Trails

[danbrotherston]

Where does the satellite view data come from?  I assumed that Google was drawing from other resources, private or governmental, that conducted regular aerial surveys in the course of their work.  Aside from Google Streetview, I don't think that Google has their own satellites in the sky looking down. I know that Google has the practice of either licensing or buying up old datasets that are set for disposal.

I took a quick look at Google Earth and the Kitchener and Waterloo imagery is dated August 10, 2018 (8/10/2018...since everything is green, it's not likely October). St. Jacobs ranges from July 15, 2015 to August 18, 2022. These dates also apply to the western and eastern edges of Waterloo.  Elmira gets October 5, 2022 to 'newer'.  Cambridge is July 29, 2015 except for the intersection of the Can-Amera Parkway and Franklin Blvd which is May 10, 2023.

At the bottom of Google maps it shows who the data is from. Their aerial map data is bought from many providers, but I think a lot of the high resolution 3D maps for cities are not from satellites but from airplanes.