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Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Space Ghost ()
Date: January 17, 2009 06:22AM

Has anyone checked out Google Maps lately? They have very high resolution in this area now. You can clearly make out individual trees, and power lines. I can identify my family's cars. It's remarkable.

The Street View is also available on some of the major roads.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Somebody ()
Date: January 17, 2009 08:39AM

The lower right hand corner now says the imagery is copyright Commonwealth of VA, I think that's new.
I guess they got the images from the state.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Bob ()
Date: January 17, 2009 09:06AM

Somebody Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The lower right hand corner now says the imagery
> is copyright Commonwealth of VA, I think that's
> new.
> I guess they got the images from the state.


I think these are aerial photos, not satellite photos.

If you go to street view at the on-ramp onto the toll road from 123 you can see the white marker in the grass that was there over the summer. Of course, the street view was taken from a vehicle with panoramic cameras on the roof, but the white "V" marker was there for the aerial photography probably taken around the same time.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Bob ()
Date: January 17, 2009 09:33AM

Go to this address in google maps and click on the picture for the street view:

5214 N Bluemont Dr, Arlington, VA, United States

Click up and down the street using the arrows and watch the guy walking the dog, it looks like he was trying the red SUV's door to see if it was unlocked.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: mariokart ()
Date: January 17, 2009 09:57AM

nice find haha, but it's probably his car

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: jimW ()
Date: January 17, 2009 11:02AM

the way he's looking over his shoulder...like he knows we're watching him.


View Larger Map

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: jimW ()
Date: January 17, 2009 11:07AM

If you zoom out you'll notice that FFX Co has a different "tint" to it than the rest of the state. Either we're "special" or they're doing the entire state, and just started here. I wouldn't be surprised if the NRO had anything to do with it, since they're in FFXCO. You'll also notice that the entire state of Indiana, New Jersey, and Missouri have the same "tint" and arial (vs sat) type image scanning.

From the looks of it these pictures were taken in the winter. Notice the trees. In the morning (9a-11a) notice the shadows of the sun. and (Get this) on a sunday....here's how i figured that:

take a look at any corporate office parking lot (empty), then go look at any church parking lot (full).

i found my car...i was at church. O:)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2009 11:12AM by jimW.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: trogdor! ()
Date: January 17, 2009 11:40AM

jimW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you zoom out you'll notice that FFX Co has a
> different "tint" to it than the rest of the state.
> Either we're "special" or they're doing the entire
> state, and just started here. I wouldn't be
> surprised if the NRO had anything to do with it,
> since they're in FFXCO. You'll also notice that
> the entire state of Indiana, New Jersey, and

If I recall correctly, the state photos the entire state every 4 years or so, so we're due right about now. They always take the photos in the winter to avoid tree/vegetation cover. I could have sworn I saw a Cessna flying over Centreville last week, criss-crossing over and over again...that's what it looks like when they take the aerial photos (especially in this area where small planes in the sky are a rarity).

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: trogdor! ()
Date: January 17, 2009 11:51AM

Somebody Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The lower right hand corner now says the imagery
> is copyright Commonwealth of VA, I think that's
> new.
> I guess they got the images from the state.

It's interesting that it's copyrighted by a government entity. About a year ago there was a lawsuit about that in another state (WV ?) because some private company wanted their aerial images and the state was charging them out the nose. The company claimed they should be free or (or only cost the reproduction costs) since they were the product of a government entity. Wish I could find that case.

What would happen if you made a FOIA request for the images in their original resolution?

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: HAHA ()
Date: January 17, 2009 12:05PM

You probably shouldn't pick your nose while the Google van is passing by:
Attachments:
Google Van.jpg

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: jimW ()
Date: January 17, 2009 05:58PM

> I could
> have sworn I saw a Cessna flying over Centreville
> last week, criss-crossing over and over
> again...that's what it looks like when they take
> the aerial photos (especially in this area where
> small planes in the sky are a rarity).

I saw a white Cessna last week too. I usually see them flying up and down 66 doing traffic reports (a.k.a. "pretending to be enfocing speed by radar") but this one was perpendicular to 66, which is how the pictures look like they are striped, north and south.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: _Somebody ()
Date: January 17, 2009 06:16PM

Most of the times you see a meandering Cessna they are checking the gas pipelines.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: low level ()
Date: January 17, 2009 06:45PM

There may be some new imagery but much coverage of the county is still at least a year or two old

e.g. the washed out bridge along the W&OD over difficult run

Although I'm a very happy google maps user, the low altitude photos on maps.live.com are excellent and you can swing round all 4 views of house.

I am intrigued how they quote 2009 copyright on everything - does each rendering count as a new publication?

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Dirty Jersey ()
Date: January 17, 2009 09:26PM

HAHA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You probably shouldn't pick your nose while the
> Google van is passing by:

Or pay attention when riding your bike


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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: HAHA ()
Date: January 17, 2009 09:31PM

Dirty Jersey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Or pay attention when riding your bike
>

Oh that's a good one!!!

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: KeepOnTruckin ()
Date: January 17, 2009 10:36PM

_Somebody Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Most of the times you see a meandering Cessna they
> are checking the gas pipelines.


The pipeline ones say "pipeline patrol" on the underside of the wings. Also you would need to be near a pipeline.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Awakened ()
Date: January 17, 2009 11:20PM

_



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2009 07:32PM by Awakened.

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Re: Google Maps has higher resolution
Posted by: Raz ()
Date: January 18, 2009 12:36AM

Doode, that one with the guy and the dog. hahahaha that's awesome! I think I saw him at Target and the guy in Arlington is me. That shit wasn't funny. Break YoSelf!!!!!!

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