[UPDATE 16-Jan-2009: This update also included updates to the 3D terrain data Google uses from NASA SRTM. The update reportedly fixed gaps or issues for many coasts and remote islands around the world. Some countries and regions (like the US and Switzerland) have higher resolution terrain from other sources.]
[UPDATE 0800 17-Dec: Google released the details on the imagery update here. But, you may find the GEB-reader-generated list below more interesting.]
Last night Google pushed out some new imagery for Google Earth. Unfortunately I had just arrived from sailing a boat down from North Carolina to St. Marys, Georgia – and the marina didn’t have Internet. So, I had to wait until this morning to get to an Internet connection. Anyway, I got a tip from Mickey at Digital Earth Blog who reported last night about the update. According to Mickey’s report (and confirmed by some GEB readers), below are places with new imagery (I will update this list as more details come in).
New imagery location list:
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New York City – thanks Dave
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Dubai – thanks Dave
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Christchurch, New Zealand – thanks Dave
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Cape Town, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Australia – It appears the imagery for this continent has been processed so it looks more color/light consistent. The country no longer looks like a “zebra” with strips of different colored imagery.
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Chennai, India – thanks Navneeth
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Montevideo, Uruguay – thanks novolo
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Budapest, Hungary – thanks several readers
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Sao Paulo – thanks AKB
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Italy:Perugia,Lucera, Foggia, Parma – thanks kecker, and Rene73
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Baku, Azerbaijan – Thanks Rene73
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Isle of Ibiza, Spain
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Sofia, Bulgaria – thanks Rene73
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Aman, Jordan – thanks Rene73
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Kiew, Ukraine – thanks Rene73
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Teheran, Iran – thanks Rene73
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Ashgabat, Tukmenistan – thanks Rene73
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Islamabad, Pakistan – thanks Rene73
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Many places in eastern China – thanks Frank
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Honolulu, Hawaii – thanks Bartman
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Anchorage, Alaska – thanks Brian
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Washtenaw County, Michigan – thanks Roy
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Nicosia, Cyprus – thanks Vangelis
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East Havana, Cuba – thanks hmngr06
[UPDATE: Google posted their “quiz” game with hints to locations with new imagery. Here are the answers from GEB readers:
- Isola di Ponza, Italy – thanks Mike
- Rabaul, PNG – thanks to Bartman and Mike
- Hamilton Island, Australia – thanks Bartman
- National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,Oahu, USA – thanks Mike
You can tell whether suspected imagery is new by comparing the location with Google Maps. The Google Maps imagery database will be updated with this new imagery in a few days. Simply click on the “View in Google Maps” button in the upper middle of Google Earth to see the same location in GM.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.