NationStates Jolt Archive

Has anyone checked out the Google Earth program? Its 100% free, and quite frankly the most amazing software I've ever had the pleasure of using. You see a view of the Earth in 3d, and you can zoom in anywhere on the planet. There are high resolution areas for most major cities in the world. And there are also countless "overlays". Example-I've been using it to see where the breaks in the levees are in New Orleans.

If you haven't checked it out, I highly suggest you give it a try!
Here's the link! GOOGLE EARTH (http://earth.google.com/)

That cheap programme doesn't have maps for China and has all the place names wrong for Hong Kong. :rolleyes:

That cheap programme doesn't have maps for China and has all the place names wrong for Hong Kong. :rolleyes:
They use aerial pictures to form the high resolution maps. If your country doesn't do alot of aerial photography, it won't have a lot of high resolution in Google Earth. And I doubt they'd want U.S. planes taken pics for it either. Europe if fairly covered though.

Bejing is pretty well covered, I can see groups of people around the Forbidden Palace!

I was just introduced to that program a couple of days ago...it's pretty neat...though some areas have hardly any detail, I imagine that will improve with time. It's quite the thing...I've used it on a big screen Interactive White Board in the classroom to show our position relative to places we were talking about, and the students found it very useful.

I like some of the inbedded links too...my friend lives in Dubai and was talking about the islands they built there in the shape of palm trees...you can look up Dubai in Google Earth, and scan to find the islands, then link to a site that gives you a map and more information. It'd be nice if none of the links were commercial though.

They use aerial pictures to form the high resolution maps. If your country doesn't do alot of aerial photography, it won't have a lot of high resolution in Google Earth. And I doubt they'd want U.S. planes taken pics for it either. Europe if fairly covered though.

Europe may be covered imagewise, but not mapwise. I find it incredibly amusing that it lists no churches as existing in Vatican City State.

They use aerial pictures to form the high resolution maps. If your country doesn't do alot of aerial photography, it won't have a lot of high resolution in Google Earth. And I doubt they'd want U.S. planes taken pics for it either. Europe if fairly covered though.

Last time I checked we have a bunch of aerial photographs *hohum*.

I love google earth, I just wish they had some really hi-res shots of Crewe, so I could spot my house, and pretent to blow up my college :D

Almost all of my country is a map.and here was i thinking americans liked ireland

By the way, heres a link to get overlays for New Orleans, so you can see where the levees broke, and see how high the water level is!
Google Earth New Orleans (http://www.googleearthhacks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1868)

Very nice program. Its is very America centred, but that I feel has more to do with where the initiative started and thus the resources the people creating it had to hand. I'm sure it will improve over time. The map of Toronto is several years old,(4 or 5, judging by landmarks I'm familiar with, such as my old college) but quite highly detailed, for instance, while Cologne Catherdral is barely discenrable as a blob.

How long has this been up and running?

The high resolution photography cuts of at the end of my street so my house is unrecognisable, which is annoying, as they did show central salford, where no one owns a damn computer!

How long has this been up and running?
Well, most people would know it as "Keyhole" ,and it was only for purchase, but Google got it about 6 months ago, and turned it into a free version. There are still paid versions for professionals.

I like it! Although I'd prefer if they would warn me so I'm not naked in the yard next time...he he

But seriously, it is fun, although a bit buggy when making large jumps from location to location.

I like it! Although I'd prefer if they would warn me so I'm not naked in the yard next time...he he

But seriously, it is fun, although a bit buggy when making large jumps from location to location.
Yeah, it definately takes ALOT of system resources, and isn't recomended for any computers older than 4 years, or 2 years for laptops. Also, its constantly downloading, so dial up sucks for it too!

I've had it for about a week now.

For some reason, one part of my town (Long Beach, New York) is brand new, another part of town is AT LEAST 5 years old, and the centre of the is low-resolution.

Also when you type in my adress, it takes you about a 1/2 mile from my house, but if you change my house number to 186 it shows my house.

Also the entire North Wales coastline, even larger towns like Llandudno and Bangor, look like crap.

I've had it for about a week now.

For some reason, one part of my town (Long Beach, New York) is brand new, another part of town is AT LEAST 5 years old, and the centre of the is low-resolution.

Also when you type in my adress, it takes you about a 1/2 mile from my house, but if you change my house number to 186 it shows my house.

Also the entire North Wales coastline, even larger towns like Llandudno and Bangor, look like crap.
Like I said, googles only had it for a few months (4-6), so they are still working out bugs. And the resolutions are based on whats available. But they constantly update, and I'm amazed how far its come! You should have seen it when they first started!

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I got it the day it came out. It takes forever to load, but i like it.

My house in in high resolution, :) I can see my trampoline.

I love it! My stepdad downloaded it, and we found our own house on it. The pictures are a little outdated though, because the neighbors built a driveway a few months ago and it doesn't show up. It's also a really good excuse to be a coordinates nerd about every place I've ever been interested in.

Seen google earth? try world wind by NASA superb graphics 3d views and mountain ranges etc. Also seven satalites to choose from. Their geographic coverage is very good. Okay urban not as new as google though.

I was able to pinpoint my house, and see my pickup truck parked in the yard.

I could also tell that it was a picture taken between March 1 of 2004 and Aug 12, 2004, because in February my roof was brown, and on Aug 13 Hurricane Charley took out the trees in the yard. The picture has a green roof and trees.

But yeah, the resolution is pretty good. Glad i wasn't walking around naked.

I love Google Earth, sometimes I'll just open it up and choose a city to look at.

Unfortunately, my area (even though it's very populated) is only in medium resolution. I can make out where my house and school are, by looking at roads (and the school is a large patch which stands out) but I can't make out details.

I suggest a GoogleEarth skydive. Find a random spot, and zoom in fast.



I have no life.

I know that the big sqaure of london is quite old, cos my mates still got his camper van parked outside his house. It was sold about 6 months ago i think. Also, i think its got snow on it, or otherwise the image is too bright.

But apart from the outdatedness in some places and crappy resolution in others, it truely rocks. Keep tuned on it for (hopefully) more updates! :D


EDIT: Places to visit with cool 3D landscapes: Grand Canyon, Mt St Helens, Cape Town (Table Mountain), ANYWHERE in the Andes or the Himalyas. You've got to view this lot from an angle, or its pointless...

Also finding the Suez and Panama Canals is worth it :D

GOOGLE EARTH HACKS (http://www.googleearthhacks.com/)
This place has all kinds of cool files to download for it. They are .kmz files, and they automatically open in Google Earth. Too many to list, but definately worth checkin out!

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