

Users looking for an alternative to Google Earth Pro's GIS software can try Quantum GIS, which allows you to create and edit your own geospatial information. Google has extensive step-by-step guides to help users get the most out of the Earth products. You can also import Global Positioning Systems (GPS) data. Those wanting to use Google Earth Pro as a professional Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool can import and export a variety of GIS data from common software like ArcGis, QGis, ESRI Shapefile, and others. The software has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights around the world, among other things. Google Earth Pro is available on PC, Mac OS X 10.8 or later, and Linux. Google Earth Pro, on the other hand, is a more versatile and comprehensive option that's designed to be downloaded to your desktop. Simply, Google Earth is a more basic, in-browser version of Google's 3D mapping software. The third original option, Google Earth Plus, has been discontinued.Users might wonder what the difference is between Google Earth Pro and Google Earth.

It was originally available with three different licenses, but has since been reduced to just two: Google Earth (a free version with limited function) and Google Earth Pro ($399 per year), which is intended for commercial use. It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite imagery, aerial photography and geographic information system (GIS) 3D globe. Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) funded company acquired by Google in 2004 (see In-Q-Tel). (if it is not already installed in your computer), The application shows cruise vessels' current positions and images of onboard webcams of the the following cruise lines:

Screenshot of Cruise Ships' Current Positions at Caribbean Sea and the Bahamas Google Earth Cruise Ships Current Positions by SeaScanner Screenshot of APRS's Google Earth Application (Plug-In) for visualization of live AIS ship traffic.

Google Earth Application for Free Ship Tracking by APRS.fi If Google Earth is installed in your computer, you may see the vessels positions in real time and you may browse quickly the areas of your interest, without the limitations of the web page maps but just using Google Maps. Google Earth is freely available for personal use and provides very detailed and efficient browsing in world's satellite maps. The information of vessels positions provided by MarineTraffic is available in KML format, which is used by the Google Earth application.
