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Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

theatlantic.com

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Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#21

Post by veidr »

ChuckMcM wrote: post #10
davidroberts wrote: post #6

Everything is so pristine and untouched. If it were the US, it would have all been looted and graffitied long ago. But I'm afraid by publishing the condition of his town through Google Maps, the mayor has pretty much assured it won't stay pristine very long. Japan has its share of thieves and vandals too. Plus hordes of amateur photographers and urban explorers will be trying to sneak into the place, radiation or not…

Radiation contamination makes an excellent deterrent, not only can you not see it, you can't know even if you don't feel any ill effects if you're going to die coughing up a lung in a few weeks (and no, nowhere except inside the containment buildings is that contaminated) That said, it was an opportunity for Google to take radiation readings everywhere (perhaps they did but didn't release that information). Looking a…

> Radiation contamination makes an excellent deterrent

Well, quite a lot of people here in Japan now have their own Geiger counters (pretty much everybody I know). The one I bought is a cheap (~ $150) model made by Soeks specifically to address consumer demand in post-Fukushima Japan.

(http://www.amazon.co.jp/ガイガーカウンター-SOEKS-01M-2-0L-JP-NUK-079-...)

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#22

Post by micro-ram »

gcb0 wrote: post #14
artursapek wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just watched that whole thing. Very impressive.

interesting, but didn't microsoft started to try to map the world with that very same approach way before streetview? i can't remember the name of the project though...

Terraserver.com

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#24

Post by OGinparadise »

Lesson I learned: when you have a major accident and the government (any of them) says it's all safe to stay, eat and drink, GTFO as soon as possible. http://rt.com/news/japan-fish-radiation-fukushima-321/ We made a mistake and we're sorry might not do it, when you get cancer or your children are born with 3 heads.

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#25

Post by guscost »

speeder wrote: post #2

This is highly interesting! Things I could notice: First, wildlife just ignores radiation, also nature is quick to take back whatever we are not using. Second, Japanese architecture is interesting, no building is ugly, both the modern ones (like the waterfront building that did not got smashed) and old ones (the traditional-looking houses). Maybe excepting schools (that are just rectangular boxes filled with windows)…

I'm inclined to agree with the wildlife. Are people legally allowed to move here?

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#27

Post by drucken »

davidroberts wrote: post #6

Everything is so pristine and untouched. If it were the US, it would have all been looted and graffitied long ago. But I'm afraid by publishing the condition of his town through Google Maps, the mayor has pretty much assured it won't stay pristine very long. Japan has its share of thieves and vandals too. Plus hordes of amateur photographers and urban explorers will be trying to sneak into the place, radiation or not…

I know Japan has a ridiculously crime rate and a strongly supporting culture to boot, but I do wonder if its that hard to launder looted metal or other materials there too.

Anywhere in the West, apart from maybe the Nordic countries, two years later that town would have been picked clean by now, even by their own government, regardless of any remaining radiation threat.

Is there is a very strict military cordon, perhaps?

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#28

Post by namank »

mirkules wrote: post #4
artursapek wrote: post #3

I love what Google has done with Street View. Taking the technology indoors just does something completely different for me than outdoor shots. In this place it lets you look at intimate details of what used to be other peoples' every day lives. There's so much to explore. Can any one read this blackboard? http://goo.gl/maps/zWAqm I'd love to see a hack that lets one walk around in first-person inside an environment…

"I'd love to see a hack that lets one walk around in first-person inside an environment using Street View imagery, like a video game." There was a TED video in 2010 doing almost that: http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera.html

Sorry about downvoting your comment, did not mean to.

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#29

Post by bluedanieru »

speeder wrote: post #2

This is highly interesting! Things I could notice: First, wildlife just ignores radiation, also nature is quick to take back whatever we are not using. Second, Japanese architecture is interesting, no building is ugly, both the modern ones (like the waterfront building that did not got smashed) and old ones (the traditional-looking houses). Maybe excepting schools (that are just rectangular boxes filled with windows)…

>Second, Japanese architecture is interesting, no building is ugly, both the modern ones (like the waterfront building that did not got smashed) and old ones (the traditional-looking houses).

I promise you this is not true. Run-down buildings are to be had like anywhere else, and the country probably has slightly more than its share of ugly post-modern bullshit architecture.

That said, the pretty stuff is really pretty, IMO.

Re: Google Maps a Japanese Nuclear Ghost Town

#30

Post by dirktheman »

Some cars, several buildings and some things look like they've been abandoned yesterday. The VW for instance looks cleaner than my car, which I drive daily and wash regularly. Other cars are completely smashed up, rusty. The same goes for roads: some look like they've been paved yesterday, some are completely cracked and overgrown. Not meaning antthing by it, just an observation!
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