mugwump
02-11-2007, 00:09
I just ran across a NASA mapping program that's a good complement to Google Earth. It has the full USGS topographic library at all resolutions, Landsat true-color and false-color imagery, the ability to tilt maps to reveal elevation features, and more additional stuff than you can shake a stick at. (For instance, Dennis extensions are available to get USGS-like topo maps of the rest of the world). Google is still better for finding Arc Light scars on the old Ho Chi Minh trail and seeing what the roof of your house looks like, but the mapping features in this thing are amazing.
You can also zoom around the Moon, Mars, Venus, etc. the same way. Pretty cool.
It's totally free. It's a big download ~55Mb and it can be a bit sluggish if you have a lot of layers activated (simultaneous topo, ortho, real-color Landsat, and false-color Landsat for instance) because so much data is being sucked down your Internet connection. Broadband is a must.
I've put some examples below. After you click, maximize the window for best results. These are shrunk down to meet the 800x600 max size constraint for the board, they look much better in the app.
See the Nasa site: http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/
The Round Tops, Gettysburg, PA. Blended digital orthostatic and USGS topo.
7181
Paktika, A'stan and Tribal zone, P'stan. False color Landsat showing (very little) vegetation.
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Mountains around Charlottesville, VA. One meter orthostatic.
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Mountains around Charlottesville, VA. Same as above except USPS topo.
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Mountains around Charlottesville, VA. Topo Zoom.
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You can also zoom around the Moon, Mars, Venus, etc. the same way. Pretty cool.
It's totally free. It's a big download ~55Mb and it can be a bit sluggish if you have a lot of layers activated (simultaneous topo, ortho, real-color Landsat, and false-color Landsat for instance) because so much data is being sucked down your Internet connection. Broadband is a must.
I've put some examples below. After you click, maximize the window for best results. These are shrunk down to meet the 800x600 max size constraint for the board, they look much better in the app.
See the Nasa site: http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/
The Round Tops, Gettysburg, PA. Blended digital orthostatic and USGS topo.
7181
Paktika, A'stan and Tribal zone, P'stan. False color Landsat showing (very little) vegetation.
7182
Mountains around Charlottesville, VA. One meter orthostatic.
7184
Mountains around Charlottesville, VA. Same as above except USPS topo.
7185
Mountains around Charlottesville, VA. Topo Zoom.
7183