Tutorials / How to Auto-Refresh FIRMS KML in Google Earth Pro

This tutorial demonstrates how to ingest FIRMS KML fire data into Google Earth Pro with automatic refresh.


Method 1:

Step 1 - Add Network Link

  • Launch Google Earth Pro on your computer (not the google earth web site)
  • Click Add > Network Link

Step 2 - Set URL and Refresh Rate

  • Paste and copy url location into Link:
    ex: https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/data/active_fire/modis-c6.1/kml/MODIS_C6_1_USA_contiguous_and_Hawaii_24h.kml
  • View other available FIRMS kml files (updated every hour)
  • Select Refresh tab
  • Set Time-Based Refresh to When:Periodically
  • Adjust the frequency as needed
  • Click OK at the bottom

Step 3 -View Data

  • Double+Click the FIRMS layer for refresh or Right+Click and select Refresh to view the data
  • The link name will be added to the Temporary Places section of your Places panel
  • The specified kml file will be refreshed with the defined time interval


Method 2:

Step 1 - Create local.kml file with the Network Link

  • Open any text editor and paste and copy the code below
  • Note the refreshInterval is set to 3600 seconds (3600 seconds = 1 hour; 43200 seconds = 12 hours; 86400 seconds = 1 day)
  • Set href to FIRMS kml file of your interest. See options (updated every hour)
  • Save the file as local.kml in plain text. Check that the editor didn't add any special characters.

                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.0">
  <Document>
    <NetworkLink>
      <Name>Local kml</Name>
      <Link>
        <href>https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/data/active_fire/c6/kml/MODIS_C6_USA_contiguous_and_Hawaii_24h.kml</href>
        <refreshMode>onInterval</refreshMode>
        <refreshInterval>3600</refreshInterval>
      </Link>
    </NetworkLink>
  </Document>
</kml>				
                                
                            

Step 2 - Open local.kml File in Google Earth Pro

  • Launch Google Earth Pro on your computer (not the google earth web site)
  • Click File > Open

Step 3 - Find local.kml File

  • Find and select local.kml and click Open

Step 4 - View Results

  • The file is added to the Temporary Places section of your Places panel.
  • It will auto refresh as defined in your local.kml file