I use the free version of Google Earth a little to help estimate condition before performing a field survey. On the free version however, you can't turn on the topo. I am considering a paid version. What intervals are their topo and do you find it relatively accurate? "Accurate" being a loosely used term in this sense as I would not be actually designing anything until I had completed a topo survey.
I use this free .kml that overlays USGS quads on google earth. Best feature: FREE
http://www.metzgerwillard.us/quads/quads.html
Thanks! I will definitely check this out.
No better than the old USGS Quad maps for accuracy, in my opinion.
Wow. that's awesome. Thank you.
In PA, Penn State did a lidar of the whole state with 2 ft contours that you can use as a shapefile with the free version of ARCGIS. It's pretty nice. Again, the best part is the price, Free.
My cousin Helen works for the State and helped out with that project. Her husband, Noel, is a senior professor at Penn State and also was involved.
When they visit we always have some interesting discussions. Being a geologist, Noel wants the contours as messy as possible as it makes it easier to pick out some geological features. All the surveyors and engineers want the neat and clean contours.
Google Earth Pro does not have any different elevation data than the free version...