KML Macro: Integrating SAS and Google API and Its Application in Mapping Manitoba's Health Data on Google Earth and Google Map

Google API allows developers to overlay their own customized maps on Google Earth and Google Map. It means that it is possible to colorize a map based on an estimated or known measure. This requires putting the geographical coordinates along with statistical data together in a specific XML file format called KML. This paper introduces KML macro (written by the author) that uses SAS to quickly and easily create such a file in one step by a SAS user who does not need GIS knowledge or additional software. Also, it will be shown how to create an appropriate coordinates file for this macro in SAS format.