AFM KML bundle @hosedragger0703 linked to. One download will typically stay up-to-date in Google Earth, but bookmark this piece incase you need to return and get an updated KML if they change data servers etc. As you load GE up, the KML’s will reach out to the appropriate servers and get the latest data. I only use the MODIS and VIIRS data for day-to-day work, and turn off the 24hr-6day layers to focus more on just the current 24hr heat.
If you are using the (free) version of Google Earth Pro, you can use the ‘Add Polygon’ tool to draw a polygon around the MODIS dots and then click the ‘Measurements’ tab to get acres.
Hi guys,
You can adjust the transparency with the GE overlays we are producing on the Camp While in the sidebar Click the arrow to the left of the kmz name, underneath that an overlay will appear in the tree right click that and click on the “get info” then there will be a blue bar that you can drag to adjust the transparency.
I am working on making this product a standard. I understand what the GISS that chimed in said about products believe me as a SITL im protecting them. This takes about 5 mins to produce just not everyone is aware of it and what it can do. Manually georecrifying it extremely difficult to do well. We can do this right out of arcpro and save all of us lots of frustration.
Our products are at calfire.box.com/calfireimt4
Thanks AJ. Completely missed the triangle there. That did the trick, thanks for your support out there! Now to cross-pollinate this idea/product to all the IMT’s for 2019…
thats the goal…
I also want to share/plug the (free) caltopo.com mapping website. You can create custom topo maps with fire history, ownership, aerial photos, and a number of other useful layers, and then export them to a pdf to use in the Avenza Maps app.
It’s a great tool to make quick IA maps, and also has the ability to make basic fire maps, with standard NWCG symbology. You can also overlay kml files, which is useful if you want to share data you’ve already created in Avenza.
You can pay a small fee to be able to export larger maps, and also, to have the site store your maps so you can share them using a qr code for Avenza.
I have been using caltopo on here for years. It is a great tool although I am not sure if the developer gets his worth out of it any more. But it still works great.
Lite GIS for sure. I had no idea how far caltopo had advanced over the years till this summer. For a type 3 team/org to get the next operational map out that doesnt have a GISS assigned its a really nice tool. Asked them if they would consider adding geotif as an option just for ATAK use. I can use QGIS to convert quickly but figured I would ask for the ATAK users.
You are so right AJ! That’s what I used for the 46th and it worked well. Love the auto QR generation
This is worth sharing again - it’s a link to the data I am using to create the VIIRS maps I have been sharing. If anyone else wants to help make these maps, it won’t hurt my feelings!
Use this link to access VIIRs and MODIS heat detection data in Google Earth. You may have to download the KML files to your computer and then use the File>Open> menu in Google Earth to open the downloaded file.
If you want to convert the incident pdfs off the ftp in to google earth go to the link below. There is a folder called “map conversion” and two tutorials. One how to convert a pdf to a tif and another on how to use them in google earth. Then you can have that below any other data like what @pyrogeography mentioned with remote sensing data.
Just a word of caution about the VIIRs data - the latest acquisition, taken about 4am, has significant errors (false returns) on the MNF Complex and around Vacaville. This sometimes happens when the satellite is at a low angle to the target, and heat in the plume can lead to ‘shadowing’ outside the main fire area. One way to spot potential inaccuracies is to look for wide, even spacing between the heat returns.
VIIRS and MODIS are both highly useful tools, especially on rapidly developing incidents where no other intel is readily available. But the data should always be vetted against reality. The maps I published this morning are from an earlier acqusitions, and I vetted the VIIRs against MODIS and GOES17 data.
If anyone reading this is making evacuation maps, please consider publishing them as static images, and not using ArcGIS Online. The Sonoma County Evac map won’t load on my phone, and AGOL stuff always takes forever to load. Simpler is better!
That was kind of you to share !! 
Finally got around to making an updated California Fire History KML overlay for Google Earth. Thanks to @FSFF for the suggestion. I simplified the polygons to make the file size usable in Google Earth an online GIS platforms.
It can be downloaded here:
http://deercreekgis.com/files/California_Fire_History_1927-2019.kmz
Thank you sir! Appreciatte your contributions!
