gmt2kml

Convert GMT data table to Google Earth KML file

Synopsis

gmt 2kml [ table ] [ -Aa|g|s[alt|xscale] ] [ -Ccpt ] [ -Ddescriptfile ] [ -E[+e][+s] ] [ -Fe|s|t|l|p|w ] [ -G[color][+f|+n] ] [ -Iicon ] [ -K] [ -Lcol1:name1,col2:name2,… ] [ -N[t|col|name_template|name] ] [ -O] [ -Qa|iaz ] [ -Qsscale[unit] ] [ -Re|w/e/s/n ] [ -Sc|nscale] ] [ -Ttitle[/foldername] ] [ -V[level] ] [ -W[pen][attr] ] [ -Zargs ] [ -bibinary ] [ -dinodata ] [ -eregexp ] [ -fflags ] [ -hheaders ] [ -iflags ] [ -:[i|o] ] [ --PAR=value ] [ > output.kml ]

Note: No space is allowed between the option flag and the associated arguments.

Description

2kml reads one or more GMT table file and converts them to a single output file using Google Earth’s KML format. Data may represent points, lines, polygons, or wiggles, and you may specify additional attributes such as title, altitude mode, colors, pen widths, transparency, regions, and data descriptions. You may also extend the feature down to ground level (assuming it is above it) and use custom icons for point symbols. Finally, there are controls on visibility depending on level of detail settings, altitude, regions, including the status upon loading into Google Earth as well as fading depending on zoom.

The input files should contain the following columns:

lon lat [ alt ] [ timestart [ timestop ] ]

where lon and lat are required for all features, alt is optional for all features (see also -A and -C), and timestart and timestop apply to events and timespan features. For wiggles, the alt column is required but is expected to represent an along-track data anomaly such as gravity, magnetics, etc. These values will be scaled to yield distances from the line in degrees.

Required Arguments

None.

Optional Arguments

table
One or more ASCII (or binary, see -bi[ncols][type]) data table file(s) holding a number of data columns. If no tables are given then we read from standard input.
-Aa|g|s[alt|xscale]
Select one of three altitude modes recognized by Google Earth that determines the altitude (in m) of the feature: a absolute altitude, g altitude relative to sea surface or ground, s altitude relative to seafloor or ground. To plot the features at a fixed altitude, append an altitude alt (in m). Use 0 to clamp the features to the chosen reference surface. Append xscale to scale the altitude from the input file by that factor. If no value is appended, the altitude (in m) is read from the 3rd column of the input file. [By default the features are clamped to the sea surface or ground].
-Ccpt
Use the CPT for assigning colors to the symbol, event, or timespan icons, based on the value in the 3rd column of the input file. For lines or polygons we examine the segment header for -Z<value> statements and obtain the color via the cpt lookup. Note only discrete colors are possible.
-Ddescriptfile
File with HTML snippets that will be included as part of the main description content for the KML file [no description]. See SEGMENT INFORMATION below for feature-specific descriptions.
-E[+e][+s]
Control how lines and polygons are rendered in Google Earth. Append +e to extrude the feature down to ground level [no extrusion]. Append +s to connect points with straight lines (which may intersect the Earth’s surface and be invisible) [tessellate onto surface].
-Fe|s|t|l|p|w
Sets the feature type. Choose from points (event, symbol, or timespan), line, polygon, or wiggle [symbol]. The first two columns of the input file should contain (lon, lat). When altitude or value is required (i.e., no altitude value was given with -A, or -C is set), the third column needs to contain the altitude (in m) or value. The event (-Fe) is a symbol that should only be active at a particular time, given in the next column. Timespan (-Ft) is a symbol that should only be active during a particular time period indicated by the next two columns (timestart, timestop). Use NaN to indicate unbounded time limits. If used, times should be in ISO format yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss[.xxx] or in GMT relative time format (see -f). For wiggles, the data anomaly is required to be in the 3rd input column. If you also need to plot the track itself then do that separately with -Fl.
-G[color][+f|+n]
Sets color for fill (modifier +f [Default]) or label font (modifier +n). Fill sets infill color for symbols, extrusions, polygons and positive anomaly wiggles [Default is light orange at 75% transparency]. Alternatively, use -G+f to turn off such infill. Text labels: Specify color for the font [Default is white]. Alternatively, use -G+n to instead disable the labels.
-Iicon
Specify the URL to an alternative icon that should be used for the symbol [Default is a Google Earth circle]. If the URL starts with + then we will prepend http://maps.google.com/mapfiles/kml/ to the name. To turn off icons entirely (e.g., when just wanting a text label), use -I-. [Default is a local icon with no directory path].
-K
Allow more KML code to be appended to the output later [finalize the KML file].
-Lname1,name2,…
Extended data given. Append one or more column names separated by commas. We will expect the listed data columns to exist in the input immediately following the data coordinates required for the selected feature set by -F, and they will be encoded in the KML file as Extended Data sets, whose attributes will be available in a Google Earth balloon when the item is selected. The data file must have enough data columns and trailing text to accommodate the number of columns requested. If the number of extended data is one larger than the number of available numerical columns then the entire trailing text is set as the last extended data column. Otherwise, the trailing text is split into individual words and set as separate extended columns.
-N[t|col|name_template|name]
By default, if segment headers contain a -L”label string” then we use that for the name of the KML feature (polygon, line segment or set of symbols). Default names for these segments are “Line %d” and “Point Set %d”, depending on the feature, where %d is a sequence number of line segments within a file. Each point within a line segment will be named after the line segment plus a sequence number. Default is simply “Point %d”. Alternatively, select one of these options: (1) append col to supply individual symbol labels as the string formatted from the col data column, (2) append t to let individual symbol labels be the trailing text of each record (3) append a string that may include %d or a similar integer format to assign unique name IDs for each feature, with the segment number (for lines and polygons) or point number (symbols) appearing where %d is placed, (4) give no arguments to turn symbol labeling off; line segments will still be named. Also note that options (2) is not available unless input is an ASCII file.
-O
Append KML code to an existing KML file [initialize a new KML file].
-Qa|iazimuth
Option in support of wiggle plots (requires -Fw). You may control which directions the positive wiggles will tend to point to with -Qa. The provided azimuth defines a half-circle centered on the selected azimuth [0] where positive anomalies will plot. If outside then switch by 180 degrees. Alternatively, use -Qi to set a fixed direction with no further variation.
-Qsscale[unit]
Required setting for wiggle plots (i.e., it requires -Fw). Sets a wiggle scale in z-data units per the user’s units (given via the trailing unit taken from d|m|s|e|f|k|M|n|u [e]). This scale is then inverted to yield degrees per user z-unit and used to convert wiggle anomalies to map distances and positions.
-Re|w/e/s/n
Issue a single Region tag. Append w/e/s/n to set a particular region (will ignore points outside the region), or append e to determine and use the exact domain of the data (single file only) [no region tags issued].
-Sc|nscale]
Scale icons or labels. Here, -Sc sets a scale for the symbol icon, whereas -Sn sets a scale for the name labels [1 for both].
-Ttitle[/foldername]
Sets the document title [default is unset]. Optionally, append /FolderName; this allows you, with -O, -K, to group features into folders within the KML document. [The default folder name is “Name Features”, where Name is Point, Event, Timespan, Line, Polygon or Wiggle].
-V[level] (more …)
Select verbosity level [c].
-W[pen][attr] (more …)
Set pen attributes for lines, wiggles or polygon outlines. Append pen attributes to use [Defaults: width = default, color = black, style = solid]. If the modifier +cl is appended then the color of the line are taken from the CPT (see -C). If instead modifier +cf is appended then the color from the cpt file is applied to symbol fill. Use just +c for both effects. Note that for KML the pen width is given in (fractional) pixels and not in points (1/72 inch).
-Zargs
Set one or more attributes of the Document and Region tags. Append +aalt_min/alt_max to specify limits on visibility based on altitude. Append +llod_min/lod_max to specify limits on visibility based on Level Of Detail, where lod_max == -1 means it is visible to infinite size. Append +ffade_min/fade_max to fade in and out over a ramp [abrupt]. Append +v to make a feature not visible when loaded [visible]. Append +o to open a folder or document in the sidebar when loaded [closed].
-bi[ncols][t] (more …)
Select native binary format for primary input. [Default is 2 or more input columns, depending on settings].
-dinodata (more …)
Replace input columns that equal nodata with NaN.
-e[~]”pattern” | -e[~]/regexp/[i] (more …)
Only accept data records that match the given pattern.
-f[i|o]colinfo (more …)
Specify data types of input and/or output columns.
-g[a]x|y|d|X|Y|D|[col]zgap[u][+n|p] (more …)
Determine data gaps and line breaks.
-h[i|o][n][+c][+d][+rremark][+rtitle] (more …)
Skip or produce header record(s).
-icols[+l][+sscale][+ooffset][,…][,t[word]] (more …)
Select input columns and transformations (0 is first column, t is trailing text, append word to read one word only).
-:[i|o] (more …)
Swap 1st and 2nd column on input and/or output.
-^ or just -
Print a short message about the syntax of the command, then exits (NOTE: on Windows just use -).
-+ or just +
Print an extensive usage (help) message, including the explanation of any module-specific option (but not the GMT common options), then exits.
-? or no arguments
Print a complete usage (help) message, including the explanation of all options, then exits.
--PAR=value
Temporarily override a GMT default setting; repeatable. See gmt.conf for parameters.

Examples

Note: Below are some examples of valid syntax for this module. The examples that use remote files (file names starting with @) can be cut and pasted into your terminal for testing. Other commands requiring input files are just dummy examples of the types of uses that are common but cannot be run verbatim as written.

To plot colored symbols based on a CPT of the remote file @kml_pointsets.txt, first make the CPT and then create the KML file thus:

gmt makecpt -Ccategorical > categories.cpt
gmt 2kml @kml_pointsets.txt -Ccategories.cpt > points.kml

To convert a file with point locations (lon, lat) into a KML file with red circle symbols, try

gmt 2kml mypoints.txt -Gred+f -Fs > mypoints.kml

To convert a multisegment file with lines (lon, lat) separated by segment headers that contain a -Llabelstring with the feature name, selecting a thick white pen, and title the document, try

gmt 2kml mylines.txt -Wthick,white -Fl -T"Lines from here to there" > mylines.kml

To convert a multisegment file with polygons (lon, lat) separated by segment headers that contain a -Llabelstring with the feature name, selecting a thick black pen and semi-transparent yellow fill, giving a title to the document, and prescribing a particular region limit, try

gmt 2kml mypolygons.txt -Gyellow@50+f -Fp -T"My polygons" -R30/90/-20/40 > mypolygons.kml

To convert a file with point locations (lon, lat, time) into a KML file with green circle symbols that will go active at the specified time and stay active going forward, try

awk '{print $1, $2, $3, "NaN"}' mypoints.txt | gmt 2kml -Ggreen+f -Ft > mytimepoints.kml

To extract contours and labels every 10 units from the grid temp.nc and plot them in KML, using red lines at 75% transparency and red labels (no transparency), try

gmt grdcontour temp.nc -Jx1id -A10+tlabel.txt -C10 -Dcontours.txt
gmt 2kml    contours.txt -Fl -W1p,red@75 -K > contours.kml
gmt 2kml    -O -Nt -Fs -Sn2 -Gred@0+n label.txt -I- >> contours.kml

To instead plot the contours as lines with colors taken from the cpt file contours.cpt, try

gmt 2kml contours.txt -Fl -Ccontours.cpt > contours.kml

To plot magnetic anomalies as wiggles along track, with positive wiggles painted orange and the wiggle line drawn with a black pen of width 2p, scaling the magnetic anomalies (in nTesla) so that 50 nT equals 1 nm on the map, and place the wiggles 50m above the sea surface, use

gmt 2kml magnetics_lon_lat_mag.txt -Fw -Gorange+f -W2p -Ag50 -Qs50n > wiggles.kml

Limitations

Google Earth has trouble displaying filled polygons across the Dateline. For now you must manually break any polygon crossing the dateline into a west and east polygon and plot them separately. Google Earth also has other less obvious limitations on file size or line length. These do not seem to be documented. If features do not show and you are not getting an error, try to reduce the size of the file by splitting things up.

Making Kmz Files

Using the KMZ format is preferred as it takes less space. KMZ is simply a KML file and any data files, icons, or images referenced by the KML, contained in a zip archive. One way to organize large data sets is to split them into groups called Folders. A Document can contain any number of folders. Using scripts you can create a composite KML file using the -K, -O options just like you do with GMT plots. See -T for switching between folders and documents. The gmt_shell_scripts.sh contains function gmt_build_kmz that can assist in building a KMZ file from any number of KML files (and optionally images they may refer to).

Kml Hierarchy

GMT stores the different features in hierarchical folders by feature type (when using -O, -K or -T/foldername), by input file (if not standard input), and by line segment (using the name from the segment header, or -N). This makes it more easy in Google Earth to switch on or off parts of the contents of the Document. The following is a crude example:

[ KML header information; not present if -O was used ]

<Document><name>GMT Data Document</name>

<Folder><name>Point Features</name>

<!--This level of folder is inserted only when using -O, -K>

<Folder><name>file1.dat</name>

<!--One folder for each input file (not when standard input)>

<Folder><name>Point Set 0</name>

<!--One folder per line segment>

<!--Points from the first line segment in file file1.dat go here>

<Folder><name>Point Set 1</name>

<!--Points from the second line segment in file file1.dat go here>

</Folder>

</Folder>

<Folder><name>Line Features</name>

<Folder><name>file1.dat</name>

<!--One folder for each input file (not when standard input)>

<Placemark><name>Line 0</name>

<!--Here goes the first line segment>

</Placemark>

<Placemark><name>Line 1</name>

<!--Here goes the second line segment>

</Placemark>

</Folder>

<Folder>

</Document>

[ KML trailer information; not present if -K was used ]

Segment Information

2kml will scan the segment headers for substrings of the form -L”some label” [also see -N discussion] and -T”some text description”. If present, these are parsed to supply name and description tags, respectively, for the current feature.

Making KMZ files

If you have made a series of KML files (which may depend on other items like local PNG images), you can consolidate these into a single KMZ file for saving space and for grouping related files together. The bash function gmt_build_kmz in the gmt_shell_functions.sh can be used to do this. You need to source gmt_shell_functions.sh first before you can use it.