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Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

bbc.com

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Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#51
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think OP was asking more for a live-stream type service, where this appears to be static imagery.

This is the best that's currently available.

No doubt, a great resource, was just trying to help get to the meat of the comment :D

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#53
post #5

Is it possible to have real-time live-feed of the entire planet? If cost isn't an issue, would something like that be possible?

The short answer is no. High-resolution imagery comes from low-orbit satellites, which make a complete orbit about every two hours, and image long, narrow strips with each pass, taking days to image the whole planet. There are many of these satellites: commercial, non-military (publicly-accessible) governmental, and governmental (secret), of varying resolutions. These are also supplemented by aerial (plane) imagery.…

A fleet of drones that stay airborne can provide real-time feeds of a regional battlespace for military use. Cheaper, lower latency, higher quality data - but vulnerable to enemy airpower.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#54

Organizations/NGOs heavily rely on satellite imagery (i) to assist in delivering many humanitarian efforts. It would seem useful for the UN to strongly prohibit the diminishing of such capability. (i) www.hotosm.org

The UN does not have this authority.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#55
post #5

Is it possible to have real-time live-feed of the entire planet? If cost isn't an issue, would something like that be possible?

The short answer is no. High-resolution imagery comes from low-orbit satellites, which make a complete orbit about every two hours, and image long, narrow strips with each pass, taking days to image the whole planet. There are many of these satellites: commercial, non-military (publicly-accessible) governmental, and governmental (secret), of varying resolutions. These are also supplemented by aerial (plane) imagery.…

Even though it would be neither covert nor cost-effective, couldn't you use a constellation like Iridium and add some auto-compositing capabilities?

The resolution and angles for your point of interest will change but you should be able to keep a near-constant coverage.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In addition to cost, there are various national laws that restrict satellite imagery with resolution better than various thresholds.

Which the article indicates, at least as it relates to the US and her companies, is no longer the case: > In July 2020, the KBA was dropped, and now the US government allows American companies to provide far higher-quality images of the region (so that objects the size of a person can be readily picked out).

That's one such agreement between two governments; there are numerous other laws and agreements that would impact anyone attempting to provide real-time imagery of substantial portions of Earth.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#57
post #5

Is it possible to have real-time live-feed of the entire planet? If cost isn't an issue, would something like that be possible?

planet.com can get you a ~12 images per day [1] for a reasonable price. If cost really isn't an issue, I'm confident you could strike a deal with planet.com to place their next few new satellites into the specific orbit you want to up the frequency even more. [1]: https://www.planet.com/pulse/12x-rapid-revisit-announcement/ , as of June 2020.

What is that reasonable price? It is not given on the page you linked…

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because there's never been a country named "Palestine" and as such it's hard to make agreements with a country that doesn't exist.

The US seems to manage OK forming relationships with Taiwan, for example.

Taiwan has a working government.

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which the article indicates, at least as it relates to the US and her companies, is no longer the case: > In July 2020, the KBA was dropped, and now the US government allows American companies to provide far higher-quality images of the region (so that objects the size of a person can be readily picked out).

That's one such agreement between two governments; there are numerous other laws and agreements that would impact anyone attempting to provide real-time imagery of substantial portions of Earth.

I thought the KBA was an amendment to US statutory law, not an 'agreement' between nations? What are the other laws and agreements to which you're alluding to, but weren't referenced in the article?

Re: Why is the Gaza Strip blurry on Google Maps?

#60
post #5

Is it possible to have real-time live-feed of the entire planet? If cost isn't an issue, would something like that be possible?

The short answer is no. High-resolution imagery comes from low-orbit satellites, which make a complete orbit about every two hours, and image long, narrow strips with each pass, taking days to image the whole planet. There are many of these satellites: commercial, non-military (publicly-accessible) governmental, and governmental (secret), of varying resolutions. These are also supplemented by aerial (plane) imagery.…

And even with such a budget: geostationary satellites over the poles are not possible[1] and really hard anywhere but over the equator, really.

So that means most of the south and north part of the earth cannot be covered with such a constellation; they would need to be orbiting satellites, which makes "real time" even harder, because it would require an enormously complex choreography to ensure there's at least one satellite covering each square meter, at all times.

[1] https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/71582/is-it-poss...

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