Gaia GPS: Adding Google Earth Imagery

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
Finally got around to this, and figured I'd share as I hear complaints from time to time about satellite image quality.

Summary:

Log into your account and use this link:

And this datasource link:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

(Delete the space after https, that’s there to get the URL to show up correctly on the forum)

I name it "Google Earth" and use a zoom range of 1-20.

After creating the datasource via the web, sync your app and the data source should be available.

I've tried it on both it Android and iOS and have tried it offline as well on Android.
 
Last edited:
OP
Brendan

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
Links:

https://thingstolucat.com/2019/03/17/navigation-with-gaia-gps/

https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/mapsources/

Make sure you change to https (if not already) or Android won't work. Also, delete the space after https, that’s there to get the URL to show up correctly on the forum


Data Sources:

ESRI Worldview:
https ://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Stamen Terrain:
https ://tile.stamen.com/terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

Stamen Watercolor:
https ://tile.stamen.com/watercolor/{z}/{x}/{y}.jpg

Strava All:
https ://heatmap-external-b.strava.com/tiles/all/bluered/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

ESRI National Geographic:
https ://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/NatGeo_World_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Google Maps:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=m&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrics=t&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=p&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Satellite Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}
 
Last edited:
OP
Brendan

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
Strava heat map overlay:

4b60949e603c9e78fb18f04a6b03ebd5.jpg
47daa3f2d21f70544fd168ba7c6b4c89.jpg
 

snakelk

WKR
Joined
Apr 3, 2013
Messages
642
Location
Oregon
Thanks for sharing. I'm going to have to try this. Satellite image quality is one thing that's kept me from using Gaia as opposed to Backcountry Navigator.
 

wapitibob

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
5,366
Location
Bend Oregon
I would guess it’s because Google doesn’t allow the download of their sat imagery thru Gaia unless Gaia paid for it. That’s why none of the apps have it as a download option on the phone side.
 

tdhanses

WKR
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Messages
5,721
I would guess it’s because Google doesn’t allow the download of their sat imagery thru Gaia unless Gaia paid for it. That’s why none of the apps have it as a download option on the phone side.

I have it on my iPhone/iPad as an app.
 
OP
Brendan

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
I have it on my iPhone/iPad as an app.
Not what he was saying.

Google regulates the offline download of their Imagery, which is why Gaia doesn't offer the source out of the box.

Do you have a Gaia Premium Membership? This is a yearly subscription fee in addition to downloading the Gaia app, and it's needed for things like downloads and layered maps.
 
OP
Brendan

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
Reference articles from Gaia:


 

tdhanses

WKR
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Messages
5,721
Not what he was saying.

Google regulates the offline download of their Imagery, which is why Gaia doesn't offer the source out of the box.

Do you have a Gaia Premium Membership? This is a yearly subscription fee in addition to downloading the Gaia app, and it's needed for things like downloads and layered maps.
Ahh, thanks for the clarification. I do have the premium, all the other source you posted up I still have but I’ve done Google Earth three times now and it is deleted within 30 mins of doing it.

Maybe I should email their support as it doesn’t seem like this should be happening.
 

wapitibob

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
5,366
Location
Bend Oregon
It's still available and is the default on my GAIA and I only have the "legacy" version. I hadn't looked at it after initially adding the layer. The GE imagery isn't quite as clear as onX for the same location, close but missing just a bit of crispness. I notice a difference in the zoom level elevation callout as well.
 
OP
Brendan

Brendan

WKR
Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
3,871
Location
Massachusetts
@tdhanses , I wouldn't call / email them with regards to Google Imagery. They don't want you doing Google Earth. They've addressed it in their posts online why they don't.

I'd try naming it something different, or I would experiment with another datasource first (like strava) to make sure you can get that working.

For me, still working and at full res and zooms when I compare it to to GE pro on my computer.

Feel free to post up a screen shot of the datasource page before you enter it, I can do the same later.
 
Last edited:

tdhanses

WKR
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Messages
5,721
Update, just checked and the one I created last night is still there, I also have it still in my active layer. It was when I removed it from the active layers showing that it would be removed from my list.
 

Hackman

FNG
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Messages
19
Links:

https://thingstolucat.com/2019/03/17/navigation-with-gaia-gps/

https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/mapsources/

Make sure you change to https (if not already) or Android won't work. Also, delete the space after https, that’s there to get the URL to show up correctly on the forum


Data Sources:

ESRI Worldview:
https ://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Stamen Terrain:
https ://tile.stamen.com/terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

Stamen Watercolor:
https ://tile.stamen.com/watercolor/{z}/{x}/{y}.jpg

Strava All:
https ://heatmap-external-b.strava.com/tiles/all/bluered/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

ESRI National Geographic:
https ://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/NatGeo_World_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Google Maps:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=m&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrics=t&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=p&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Satellite Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}
Th
Links:

https://thingstolucat.com/2019/03/17/navigation-with-gaia-gps/

https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/mapsources/

Make sure you change to https (if not already) or Android won't work. Also, delete the space after https, that’s there to get the URL to show up correctly on the forum


Data Sources:

ESRI Worldview:
https ://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Stamen Terrain:
https ://tile.stamen.com/terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

Stamen Watercolor:
https ://tile.stamen.com/watercolor/{z}/{x}/{y}.jpg

Strava All:
https ://heatmap-external-b.strava.com/tiles/all/bluered/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

ESRI National Geographic:
https ://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/NatGeo_World_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Google Maps:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=m&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrics=t&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=p&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Satellite Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}
Links:

https://thingstolucat.com/2019/03/17/navigation-with-gaia-gps/

https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/mapsources/

Make sure you change to https (if not already) or Android won't work. Also, delete the space after https, that’s there to get the URL to show up correctly on the forum


Data Sources:

ESRI Worldview:
https ://server.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Stamen Terrain:
https ://tile.stamen.com/terrain/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

Stamen Watercolor:
https ://tile.stamen.com/watercolor/{z}/{x}/{y}.jpg

Strava All:
https ://heatmap-external-b.strava.com/tiles/all/bluered/{z}/{x}/{y}.png

ESRI National Geographic:
https ://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/NatGeo_World_Map/MapServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}

Google Maps:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=m&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrics=t&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Terrain Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=p&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}

Google Satellite Hybrid:
https ://mt1.google.com/vt/lyrs=y&x={x}&y={y}&z={z}
Thank you for this! Game changer!
 

Rokwiia

WKR
Joined
Nov 12, 2016
Messages
886
Location
In the mountains
I separately downloaded the Google Earth app. Now, while in GAIA, with two clicks I can be in GE without having to fiddle with GAIA. Two more clicks and I'm back to GAIA with my route and topo map right there to compare to GE. I find it faster and less disruptive.
 

corncob

WKR
Joined
May 3, 2018
Messages
302
Location
Southern San Juans, Colorado
I separately downloaded the Google Earth app. Now, while in GAIA, with two clicks I can be in GE without having to fiddle with GAIA. Two more clicks and I'm back to GAIA with my route and topo map right there to compare to GE. I find it faster and less disruptive.

I guess this works as long as you have cell service, right, or aren't going far enough to get outside the persistent data cache?
 

Latest posts

Featured Video

Stats

Threads
319,683
Messages
3,353,227
Members
74,491
Latest member
ckaz34
Top