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KML and KMZ Viewer

Open the map file from a tender: see the alignment or the site on a map, with the length of each line and the area of each plot.

Drop a .kml or .kmz file here

A road alignment, a pipeline route, a site boundary. Up to 25 MB.

Your file is read in your browser and is not uploaded to us. The background map is loaded from OpenStreetMap, and you can switch it off.

How it works

  1. Choose the .kml or .kmz file that came with the tender documents.
  2. The points, lines and areas in it are drawn on a map. Drag the map to move it, and use the buttons to zoom or to show everything again.
  3. Pick a placemark from the list to find it on the map, read its length or area, copy its coordinates or open the spot in Google Maps.
  4. Download the list as a sheet (CSV) if you want the names, coordinates, lengths and areas in Excel.

Good to know

  • Lengths and areas are worked out from the coordinates in the file, on a sphere the size of the Earth. Expect them to be within about half a percent. For a bid, use the quantities the tender itself states.
  • The viewer shows where things are. It does not show the colours, icons, photos or image overlays a file may carry, or 3D models.
  • A file that only links to a map kept on a server has no shapes inside it, so there is nothing to draw. Ask the tendering authority for a file with the shapes saved in it.
  • The background map comes from OpenStreetMap and may be older than the site today. Switch it off if you only need the shapes and their measurements.

Common questions

What are KML and KMZ files?
KML is the file format Google Earth uses to store places: points, lines and areas, each with a name and coordinates. A KMZ file is the same thing zipped, so it is smaller. Both open in this viewer.
Why do tenders include a KML or KMZ file?
Works tenders often attach the location as a map file: the alignment of a road, canal, pipeline or transmission line, or the boundary of a plot or site. Opening it shows you where the work is and roughly how long or how large it is before you decide to bid or plan a site visit.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read inside your browser and is not sent to Bidkoo. The background map is loaded from OpenStreetMap, so while it is on your browser asks OpenStreetMap for the map pictures of the area you are looking at. You can switch the background off; the shapes and their measurements still work.
How accurate are the lengths and areas?
They are calculated from the coordinates in the file and are usually within about half a percent of a survey figure. They follow the shape as drawn, in a straight path between its points, and take no account of slopes. Treat them as a check, and rely on the quantities in the tender document for your bid.
Why is something from my file not shown?
The viewer draws points, lines, areas and GPS tracks. It leaves out image overlays, photos, 3D models and links to maps kept elsewhere, and it says so under the map when it has left something out. It also does not use the colours and icons set in the file.
Can I open the place in Google Maps or Google Earth?
Yes. Pick a placemark from the list and use "Open in Google Maps" to see that spot there, or copy its coordinates. To see the whole file with its original colours and icons, open it in Google Earth.

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