Decades of spy satellite images help track melting Himalayan glaciers

You don't need cutting-edge satellite data to make sense of Earth's changing climate. Researchers have published a study of melting Himalayan glaciers that takes advantage of 40 years' worth of satellite imagery posted by the US Geological Survey, i...

Google’s "Timelapse" project takes us back in time


Timelapse combines 25 milllion images taken by Landsat satellites to show how planet Earth has changed in the last quarter of a century. The images are the products of one of the longest running...
    


Google launches New version of Google Earth Pro 7.1 Today


Today is Earth Day fully celebrated by Google as offers not only an animated Google Doodle but also its new version of Google Earth. This new premium version of Google Earth  allows users to see...
    


Google Maps creation put under the microscope, reveals a human touch

Google Maps creation put under the microscope, reveals a human touch

They say you should never learn how the sausage gets made, but we're willing to make an exception for Google Maps. Talking to The Atlantic, Google has revealed just how much the human element figures into all that collected satellite imagery and road data. Many pieces of terrain information are tested and modified against what Google calls Ground Truth: actual driving, alternate sources and sign photos automatically extracted from Street View runs. Google isn't just making the occasional correction, either. Mapping a country can take hundreds of staff plugging away at the company's Atlas tool, even before we get a crack with Google Map Maker. The combination of man and machine helps explain why Google Maps is one of the most accurate sources of location information on Earth -- although the firm does have some catching up to do in space.

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Google Maps creation put under the microscope, reveals a human touch originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amateur archaeologist finds possible pyramids using Google Earth

Amateur archaeologist finds possible pyramids using Google Earth

While most Google Earth hobbyists are satisfied with a bit of snapping and geotagging, some have far loftier ambitions. Satellite archaeologist Angela Micol thinks she's discovered the locations of some of Egypt's lost pyramids, buried for centuries under the earth, including a three-in-a-line arrangement similar to those on the Giza Plateau. Egyptologists have already confirmed that the secret locations are undiscovered, so now it's down to scientists in the field to determine if it's worth calling the diggers in.

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Amateur archaeologist finds possible pyramids using Google Earth originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Earth, Maps get new high-res aerial and satellite imagery

Google Earth, Maps get new high-res aerial and satellite imagery

3D City View for iOS isn't the only update from the Google Maps and Earth team this week, they've also spruced up their services with new imagery. Fresh high-resolution aerial and satellite photos have been added for a roster of 25 cities and 72 countries or regions, ranging from Antelope Wells, New Mexico to Zimbabwe. In addition, seven international locales and 21 US cities received the 45-degree view treatment, letting you gaze at skylines from a different perspective. The maps are already available, so you can peruse new satellite images of London's Olympic Park and Village just in time for the festivities. For the full list of areas with crisper cartographic visuals, check out the source below.

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Google Earth, Maps get new high-res aerial and satellite imagery originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 11:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google fetes 40 years of Landsat with new timelapse videos of Earth

DNP Google fetes 40 years of Landsat with new timelapse videos of the Earth

Compared to Landsat, which has been beaming photos of our planet since 1972, Mountain View is a cartographic newb. But Google Earth drove geospatial interest into the stratosphere when it launched in 2005 and, with a billion downloads and counting, the company is well placed to celebrate 40 years of Landsat imagery. To do that, it has collaborated with the US Geological Survey and Carnegie Mellon to create a collection of timelapse videos ranging from seasonal snowcover changes across North America to Amazon deforestation. Though the search giant is gradually shifting from relatively low-res 100 feet per pixel Landsat imagery to 8 feet SPOTImage maps, its Google Earth Engine was used to process the vast archive and make it available to the public. To watch a video of the history of the grand dame of satellite imagery and its liaison with Google, head after the break -- or check the source for all the timelapse goodness.

Continue reading Google fetes 40 years of Landsat with new timelapse videos of Earth

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Google fetes 40 years of Landsat with new timelapse videos of Earth originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bing Maps More Than Doubles Its Satellite and Aerial Photography Database


Bing Maps has announced that it has massively increased its aerial and satellite photography database. Previously there was 129 TB of total aerial data in the Bing Maps database. The recent update...