Digital Globe and Google

I understand that Google Licences its High resolution satellite imagery from Digital Globe and being in the Imagery field I know that raw Imagery cost a huge lot being the major barrier for access to it for ordinary people and even people in emergencies.

This barrier is artificially kept in place by Satellite vendors such as Digital Globe and GeoEye. They only bend back for the large scale customers such as Governments and Corporations who buy 1000's of scenes and use up the capacity on the satellite. This is a good and working business model but is not certainly flexible enough for a retail user, as I would call a person purchasing a single scene. The Imagery market place needs to evolve to be friendlier to the retail user. Google with its data delivery capacity is a step in the right direction. Digital Globe should see the opportunity that exists here and exploit the marketplace. The profit margins may be slimmer but the populace will be hooked to Imagery as they are to Webcomics or Phone Ringtones. This will bode well for the Next Generation satellites such as Worldview.

Frankly the Imagery business could use a lot of streamlining and less back biting and misunderstandings on licence issues.

String of misfortunes

This week is just not turning out right. First the dread call, next the barrel of my canon IXUS broke with an E18 error which is quite painful. Thankfully I have warranty on it. The lens mechanism is apparently quite fragile as I have come to find out from various posts.

Hope to get it fixed soonish. Not feeling like spending any money since I can see big expenses in the horizon. Save me from the clutches of the lawyers.

Proxy Tilers and Linking Policy

Google maps explicitly states that if you embed Google Maps on your site and expect heavy traffic you have to notify them.

This does not stop Manifold from using it in their application and boasting about it. So what is the acceptable use policy with regard to Applications/Desktop clients using Google Maps data. It must be somewhere. If you leach too much Google will die on you and claim that you are a virus, which they are right about since bandwidth is being chewed up by freeloaders eager to see theirs and everyone elses house.

But, if an Open Application such as Worldwind transparently uses this data with acknowledgement and brings it to more people who probably cannot use Google Earth due to low bandwidth connections or want to operate in remote areas in offline mode, it should be encouraged since it brings the benefit of this great dataset to more important uses such as Emergency Response rather than just the Desktop Globetrotter. The community can also add bandwidth they have bought to the Dark Fibre Google owns to further ease the use of the imagery.

Parties,Life and World

Ok great do on Friday. Jive and Barbecue and Drinks. Happy birthday Helene.
It was perfect till I got a dreaded call I have been expecting for a while. Hopefully the storm will blow over.
KML Support in Worldwind is coming in leaps and bounds so are graphics goodies.


Sun shading


KML support

I am also planning to bring the RAT project to sourceforge and a wider community.Watch out for simple folks knowing SAR.

Worldwind Forks

There seems to be a plethora of Worldwind forks cropping up left right and centre.Here are just a few.It seems to be getting a life of its own. I am holding my breath for a Linux Distro wars like scenario.

That cannot be bad, in fact it will make more choice available and make the 3D-Globe world a richer place.

• Punt


• Dapple


• SERVIR Viz


• NEXTIMAGE


• TOPAZ

Oceanography in Worldwind

I have been trying the Oceanography addon. The data from NOAA and SeaWIFS looks very good and provides tonnes of clues on where ocean currents occur and how weather patterns affect the Ocean. If only these could be obtained real time.

Telstra for has very long international APN that got me into trouble.
APN: telstra.wap.mnc001.mcc505.gprs

Better Worldwind Buidings

I have made buildings in Worldwind using KML , but there are definitely better ways of doing it as Skyline(textured buildings), OsgPlanet or this one using WorldWind show. I like the shading on the buildings makes them look more realistic.
Frankly I am jealous.