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Satellite & Aerial Imagery

Geo for Good User Summit 2015�

Christiaan Adams�Developer Advocate, Google Earth Outreach

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Understanding Imagery in Google Earth

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Understanding Imagery

Footnote

  • Sources
  • Providers
  • Resolutions

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How we get satellite imagery into our maps

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Satellite

  • Available globally
  • Resolution: 50cm to 2.5m
  • Accuracy variable
  • Large volume
  • Fast turn around time

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Aerial

  • Available in USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, parts of LatAm
  • Resolution: 2.5cm to 1m
    • normal 15 to 30cm
  • High accuracy
  • Nadir (oblique) and/or 45 degree

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Types of imagery: Satellite and aerial

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Imagery Credit: DigitalGlobe

Satellite

Satellite

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Imagery Credit: Skybox Imaging

Satellite

Satellite

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Imagery Credit: Skybox Imaging

Satellite

Satellite … video!

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Imagery Credit: Spot Image

Satellite

Satellite

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Imagery Credit: TruEarth

Satellite

Satellite

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Imagery Credit: GeoEye

Satellite

Satellite

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Satellite

Aerial (Nadir)

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Satellite

Oblique (45* imagery)

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Satellite

Oblique (45* imagery)

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Imagery Credit: PublicLab.org

Satellite

Balloon & Kite photography

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How do we decide where we update?

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Machines

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Humans

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  • Satellite QA

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  • Aerial QA

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Processing imagery

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Exploring Imagery in Google Earth

Footnote

  • Imagery Dates
  • Provider copyrights
  • Historical Imagery
    • Time Slider
    • Dates (slider vs Image Date string)
    • Mosaics

Imagery date

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Data provider copyright

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Historical Imagery

Footnote

  • Time Slider
  • Dates
    • time slider date
    • Image Date string
  • Mosaics

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Imagery Requests

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We want to add the imagery you need!

Footnote

  • Google wants to add the imagery you need to the Google Maps/Earth imagery basemap.�
  • If we don't have the imagery you need (resolution and/or time frame)...� -- and it exists -- �...we will try to order it from the satellite imagery providers' catalogs.

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Requesting updates

Footnote

  • Resolution
  • Freshness
  • Check Historical Imagery first!!!!�
  • Easy & not-so-easy requests
    • Size
    • Urgency�
  • When will the imagery appear in Google Earth/Maps??

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Digital Globe Catalog

Footnote

https://browse.digitalglobe.com (welcome to web-mapping circa 1995)

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Highlight your area, or upload a shapefile

(shapefile: zipped bundle, only 1 feature, no multi-polygons, valid geometry!)

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Set filters:

dates, bands (PAN = B&W, MSx = Color), cloud cover, sun angle, image angle

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Preview images on the map and/or at the view links.

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Make a list of “Catalog ID”s

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Follow Your World

Footnote

https://followyourworld.appspot.com/

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Sign up to get alerts when Google updates imagery in specific locations.

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Skybox Update

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Collecting your own imagery

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Collecting your own aerial imagery

Footnote

Aircraft

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Balloons and Kites

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UAVs / Drones

  • http://conservationdrones.org

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Questions?

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Thank you

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Wed: Base Map Day

Satellite & Aerial Imagery Track, 10:30-12pm

Satellite / aerial imagery (requesting updates, etc.)

Description: Google may have some of the best map data and imagery in the industry, but it’s far from complete, and always a challenge to keep up to date, especially in the more remote and interesting corners of our planet. In this session, you will get an overview of the tools and processes available for updating and adding to the satellite & aerial imagery layers in Google Earth and Maps. We will discuss how to request imagery updates, and explore some emerging techniques for collecting your own imagery with balloons, kites and UAVs/drones. Come with your ideas and questions!

Prerequisites: None

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