Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Google Earth: From Space to Your Face

I like to use Google Maps but there was a time when I used Keyhole (which is the product known these days as Google Earth). This article describes how they get the overhead pics:
Most people are surprised to learn that we have more than one source for our imagery. We collect it via airplane and satellite, but also just about any way you can imagine getting a camera above the Earth's surface: hot air balloons, model airplanes – even kites. The traditional aerial survey involves mounting a special gyroscopic, stabilized camera in the belly of an airplane and flying it at an elevation of between 15,000 feet and 30,000 feet, depending on the resolution of imagery you're interested in.
Link

Via NM