Satellite imaging question

[retroaviation]

Okay all you "high-tech-types" out there.......how come Google Maps and other satellite mapping sites don't show current images of Mother Earth? I reckon it would be asking a lot to get "instant" images, but the ones that are of my place, for example, are about five years old. I can't imagine there being a "National security" issue with this, so why aren't the images at least a little more current?

Gary, the double-naught spy.

[Matt Gunsch]

just takes money and you can have a current veiw of your house.

For a while Google earth had pics of Falcon Field and Glendale airport and on both were Witchcraft and 909.

[Matt Gunsch]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=33.4847454&lo ... =0&m=a&v=2

This pic is at least 3 yrs old, I no longer have the tarp up, and the cars across the street are long gone,

[RyanShort1]

Okay all you "high-tech-types" out there.......how come Google Maps and other satellite mapping sites don't show current images of Mother Earth? I reckon it would be asking a lot to get "instant" images, but the ones that are of my place, for example, are about five years old. I can't imagine there being a "National security" issue with this, so why aren't the images at least a little more current?

Gary, the double-naught spy.

Some areas receive higher priority for updates than others. In the aerial photography business it becomes quite apparent where things are updated or not. GE is a fairly useful tool, but it does have it's limitations - which is why we're still quite useful to folks.

Ryan

[CAPFlyer]

Google has started putting dates on all of their aerial and satellite images when looking in Google Earth and Google Maps, so you get an idea of how new/old the photos are.

Much of their imaging was purchased from third parties until recently. Now Google has its own imaging satellite up, so it may be able to start updating its images a bit more routinely.

[retroaviation]

Google has started putting dates on all of their aerial and satellite images when looking in Google Earth and Google Maps, so you get an idea of how new/old the photos are.

Maybe so on Google Earth, but I just tried Google Maps, and it still shows an old photo, with a 2009 copyright date (which is the only date I saw on the page).

I guess I'm gonna have to get Google Earth uploaded to see if it's any different.

Gary

[retroaviation]

Just checked Google Earth and it does indeed show the date of the image.....July 4 2003.

[wls3]

Gary,

There are several other sites out there besides Google Earth.

Try this one,

http://www.bing.com/maps/

After you type the address and enter, click on birds eye view

[retroaviation]

Thanks for that, Bill. It's still a couple of years old, but at least its more current, as you can clearly see the PBY in my back yard.......

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v ... &encType=1

Gary

[Ztex]

Bing maps...didn't that used to be called Live.Local?


Gary...you have a nicely mowed "pond"

But why are the floats in a pen? afraid the coyotes will eat them?

[Jack Cook]

Don't feel bad Gary last year I looked at Stead during the races and was
shocked that there was a empty ramp. I decided then that the whole thing was a conspiracy ie Capricorn One

[retroaviation]

Gary...you have a nicely mowed "pond"

But why are the floats in a pen? afraid the coyotes will eat them?

Yeah, I've often said, "The chances of that pond actually filling up with water are about the same as that PBY floating in it!"

Good question about the floats. Not really sure why I put them there. Heck, there's a fair amount more "junque" out here now, so there's really no rhyme or reason to where anything is stacked. It's about to get worse, as I'm gonna have that Voodoo here before long.

Gary

[Old SAR pilot]

It's a combination of time, money, manpower (someone has to fit the mosaic together), and prioritization of areas to be imaged. For example, if you lived 125 miles from a major airfield, port facility, or metropolitan area, which do you think would updated most often?

If you do some roving about on GE, you'll also notice that, not only are the images old, the resolution is terrible - you can't tell a house from a large building in some areas.

If you want current imagery of your area/facility, you can get it from various other commercial satellites such as Ikonos or Geo Eye 1 through retail distributors.

[RyanShort1]

If you want current imagery of your area/facility, you can get it from various other commercial satellites such as Ikonos or Geo Eye 1 through retail distributors.

Or give you're local professional aerial photographer a call... They often have access to stock photography as well.
If you're in TX I can suggest a good one !

Ryan

[retroaviation]

Well Ryan, I know you and I have briefly spoken about this before, but be sure to let me know when you're in the Midland area.

Gary