RSSGoogle Maps to get better satellite imagery from GeoEye
By Ed Oswald | Published August 29, 2008, 5:45 PM
Search giant Google signed a deal with Dulles, Va. startup GeoEye to use imagery from its newest satellite after it launches in September of this year.
This is not the first time Google has dealt with GeoEye. It already uses images from its IKONOS satellite, as well as from other sources including DigitalGlobe. As part of the new deal, GeoEye would exclusively provide its imagery to Google.
The half-billion dollar satellite is expected to provide the highest resolution images of any imaging satellite currently available. Google would even get a bit of promotion during launch: Its logo appears on the first-stage rocket.
According to the two companies, Google did not pay for the logo to appear on the rocket, nor does it have any direct or indirect financial interest in the launch. It appears the Google logo is only on the rocket in recognition of its support for the project.
GeoEye says it hopes to launch the rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on September 4. If all goes well, it should be in its proper orbit within an hour-and-a-half of launch.
Imagery will be received by Google beginning in late October or early November, although it's not clear how long it will take for the images to begin to appear on Google Maps. Imagery could conceivably be available at as high as 0.41 meters in black and white, and 1.65 meters in color.
How fine-grained is that? An Italian research project three years ago to study whether it was possible to discern certain types of automobiles that travel around the city of Baghdad (if you work in Baghdad, you'd understand why this is important) from satellite imagery alone, used pictures that had 0.68 meters resolution. And under federal law, only images with as high as 0.5 meters resolution can be used commercially.
How much better can it get if the Govt. has this .5 meter resolution limit, which i never knew about. So far Microsofts Birds eye is the closest to the ground i've seen, but you still can't make out something small like a pet or plate number.
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|Enough already, this giant eye in the sky is getting creepy.
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|Not nearly as creepy as someone sitting out at the street with a pair of binoculars watching me...
Someone looking down on me from the sky outdoors doesn't concern me. When they start looking INSIDE my private dwelling I get ruffled.
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|Not as nearly as creepy when you find out that your neighbor is practicing dark magic in their yard.
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|DULLES VA !........!.?....... oh god !...oh god .
isn't that where IDIOT- 0 - L hq. is !
i certainly hope they don't infect them with the " user screwing stupidity" bug !
roFFlmFao
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|Good to hear. MS Live Maps seems to have a lot better satellite images lately (at least for the places I go).
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|cool, now the GPS software vendors need to catch up so i can have a meaningful directions.
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|This will really be a wonderful service. Let's see its appearance on Google Maps.
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|yeah good thing too. I know you have always wanted to be able to see into your neighbors windows, you little perv.
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|"Imagery could conceivably be available at as high as 0.41 meters in black and white, and 1.65 meters in color."
Why is resolution so much higher in black and white compared to color?
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|Less detail to be stored, I gather.
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|Color images are generated by sampling location A for red hue, location B for green hue, location C for blue hue. The three samples are combined into a single color pixel that is displayed over all sample locations.
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