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November 28, 2005
Microsoft Virtual Earth Update Will Challenge Google Earth
[NOTE: This article is from 2005, read the new story 6-November-2006 on Virtual Earth 3D]
Harris Corporation has announced their 15-meter global dataset has been selected by Microsoft for use with Virtual Earth. Harris Corp is well known in the visual simulation and training market for their databases, and the global dataset is reported to be very beautiful. It includes imagery which has been enhanced for accurate color representation.
If Microsoft is truly going to release 15-meter resolution imagery for the entire Earth, it will be a great improvement for vast portions of their Virtual Earth. Google Earth's global data is reportedly already at 15-m resolution, although it seems some areas are lower than this - the majority is certainly better. Many of the more interesting and more populated areas are down to even inches of resolution in the Google Earth data and they are adding to their coverage on a regular basis. Chances are Google will release more data possibly even before Microsoft releases theirs.
However, Microsoft really needs to create an application like Google Earth that enables their data to be mapped into 3D. Without that Google Earth will continue to be vastly superior for truly visualizing the Earth. Unfortunately, a lot of people still seem to not realize you can pan and tilt your view in Google Earth and see the wonderful 3D landscapes.
Posted by FrankTaylor at November 28, 2005 02:04 PM
Comments
Posted by: Jeff Alu at November 28, 2005 02:24 PM
I'm curious, why does Microsoft need a 3D application? Until GE incorporates ortho-imagery, the 3D aspect is pretty limited for real world uses (beyond looking for you house you grew up in or what your high school looks like).
Posted by: James Fee at November 28, 2005 03:11 PM
James, if you're talking about "real world" uses being GIS use, your're right about GE. However, for visualizing 3D terrain scenery (especially mountainous areas), GE is certainly good for sightseeing and getting a feel for the lay of the land. Using the interactive pan and tilt features of a 3D application also lets you look around in ways you can't do with a 2D application. It enhances the user experience.
Posted by: Frank Taylor at November 28, 2005 03:43 PM
hold it i read on google site that they cover the entire globe with 15 meter resolution
yet u said there was 1 km
Posted by: Anonymous at November 28, 2005 04:20 PM
Anonymous, you are right. I've modified the sentence you are referring to in order to clarify what I meant.
Posted by: Frank Taylor at November 28, 2005 04:39 PM
I'd still wager that GE complicates the user experience for most people. Yes it allows some users to view data in a different way, but I'd bet you most average GE users don't even bother to tilt the globe.
For not at least, 2 mapping in Google Maps/Virtual Earth is more important than the 3D Google Earth implementation.
Posted by: James Fee at November 28, 2005 04:52 PM
Exploring in 2D is boring... :(
Posted by: Canoro at November 29, 2005 10:48 AM
i agreee, 2d is garbage
thats why gmaps stinks in comparison to gearth
and virtual earth is the same thing, and even worse, virtual earth has horrible imagery
did u see NY City????? its so horrible compared to google earth
on top of that, i didnt see any of the 45 degree views they boast about
did anyone see that screenshot that microsoft published of their softwrae (the one where u can see the building clear)?
the actual quality is like a hundred times worse in the actual site
Posted by: Anonymous at November 29, 2005 03:35 PM
We the GE users do tilt the globe, I am afraid, James Fee.
Umm... We know MS product are cool. So cool that I, personally, and all my friends ever are so cold. I am sure that MSGlobe will not turn without unexpected errors.
Posted by: tekgergedan at November 29, 2005 05:09 PM
As far as I know MS was supposed to team up with www.pictometry.com. If they do, that will be very cool. I had a pictometry account for a little while and the images were great...
Posted by: Jeff Alu at November 29, 2005 11:25 PM
I believe GE has world wide coverage of EarthSat NaturalVue Imagery. Which is pan-sharpened LandSat at 15m resolution
Posted by: Anonymous at November 30, 2005 07:18 AM
Cool (blue -- though my favorite color is blue) is not good. GE's earth colors are so hot that you won't get a headache and your eyes do not shake. It is a big difference for our health which is a sign of Keyhole's respectiveness.
Posted by: tekgergedan at November 30, 2005 07:32 AM
The 15 meter dataset released by Harris is based on TerraColor imagery that can be view at www.resmap.com under the Free Imagery Link
Posted by: Adam Inglis at December 2, 2005 04:00 AM
The medium resolution (15-meter) imagery on GE is MDA/Earthsat's NaturalVue product. The 15-meter imagery on Microsoft's Local.Live (ex Virtual Earth) is a version of my TerraColor product that was modified by Harris Corp. Both TerraColor and NaturalVue are "simulated natural color" products built using circa year 2000 pan-sharpened public domain Landsat satellite imagery processed by Earthsat for a NASA contract. Both have roughly equivalent resolution (detail). The main difference is in the "look" (color and brightness/contrast) of the imagery. The user can decide which they like better. See www.terracolor.net for details on the TerraColor product.
Posted by: Eric Augenstein at December 14, 2005 12:14 PM
i agreee, 2d is garbage
Posted by: usome at August 27, 2007 10:34 PM
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I just love watching these two duke it out. I'm rooting for Google, but hey, I'll end up using which ever product is most useful to me...