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Monday, July 31, 2006

Google Earth and Beautiful Beirut


If you are not yet familiar with Google Earth, I suggest you visit and come up to speed.

Google Earth is a free service that offers everybody a chance to visit any place on the planet. It is very much like having a world globe on your screen. You can spin the globe anywhere you like and then start coming in closer and closer (like an astronaut returning to Earth) until you can make-out actual buildings, streets and even the shape and color of cars parked in the driveway. It is amazing technology and tons of fun. Download it .

A CNet News blog posting asked the question, "Why isn't Beirut Burning in Google Earth?" The satellite photos of Beirut were showing green tree-lined streets, clear skies and absolutely no sign of bombings, burning buildings, destruction, chaos or war. Just how old are those satellite photos that Google earth uses?

Google Earth is free. The images used in Google Earth come from Digital Globe. Digital Globe assures Google that the images are never more than 18 months old. That's the free version.

If money is no object to you and you want to see what buildings are still standing in Beirut after last week's missile attack, or, if you want to take a look at just exactly what kind of building projects are underway out at the former Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard here in San Francisco and you absolutely must have it up to date ... then the folks at Digital Globe will be happy to provide you with what you want ... for a fee.

I don't have much need for close-to real-time imagery. Google Earth works fine for me. However, if you want to see some of the wizardry Digital Globe has to offer, visit their Sample Imagery pages here.
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