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Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

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Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#21

Post by drbscl »

ares623 wrote: post #10
Eonexus wrote: post #7

I wonder if there actually does exist updated to-the-minute imagery of various places, just not from sources publicly available on platforms like Google Maps?

It must be quite valuable data. One anecdote I heard/read somewhere was that firms often use satellite imagery of parking lots (over time, as one measure among others) to gauge how popular a place is. I don't know if it's true or not.

Similarly, I listened to a talk from someone who used to perform analysis of aerial images of farmland to estimate yields at harvest, which would then be used to trade in the futures market.

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#22

Post by trashb »

Google is not flying over the area itself right? perhaps they where using source maps with some sort of license agreement and the license expired, or there was a dispute.

It seems to me that it is in the favor of Google to gather the most up-to date maps, even if they can offer them in a limited window.

I wonder if the same is true for Google Earth, since I believe that uses higher quality / different maps in a lot of area's. (don't have it so I can't check)

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#23

Post by [deleted] »

alopha wrote: post #4
h1fra wrote: post #2

Not entirely related, but Google Maps is still showing satellite images from 5 years ago in Paris, one of the most visited cities in the world, and it's not even updated once a year. I don't get it.

There's no promo packet material in spending money on making the product a bit better with up to date imagery so why would anyone bother?

[deleted]

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#24

Post by izacus »

alopha wrote: post #4
h1fra wrote: post #2

Not entirely related, but Google Maps is still showing satellite images from 5 years ago in Paris, one of the most visited cities in the world, and it's not even updated once a year. I don't get it.

There's no promo packet material in spending money on making the product a bit better with up to date imagery so why would anyone bother?

I'm sure they can't wait to work on your personal pet peeve and get that sweet promo endorsement just from you.

(Seriously, it's not like anyone here is paying a cent to use GMaps.)

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#25

Post by spwa4 »

brainwad wrote: post #15
alopha wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no promo packet material in spending money on making the product a bit better with up to date imagery so why would anyone bother?

Half the company is happy coasting at their level and isn't even trying for promo.

And the top of Google is laying off anyone who spends a dime that isn't triple-justified.

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#26

Post by is_true »

Probably because it makes sense to be building AI related stuff, so no one is working on that.

They even used to have an option to get notifications when new images for an area became available.

The latest update (that i made, i only update when asked) to the app doesn't allow to disable the suggestions anymore, before if you tapped twice everything except the map and your location disappeared.

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#27

Post by 866-RON-0-FEZ »

Well there is a very contentious mayoral election going on in LA right now, and the fires are a central topic.

Concealing the fire damage could be used to influence or thwart campaign messaging.

Not that Google has been caught doing anything political before...

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#28

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

h1fra wrote: post #2

Not entirely related, but Google Maps is still showing satellite images from 5 years ago in Paris, one of the most visited cities in the world, and it's not even updated once a year. I don't get it.

That is aerial imagery and Paris is a major metro that gets the 3D treatment. I wouldn't expect them to update that regularly.

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#29

Post by brookst »

866-RON-0-FEZ wrote: post #27

Well there is a very contentious mayoral election going on in LA right now, and the fires are a central topic. Concealing the fire damage could be used to influence or thwart campaign messaging. Not that Google has been caught doing anything political before...

Is there any evidence of such an elaborate scheme? Are voters looking on Google Maps to validate claims about the fires, in some kind of mass trend that produces evidence?

Because it really sounds like a conspiracy theory draped over a pretty tangential fact. But I’d love to be wrong if there is evidence (“Google did something totally different but also bad” is not evidence).

Re: Why is Google Maps back to showing old satellite images of Altadena?

#30

Post by bradleykingz »

verzali wrote: post #11
Eonexus wrote: post #7

I wonder if there actually does exist updated to-the-minute imagery of various places, just not from sources publicly available on platforms like Google Maps?

Yes, you can buy it from commercial providers like Planet or even Airbus. They update a few times a day, though depending on the place you are interested in, you may need to put in a request for them to image it. Its actually not that difficult. I used to fly a satellite that could photograph anywhere in the world at least once every few days.

fly a satellite? how?
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