Google Earth....Unbelievable!

rgilfert · 08-22-2012, 07:32 AM

Probably every Forum member is already well aware of this.....but for me, I was absolutely amazed by the resolution and clarity of the Google Earth satellite photo images covering most of Lake Winnipesaukee. If you haven't ever played around with Google Earth before, I highly recommend that you download the tool (and oh by the way it's free) and check out some of your favorite "haunts" around the lake. This morning I downloaded the following picture of our place on Rattlesnake Island....you can even count the number of posts on my dock. Very cool!

NH_boater · 08-22-2012, 08:40 AM

Like you suspected, many of us already knew this capabililty. I do think it is cool but I find google street much more impressive. I have street images of my late father doing yardwork as the street scanner went by. I hope they never update my parents street.

Pineedles · 08-22-2012, 08:53 AM

One caveat to the areas that are covered by the new Google Earth images is that you'll note the ice in the picture. Somewhere north and east of the Weirs the lake changes from frozen to summer time. The new images are for the southern (frozen) areas. Up north the clarity is still fuzzy on close ups.

NoBozo · 08-22-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_boater

Like you suspected, many of us already knew this capabililty. I do think it is cool but I find google street much more impressive. I have street images of my late father doing yardwork as the street scanner went by. I hope they never update my parents street.

"Street View" is fabulous. Take your cursor and "hover" over on the top right side of your Google Earth screen to SEE the Icons pop up there. The little orange man Icon will bring up street view. Go to downtown Wolfeboro to try it.

Left click on the little man icon and drag the icon off it's little pedestal an inch or so..while continuing to "Hold Down" the left mouse button. Wait a few seconds for Main Street to light up with a big blue line.

NOW: Drag the icon down to the blue line and deposit it there. Wait a few more seconds to see what happens.

In Google Earth, every place you can Light Up the BLUE lines on streets, roads and highways, you can drag the Icon down and look around through 360 degrees using your mouse. If you can't bring up the BLUE lines, this means the Google Earth guy hasn't been there yet. You will see what I mean.

NB

BroadHopper · 08-22-2012, 09:10 AM

the clarity of the photos from the satelites for civilian use is very blurry compared to the actual photos the DOD uses. The DOD can even read the papers you left out on the table on your sun deck!
The DOD photos are updated in a few seconds!

NoBozo · 08-22-2012, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

the clarity of the photos from the satelites for civilian use is very blurry compared to the actual photos the DOD uses. The DOD can even read the papers you left out on the table on your sun deck!
The DOD photos are updated in a few seconds!

The images in more populated areas down toward Boston and beyond are higher resolution. Try Newport, RI. NB

Blue Thunder · 08-22-2012, 09:20 AM

When GE updated the database in May/June I was very impressed with the improved resolution. I was cleaning the boat on Mothers Day weekend and the pics must have been taken then because the boat was uncovered in my driveway and I could zoom right straight down into the interior....

BT

ishoot308 · 08-22-2012, 09:35 AM

Did anyone ever notice that the section of the lake where Romney's place is on google earth is blurred...

Dan

jrc · 08-22-2012, 10:22 AM

Try Bing maps as well, I like their lake pictures better. There is no ice and you can actually see most of the underwater rock formations.

Be careful what you search for on Google earth, everything is recorded. Yes I'll admit I'm a little paranoid.

NoBozo · 08-22-2012, 10:36 AM

Here's how Street View is done.

NB

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Street_View

Slickcraft · 08-22-2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

Try Bing maps as well, I like their lake pictures better. There is no ice and you can actually see most of the underwater rock formations.

Be careful what you search for on Google earth, everything is recorded. Yes I'll admit I'm a little paranoid.

Oh no, I looked at Area 51 recently so I am in big trouble.

Actually the resolution coverage of Area 51 surprisingly was very good. Of course not a person or aircraft in sight.
All space borne sensors are in known orbits so objects of interest are normally placed under cover at the time of surveillance. This limits the effectiveness of such systems for intelligence gathering.

BTW on GE you can click on the clock icon in the menu bar to see earlier imagery. Too bad whoever ordered the most recent imagery of Winni did not pay attention to the ice out thread.

panjumbie · 08-22-2012, 10:51 AM

It is my understanding that a lot of the Google photography, particularly the higher resolution stuff, is actually aerial photography, shot from aircraft, and not satellite imagery.

Slickcraft · 08-22-2012, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by panjumbie

It is my understanding that a lot of the Google photography, particularly the higher resolution stuff, is actually aerial photography, shot from aircraft, and not satellite imagery.

Not Area 51, they would have been shot down

While some may be shot from aircraft, don't really know, aerial photography of large areas can be very expensive to fly and expensive to correct the scale and registration to an accurate ground grid.

Altonbayicefishingfool · 08-22-2012, 11:20 AM

I like the google street view story that took place over in Europe a few months back of the guy urinating in his yard as the car taking images drove by....priceless!!

MAXUM · 08-22-2012, 12:58 PM

Ya know it's one of those things that's really cool, on the other hand in the hands of somebody up to no good.... scary!

May not think it's too cool if you have some psychopathic creep stalking you!

Just sayin....

Newbiesaukee · 08-22-2012, 02:31 PM

I noticed a few weeks ago when asking GE for directions that there is a 3D animation along the whole route, a little like road runner. It is a bit creepy but very impressive.

NoBozo · 08-22-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

I noticed a few weeks ago when asking GE for directions that there is a 3D animation along the whole route, a little like road runner. It is a bit creepy but very impressive.

You need special glasses for this feature. I have NOT been there. NB

jetlag100 · 08-23-2012, 08:23 AM

That is very cool indeed! Back in the 70's my dad had the guys at Raytheon, get a shot of our dock (Hole in the Wall) when satellites mostly belonged to the Gov.Wish I still had that photo!

Sunbeam lodge · 08-23-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoBozo

The images in more populated areas down toward Boston and beyond are higher resolution. Try Newport, RI. NB

Why isn't the Meredith resolution this clear

NoBozo · 08-23-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunbeam lodge

Why isn't the Meredith resolution this clear

I really don't know. I'm gonna guess You People out in the sticks are not that important. High Res satellite passes cost money.

I have noticed that Rural areas are just not very high resolution. After the floods in Vermont a couple of years ago..Near Rt 100 and Rt 3, I recently had a Google look. Not real high resolution....maybe not updated since the floods washed out everything. You need to look at the DATE of the SAT FlyOver.. NB

PS: The Google Earth "Street View" Resolution is the same everywhere.

Major problem · 08-23-2012, 08:38 PM

I believe that the folks stating that it's aerial photography are correct. Aerial mapping is done on behalf of the states for their various GIS programs.

The results are in the public domain and available for free to those with the software to use, display and manipulate it.

For NH see http://www.granit.unh.edu/

For best results, the photography is generally done in the spring with minimal tree cover and more favorable lighting angles.

Google Maps/Earth, Microsoft, and many other Geographical Info Systems (GIS) providers use this calibrated photo data but often don't provide the date that each photo frame was taken. Your best detailed information will be obtained from each state's GIS public data system.

Alot of imagery is available from government research satellites that provides infrared and radar results for habitat studies but are less likely to show you enjoying your hot tub.

I've been fascinated with this field of study for a long time. The software and hardware can be a little pricey at the advanced stages but is accessable for any serious backcountry traveler. For land management organizations it's an absolute must.

08-22-2012, 07:32 AM	#1
rgilfert Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bedford, NH / Rattlesnake Island Posts: 299 Thanks: 152 Thanked 227 Times in 57 Posts	Google Earth....Unbelievable! Probably every Forum member is already well aware of this.....but for me, I was absolutely amazed by the resolution and clarity of the Google Earth satellite photo images covering most of Lake Winnipesaukee. If you haven't ever played around with Google Earth before, I highly recommend that you download the tool (and oh by the way it's free) and check out some of your favorite "haunts" around the lake. This morning I downloaded the following picture of our place on Rattlesnake Island....you can even count the number of posts on my dock. Very cool! Attached Images

08-22-2012, 09:10 AM	#5
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,509 Thanks: 3,116 Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts	Clarity the clarity of the photos from the satelites for civilian use is very blurry compared to the actual photos the DOD uses. The DOD can even read the papers you left out on the table on your sun deck! The DOD photos are updated in a few seconds! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

08-22-2012, 09:20 AM	#7
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 935 Thanks: 247 Thanked 323 Times in 148 Posts	Big difference with the 2012 photos When GE updated the database in May/June I was very impressed with the improved resolution. I was cleaning the boat on Mothers Day weekend and the pics must have been taken then because the boat was uncovered in my driveway and I could zoom right straight down into the interior.... BT __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

08-22-2012, 10:36 AM	#10
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Street View Here's how Street View is done. NB http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Street_View

08-22-2012, 10:51 AM	#12
panjumbie Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hempstead New York Posts: 29 Thanks: 6 Thanked 24 Times in 9 Posts	Google Earth pictures It is my understanding that a lot of the Google photography, particularly the higher resolution stuff, is actually aerial photography, shot from aircraft, and not satellite imagery.

The Following User Says Thank You to rgilfert For This Useful Post:
jetlag100 (08-23-2012)

08-22-2012, 08:40 AM	#2
NH_boater Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 298 Thanks: 14 Thanked 147 Times in 62 Posts	Like you suspected, many of us already knew this capabililty. I do think it is cool but I find google street much more impressive. I have street images of my late father doing yardwork as the street scanner went by. I hope they never update my parents street.

08-22-2012, 08:53 AM	#3
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,058 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	One caveat to the areas that are covered by the new Google Earth images is that you'll note the ice in the picture. Somewhere north and east of the Weirs the lake changes from frozen to summer time. The new images are for the southern (frozen) areas. Up north the clarity is still fuzzy on close ups.

08-22-2012, 09:35 AM	#8
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 5,926 Thanks: 2,285 Thanked 4,937 Times in 1,913 Posts	Did anyone ever notice that the section of the lake where Romney's place is on google earth is blurred... Dan

08-22-2012, 10:22 AM	#9
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Try Bing maps as well, I like their lake pictures better. There is no ice and you can actually see most of the underwater rock formations. Be careful what you search for on Google earth, everything is recorded. Yes I'll admit I'm a little paranoid.

08-22-2012, 11:20 AM	#14
Altonbayicefishingfool Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 153 Thanks: 19 Thanked 52 Times in 30 Posts	I like the google street view story that took place over in Europe a few months back of the guy urinating in his yard as the car taking images drove by....priceless!!

08-22-2012, 12:58 PM	#15
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	Ya know it's one of those things that's really cool, on the other hand in the hands of somebody up to no good.... scary! May not think it's too cool if you have some psychopathic creep stalking you! Just sayin....

08-22-2012, 02:31 PM	#16
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,349 Thanks: 922 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	I noticed a few weeks ago when asking GE for directions that there is a 3D animation along the whole route, a little like road runner. It is a bit creepy but very impressive. __________________ "You're only young once, but you can be immature forever."

08-23-2012, 08:23 AM	#18
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	That is very cool indeed! Back in the 70's my dad had the guys at Raytheon, get a shot of our dock (Hole in the Wall) when satellites mostly belonged to the Gov.Wish I still had that photo!

08-23-2012, 08:38 PM	#21
Major problem Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brockton,Ma, N Conway & Guilford,NH Posts: 53 Thanks: 24 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	I believe that the folks stating that it's aerial photography are correct. Aerial mapping is done on behalf of the states for their various GIS programs. The results are in the public domain and available for free to those with the software to use, display and manipulate it. For NH see http://www.granit.unh.edu/ For best results, the photography is generally done in the spring with minimal tree cover and more favorable lighting angles. Google Maps/Earth, Microsoft, and many other Geographical Info Systems (GIS) providers use this calibrated photo data but often don't provide the date that each photo frame was taken. Your best detailed information will be obtained from each state's GIS public data system. Alot of imagery is available from government research satellites that provides infrared and radar results for habitat studies but are less likely to show you enjoying your hot tub. I've been fascinated with this field of study for a long time. The software and hardware can be a little pricey at the advanced stages but is accessable for any serious backcountry traveler. For land management organizations it's an absolute must.