KMZ File Documentation

Overview

Feature Value
File Extension .kmz
MIME Type application/vnd.google-earth.kmz
Primary Use Geospatial Data Visualization
Based On Keyhole Markup Language (KML)
Compression Format ZIP Compression
Contents KML Files and optionally other resources like images
Main KML File doc.kml at the root of the archive
Interoperability Supported by various GIS software and Google Earth
Character Encoding UTF-8
Geo-Referencing Included within KML for placemarks, paths, polygons, etc.
Support for Media Images and textures can be embedded for overlays
3D Support Models can be included for 3D visualization
Annotation Features Placemarks, lines, polygons, and textual descriptions
Integration with Google Earth Direct open and view capability
Coordinates System WGS84
Network Link Capability Support for streaming data from external sources
Extensibility Custom data elements can be added through XML namespace extensions
Update Mechanism Support for dynamic updating and remote resource referencing
Accessibility Textual descriptions and naming for accessibility tools
Licensing Openly usable but subject to Google Earth and Maps terms of service