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Google Earth imagery updates 2009 to date

November 24, 2014

In the past, Google would publish a network linked KML file that showed the outlines of imagery releases, including all historical releases going back to 2009. However, early this year they discontinued it and instead have been publishing a map on the Maps Gallery that only shows the latest release. Also, other than taking a screenshot of the maps, there was no way to save them for later viewing.

Now Google have released a map on the Maps Gallery that once again shows us historical releases. Note that it does not currently include the two latest updates from November 3rd, 2014 and November 8th, 2014. It must also be noted that the dates given are not the dates that the imagery was captured, but rather the dates that the imagery was added to the Google Earth database. In many cases the imagery being added is older than previously existing imagery and gets added to historical imagery rather than the default layer.

There is still no way to extract the KML, which makes further analysis difficult. It would have been fun to do heat maps showing which areas received multiple updates.

If we look at all updates from 2009 to October 2014 we see the map below:

Historical imagery

We can see a number of interesting patterns. There is poor coverage over tropical forests, deserts, and northern regions. Tropical forests tend to have cloud cover most of the time, making it difficult to capture imagery with clear skies. Similarly, the northern regions often have snow cover, making it difficult to capture good imagery. It is possible that capturing imagery over deserts is also difficult, or it may simply be that their low populations make them less interesting to imagery providers. Iraq and Afghanistan have received very few updates, presumably for security reasons.

[Update: As pointed out by GEB readers Maarten, Chris and an anonymous email, the ‘Latest Google Earth Imagery Updates’ map has been updated to November 19th 2014.]

Filed Under: Google Earth News Tagged With: historical imagery, imagery, maps gallery

New Google Earth imagery – July 18, 2014

July 21, 2014

It turns out that a few days ago while we were telling you about the new 3D imagery in London, Google had also pushed out quite a lot of fresh satellite imagery. Thanks to ‘munden’, ‘dario’ and ‘Wguayana’ for letting us know about it.

kansas city

Some of the updated areas include:

  • Canada: Halifax
  • China: Dinghai, Fangjia, Longtoujing, Nanyaowan, Caoluzhen
  • Croatia: Karlovac, Zagreb
  • Germany: Heidenheim
  • India: Mumbai, New Delhi
  • Lebanon: Beirut
  • Moldova: Chisinau
  • Russia: Putayatin, bukhta Krasheninnikova, Severomorsk, Polyarny, guba Zapadnaya Litsa, Monino, Sevastopol
  • Thailand: Bangkok, Phai Ling, Sattahip
  • United States: Florida (Carrabelle, Keystone Heights, Tallahassee), Kansas (Kansas City), Maryland (Assateague Island, Princess Anne, Snow Hill), Missouri (Kansas City), Nevada (Las Vegas), Virginia (Cape Charles, Wallops Island)
  • Venezuela: Ciudad Guayana, Puerto Piritu

If you find any other updated areas, be sure to leave a comment and let us know.

Filed Under: Google Earth News, Sightseeing Tagged With: dario, imagery, imagery update, munden, wguayana

Google Begins Selling Their Own Imagery

July 17, 2014

Part of the business model of Google Earth has always been that free access to seeing all of the imagery helped raise the visibility of the satellite and aerial photography businesses.  But, if a business wants to use this imagery, they are supposed to purchase the imagery from the provider mentioned at the bottom of the Google Earth screen (see Google’s geo-permissions guide).

norfolk

During the past 10 years of Google Earth and Maps development, Google has increasingly developed sources of their own imagery.  Everyone is familiar with their Street View imagery.   Google’s 3D cities (introduced in 2012) are developed using aerial imagery which they also make available in their maps. And, with the purchase of Skybox, Google will soon have their own satellite imagery.

Now Google is taking the next step.  Google has announced their imagery will be available for sale, initially to businesses in the US through their Google Maps for Business imagery program.  The imagery can be used in a variety of ways explained in the program materials, including Google Earth.  Interestingly, in what was perhaps a mistake that fortells the near future, they state they are selling “high-quality satellite photography” in the announcement – although I think they meant to say aerial photography.

It should be noted that using Google Earth historical imagery feature (introduced in 2009), businesses can also view alternative imagery available from other imagery businesses if they are available for their location.  So, although Google is now competing with these businesses, their competitors have equal visibility.

Filed Under: Business, Google Earth News Tagged With: business, imagery

New Google Earth Imagery – July 3, 2014

July 3, 2014

It appears that Google has just pushed out a fresh batch of imagery. Thanks to sharp-eyed GEB reader ‘Munden’ for being the first to let us know about it.

norfolk

It seems to be quite a huge update, based on the areas we’ve found so far!

  • Japan: Ako, Fukui, Himeji, Kahoku, Kanazawa, Nishi
  • United States: Arizona (Grand Canyon West airport, Lake Mead), California (Fremont, San Leandro, Sonora, Avery, Tuolumne, Placerville, Diamond Springs, Jackson, San Andreas), Hawaii (island of Kaua’i, island of Ni’ihau), Illinois (Champaign, Mattoon, Moline), Iowa (Davenport, Muscatine), Kansas (Topeka), Mississippi (Jackson), Missouri (Warrensburg, Whiteman AFB), New Mexico (Las Cruces), North Dakota (Fargo), Texas (Anthony, El Paso, Fort Bliss, Houston), Virginia (Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach), Wisconsin (Racine, Milwaukee, Waukeshia, Hartford, West Bend)

If you find any other updated areas, please leave a comment and let us know!

Filed Under: Google Earth News, Sightseeing Tagged With: imagery

Higher resolution imagery coming to Google Earth

June 16, 2014

digitalglobeLast week DigitalGlobe, one of the primary suppliers of imagery for Google Earth, was given permission to sell higher resolution imagery. Previously they’ve been limited to selling 50 centimeter imagery, but that limitation has been dropped. They’ll now be able to sell their 41 centimeter imagery, and that will drop to 25 centimeter later this year.

While the difference doesn’t sound like much, Mapbox did a great comparison showing how much better 40 centimeter imagery looks when compared to 50 centimeter imagery.

In short:

If going from 50 cm resolution to 40 cm resolution sounds like a small change at first, remember that we’re talking about square pixels. When square A is only ¼ longer on a side than square B, it contains more than 150% as much area. Therefore, a slightly smaller linear size means a lot more clarity.

No word on when exactly we’ll begin to see this new imagery, but it sounds like we’ll see some of it within the next few months.

(via the Verge)

Filed Under: Google Earth News, Sightseeing Tagged With: digitalglobe, imagery, mapbox

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