Researchers mash Google Earth with electrical data to predict national grid problems

Oak Ridge National Labs researchers have developed The Visualizing Energy Resources Dynamically on Earth (VERDE) system, which overlays real-time status data from the national electric grid and weather on Google Earth.

Federal, state, and local agencies can use VERDE for wide-area
situational understanding to coordinate and respond to major problems such as wide-area power outages, natural disasters, and other catastrophic events. It also enables grid-behavior modeling and simulation. (Source: http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/30792)