KML Google Maps and HTML Google Maps

KML Google Maps and HTML Google Maps are two format ways to add Google Maps in WordPress Posts. Let us see the advantages and disadvantages of these formats. Previously we have guided to Create Your Own Google Maps – we embedded iframe HTML Google Map, you can see that page has a working Google Map. In this article, we will discuss on KML Google Maps and compare it with HTML Google Maps.

 

What is this KML Google Maps ?

 

KML Google Maps are of a file format named KML. KML Google Maps are uses Keyhole Markup Language (KML) which is a markup language for the description of spatial data for the client components. According to Google, KML Google Maps uses a tag based structure with nested elements and attributes and is based on the XML standard. All tags are case-sensitive and must be appear exactly as they are listed in the KML Reference. KML follows the XML – syntax, it is available in version 2.2 and is a standard of the Open Geospatial Consortium.

 

Geometrical Elements of  KML Google Maps

 

KML documents, such as KML Google Maps includes spatial vector in raster form. Vector objects such as points, lines, linear rings, polygons or models can be modeled as a Placemark element and aerial and satellite images as ground overlay elements on KML Google Maps.

In addition to the geometry Placemark, element name, description, predefined styles, viewing angle and height, a timestamp, a ground overlay element instead of a coordinate geometry section for georeferencing of raster data are defined in KML Google Maps. The KMZ format is a data-compressed KML file format.

 

Problem with HTML Google Maps and Advantages of KML Google Maps

 

As we can add the iframe HTML Google Maps very easily inside any page or post, the question will arise, why we will prefer KML Google Maps over HTML one ? Visually there is no difference in KML Google Maps. But in iframe basically we are loading a page within a page, the map itself on the page can not give any information to search bots. But KML Google Maps, are informational and most importantly – if you change the style in Google maps corresponding to the embedded KML Google Maps, they will show up easily. Google bot hates iframe things but probably Google Maps might be an exception, we are not taking it as an advantage of KML Google Maps. But adding KML Google Maps in WordPress posts is a bit difficult. That part of adding KML Google Maps is a different story.