Why convert ECW to KMZ?
KMZ is the format Google Earth reads. If you need to share aerial or satellite imagery from an ECW with someone using Google Earth, a KMZ ground overlay is the direct way to do it. The ECW's embedded projection and coordinate data are used to place the imagery at the correct location on the Earth's surface.
How to convert ECW to KMZ
ArcGIS APP
Add the .ecw as a raster layer in ArcGIS, then use the Layer to KML geoprocessing tool to export it as a .kmz ground overlay.
QGIS FREE
Load the .ecw in QGIS as a raster layer, make sure the CRS is set correctly, then go to Project > Import/Export > Export Map to KML and choose KMZ as the output format.
Programs that convert ECW
About these formats
.ECW
Enhanced Compression Wavelet (ECW) image
An ECW file is a wavelet-compressed aerial or satellite image used in GIS software. To view one for free on Windows, use IrfanView (with plugin pack) or QGIS; QGIS also works on macOS and…
Open .ECW details →
.KMZ
Keyhole Markup Language Zipped (Google Earth)
A KMZ file is a ZIP-compressed Google Earth map - it holds placemarks, routes, polygons, image overlays and sometimes 3D models in one portable package. Open it with the free Google Earth…
Open .KMZ details →Quality & what to watch
- File size warning: ECW compresses imagery aggressively; re-encoding as JPEG or PNG tiles inside a KMZ can produce a file of several hundred megabytes that Google Earth handles poorly - clip the ECW to the area of interest first.
- The imagery must be reprojected to WGS84 (EPSG:4326) for Google Earth; GIS tools handle this automatically when writing KML/KMZ.
- Georeferencing is used to position the imagery correctly but is not stored as editable GIS data in the KMZ output.
