As posted the new GeoEye-1 Satellite, which is sponsored by Google, has send the first satellite image of the earth. It shows the area of the Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, USA.
The purpose of the Earth-Imaging-Satellite is to sell pictures for customers around the world. The full resolution will not be used because of legal issues. Google will use these images with a maximal resolution of 50cm/pixel.
The GeoEye-1 proves the trend that Earth-Imaging-Satellites become more and more interesting for private companies not only for national agencies. For the year 2011 or 2012 it is planned to launch a further satellite, which allows resolutions of about 25 centimeters per pixel. The question is only who will use these data - and which (private) information can be retrieved.
I’ve already posted that Google together with GeoEye will launch a new Satellite for Google Earth and Google Maps images. The so called “GeoEye-1” satellite will take photos with a resolution of 0.41 cm / pixel. In the following pictures you can see the difference between a image with 100cm/px reolution and a picutre with 41cm/px.
100cm/px
41cm/px
On the GeoEye Website you can watch the lauch of the satellity on video.
Searching the own home place with Google Earth or Google Maps is definitively one of the most popular activities for many users. “Geoimage-Austria” has provided Google with new imagery for Burgenland, Upper Austria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg. All data is older than one year, but it should be possible to recognize an object with the size of an football.
Until 2009 a new, updated image is planned, which covers whole Austria.
Sample: Villach (this is older data, but also high resolution)
[via derStandard]
Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.
Google has already launched a site for the Earth Day 2008, which will be in five days. Recently they won new partners in the transport industry which will provide their data for Googgle Transit.
Google’s tip for Earth Day 2008:
Reduce Pollution: Plan your trip using Google Transit. We’ve added new cities just in time for Earth Day! (See the site here)
And this without having something else in mind :-), Google is just good, like their sogan promises: “Don’t be evil.” They really do a lot for their image. But the critisism about Google in general is becomming stronger.
All in all Google Transit is a great product, which makes sense - like to have it in Austria too.
[via GWB]
Written and submitted from Home, using my 802.11g WiFi network.
100cm/px
41cm/px
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