Brian McClendon
Encyclopedia
Brian McClendon is an American software designer, developer and engineer. He was a co-founder and angel investor
in Keyhole, a geospatial
data visualization tool; the start-up was purchased by Google
in 2004 and later came to be known as Google Earth
. Keyhole itself was spun off from another company called Intrinsic Graphics, of which McClendon was also a founder.
McClendon grew up in Lawrence, Kansas
(his childhood home, Meadowbrook Apartments in Lawrence, is the default center point of Google Earth).). He graduated from Lawrence High School
in 1982 and from the University of Kansas
in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering. Early in his career he was Engineering Director with @Home Networks and spent 8 years with Silicon Graphics developing high-end workstation 3D graphics including GT, GTX, RealityEngine, and InfiniteReality.
He holds six issued patents, including four for KML
, the XML-based language schema for expressing geographic annotation and visualization in two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML is now an open standard for GIS data.
McClendon is currently a Vice President of Engineering with Google, responsible for geo-products including Earth, Maps, Local Search, Sketchup, Moon, Ocean and Sky.
Angel investor
An angel investor or angel is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity...
in Keyhole, a geospatial
Geospatial
Geospatial analysis is an approach to applying statistical analysis and other informational techniques to geographically based data. Such analysis employs spatial software and analytical methods with terrestrial or geographic datasets, including geographic information systems and...
data visualization tool; the start-up was purchased by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
in 2004 and later came to be known as Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
. Keyhole itself was spun off from another company called Intrinsic Graphics, of which McClendon was also a founder.
McClendon grew up in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
(his childhood home, Meadowbrook Apartments in Lawrence, is the default center point of Google Earth).). He graduated from Lawrence High School
Lawrence High School
Lawrence High School may refer to:In the US:* Lawrence High School , in Lawrence, Kansas* Lawrence High School , in Lawrenceville, New Jersey* Lawrence High School , in Cedarhurst, New York...
in 1982 and from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering. Early in his career he was Engineering Director with @Home Networks and spent 8 years with Silicon Graphics developing high-end workstation 3D graphics including GT, GTX, RealityEngine, and InfiniteReality.
He holds six issued patents, including four for KML
Keyhole Markup Language
Keyhole Markup Language is an XML notation for expressing geographic annotation and visualization within Internet-based, two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML was developed for use with Google Earth, which was originally named Keyhole Earth Viewer. It was created by...
, the XML-based language schema for expressing geographic annotation and visualization in two-dimensional maps and three-dimensional Earth browsers. KML is now an open standard for GIS data.
McClendon is currently a Vice President of Engineering with Google, responsible for geo-products including Earth, Maps, Local Search, Sketchup, Moon, Ocean and Sky.