Remote Sensing Tools

Official Google Earth Response

Read the response posted about this issue at the Official Google Blog.

Update from Google Earth Blog

Frank Taylor informs the Google Earth community on an immediate update to the imagery database, which now includes more recent post-Katrina images over New Orleans. He also advises to check back for any additional updates as they progress.

Frank Taylor comments on the recent discovery of Google Earth updating their imagery database to replace a significant portion, reverting back to pre-Katrina New Orleans. The recent update sparked a wave of interest from several individuals and organizations, according to this syndicated AP report.

The timing is actually interesting, considering the recent discoveries that Nikolas made in observing the USGS orthophotography release for 2005 data. Could there be an actual link to these occurrences, I wonder?

The issue concerning the Google Earth imagery database showing pre-Katrina release orthophotography was apparently explained to Frank and others as a change made in September due to image quality. Unfortunately, in order to view the imagery that is post-Katrina, one is required to purchase either the Plus or Pro license version of Google Earth in order to benefit by having the additional option to connect to the appropriate database. The Free version does not currently support post-Katrina high resolution imagery of New Orleans by default, as the option to connect to the database containing post-Katrina imagery is not available in that version.

Users can, however, load post-Katrina imagery into any version of Google Earth using the following Network Link .

It seems to me, this is another interesting example (among others) that can be referenced in beginning a debate of the psychological and sociological outcomes associated, which this imagery may ultimately affect.

I’m also just as curious to know who the source was that stirred the confusion relating to this, as a result of all that’s occurred surrounding the issue.