What is a .KMZ file?
A .KMZ file is a file format used by Google Earth to store placemarks, overlays, 3D models, and other geographical data. It is essentially a compressed version of a Keyhole Markup Language (KML) file, which is an XML-based format used for describing geographic data in Google Earth and other mapping applications. The KMZ format allows for the bundling of multiple files into a single compressed archive, making it easier to share and distribute complex sets of geographical data.
Converting a .KMZ file to a .KML file
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Google Earth: Google Earth can open KMZ files directly, allowing you to view the placemarks and other data contained within. You can simply double-click on the KMZ file, and Google Earth will automatically extract and display the contents.
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Online converters: There are various online tools available that allow you to convert KMZ files to KML. These converters extract the contents of the KMZ file and generate a KML file that can be opened in Google Earth or other KML-compatible software.
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GIS software: Geographic Information System (GIS) software, such as ArcGIS, can also import KMZ files and convert them to KML. These tools provide advanced functionality for working with geographic data, including visualization, analysis, and data management.
Converting .KMZ to Shapefile (.SHP):
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ArcGIS: ArcGIS is a popular GIS software that provides tools for converting KML or KMZ files to shapefile format. It allows you to import the KMZ file, convert it to KML, and then export it as a shapefile (.SHP). Shapefiles are a common geospatial vector data format used by many GIS applications.
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QGIS: QGIS is a free and open-source GIS software that also supports the conversion of KMZ files to shapefile format. You can import the KMZ file into QGIS, convert it to KML, and then export it as a shapefile.