Can I use Google Location History to geotag photos from a non-GPS camera?
Asked 7/17/2018
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2 answers
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My camera does not have built-in GPS, but Google records my phone's location history. Can that data be used to geotag photos automatically based on the time they were taken? If so, what workflow or software can do it? I'm asking about matching timestamps to GPS coordinates, not manually picking places on a map.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
8
The procedure I use is:
- Go to your Google Timeline
- Select day
- Click on gear icon, export this day in KML
Convert the file to GPX (I use GPSBabel)
gpsbabel -w -r -t -i kml -f history.kml -o gpx -F history.gpxGet (if you do not have) Geotag software
- Install (if you do not have) JVM
- Start Geotag software
- Add your images
- Load track from file
- Adjust camera time
- Save new locations (I save to XMP)
But as Google do not write in timeline GPS location marks so often I will no rely on this info for image geotagging. In my test I get 180 point for 8 hours trip (with other mobile software I get around 25000 points). Of course someone can interpolate the location, but is not so precise. Also Google (in my case) do not store the elevation.
Edit: I just now find another tool which can use your location history and directly add location info to your photos. Web site, python tool itself
Originally by user34947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34947
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A common workflow is to export your Google Timeline data for the day you shot, then use geotagging software to match photo timestamps to the recorded track.
Typical steps:
- Open Google Timeline and export that day as KML.
- If needed, convert KML to GPX with a tool like GPSBabel.
- Load your photos and the track into geotagging software, or use exiftool directly.
- Adjust for camera clock/time zone differences.
- Write the GPS data to the files or sidecar XMP.
Tools mentioned in the answers:
- GPSBabel for KML→GPX conversion
- Geotag for matching photos to tracks
- exiftool, which can read KML directly and interpolate positions from timestamps
Important limitation: Google Location History is often sparse compared with a dedicated GPS logger, so accuracy may be limited. Trackpoints may be far apart, only one day may be exportable at a time from Timeline, and elevation may be missing. Interpolation can help, but it will not be as precise as a true GPS track log.
So: yes, it’s possible, but expect convenience over maximum accuracy.
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