Google Aerial Maps

Web surfers can us google aerial maps, a free web-based mapping technology, to find almost any geographic location on the earth. This application even allows the user to find businesses in urban areas, locate street addresses and plan routes, all free of charge. The technology does not end with just locating destinations. Google maps and accompanying applications can find entertainment and attractions in a certain general area. For example, an internet user can type in "parks" and "Seattle." The technology would then generate a list of all parks in Seattle, Washington. The web surfer could then choose to actually see an aerial view or a graphic image of the park, amenities and directions. The list of capabilities continues from there. When looking at a map, the individual can pan (move from side to side using the mouse) and can zoom (view the image closer or farther away, also using the map).

Like other internet mapping programs, google aerials maps can also be used to obtain driving directions. The internet user need only to enter a starting address and ending destination, and the application will provide turn by turn driving directions. In addition, a printable map will be produced, as well as an estimated duration of travel. Since 2007, users can click on any point on their map and drag the mouse to a further location to get revised trip plans and updated routes and estimated travel times. In addition, 2007 gave internet users the capability to get walking directions, not just driving ones. If a business owner finds that google satellite maps are wrong about the location of his company, he can simply log on and drag the point of his business to where it should be. If it is too drastic of a change, the moderator will have to approve the change before it appears in the new location on the internet.

There are six standard viewing options offered by google mapping applications. The first one is the map view. This offers a topical look at the landscape in question, as well as detailed street images. The second view is generated by google satellite maps. Because these maps are derived from satellites in orbit, they offer high resolution, great quality photos of the landscape. These google aerial maps offer the same capabilities of zooming and panning, as the other mapping options do. The terrain view offers high relief rendering of the terrain, with the addition of overlaying street images for increased user understanding. The street view offers 360 views of street level geography. The sixth view offered by google aerial maps is the traffic view. This map view shows typical traffic congestion in certain areas.

Using this interface, a web surfer can view detailed images of most urban areas in the United States and Canada. There are also google aerial maps available for many populated areas in Kuwait, Japan, Australia, France and many more. There has been quite a bit of concern that the clarity of the photos will compromise the safety of certain highly secured areas, such as military bases and homes of political figures. In response, the photos of many governmental locations have been significantly blurred. In this way, these important locations are given another level of protection against potential terrorism.

A computer user must be able to run java script in order to utilize google satellite maps. The map works on a standard grid that is stored in the program and recalled when requested. As the person scrolls left, right, up, down, in or out, the java application automatically updates the page in real time. By late 2006, in response to user demand, researchers developed an application that used java able to run successfully on any mobile phone or hand held device that could recognize java input. Most of the customizable and changeable options are also available for mobile users. Now mobile devices even have a google-based GPS device that does not require a GPS receiver, like other GPS products. In order to find the exact location, a caller contacts google, who then locates the position of the cellular phone. At first, the program determines the location of the cellular tower closest to the caller. The software application then searches a database of known cellular towers. Using the estimated power of the transmitter, the program then determines a general locus around the tower that encompasses the caller's cell phone. The locus is then narrowed according to the strength of the phone's signal. In this way google satellite maps and other related software eventually narrow down the exact site of the cell phone in question. Another application, called Ride Finder, works with existing in-car GPS providers. It is available to all participating limousine and taxi companies in all of the major cities in the United States. "They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them." (Psalm 104:8)

The technology behind google satellite maps knows no end. Google Mars offers visual and infrared imagery of mars, as well as relief data of elevation. Working with NASA scientists at Arizona State University, this software provides information gleaned from two Mars missions, 2001 Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor. Likewise, google Moon offers much of the same imagery. The program combines public domain footage of the Moon's surface with the mapping interface. For obvious reasons, this program does not offer as many features as the standard desktop application.

Add to: File Insurance Business article Teen Photo Images