Google Maps Alternative

[biggerry]

In the quest for super detailed maps for sunrise pre-planning i came across the following site which is pretty neat and for the areas where the coverage is evident the quality exceeds that of google maps. Its also neat 'cause they have a timeline of images available so you can go back in time and see the topoimage from years ago..

you have to sign up however at this point in time it is free access for personal use.

Highly recommended from moi

http://www.nearmap.com

Now the only thing I need is a really detailed terrain dataset so I don't plan sunrise trips in the darkness right over a cliff that apparently looks flat

[surenj]

I saw some maps on this service during the queensland floods but had forgotten about it. This log-in thing is new I think. Nice find.

[Murray Foote]

The Photographer's ephemeris

[biggerry]

The Photographer's ephemeris

been there done that and have been using it for quite some time, however it still uses google maps, if it used nearmaps, now that would be neat...

[surenj]

The Photographer's ephemeris

Yeah this is very useful to get a gist of the directions of the rise.... Perhaps a combination is the way to go.

[Murray Foote]

The Photographer's ephemeris

Yeah this is very useful to get a gist of the directions of the rise.... Perhaps a combination is the way to go.

It'll give you more than that. It will tell you for a given viewpoint when the sun will rise from behind a mountain or when a point on the opposite side of a valley will go into shade as the sun starts to go down.

Now the only thing I need is a really detailed terrain dataset so I don't plan sunrise trips in the darkness right over a cliff that apparently looks flat

I'd have thought the terrain maps in The Photographer's Ephemeris would do that for you.

[surenj]

Murray, I never knew how to get that functionality in Ephemeris. Will have another look.

[biggerry]

I'd have thought the terrain maps in The Photographer's Ephemeris would do that for you.

yes it does, however have you ever tried to navigate to any level of accurary using the terrain data (googles)? The nearmaps whilst they do not have terrain do have 3cm resolution on the images hence trying to navigate places where you have not been before is much easier than just using the often poor resolution cousins from google maps.

I would show an example, but it will give away my next top secret sunrise location

[surenj]

I would show an example, but it will give away my next top secret sunrise location

Keep me in the loop.

[Remorhaz]

I would show an example, but it will give away my next top secret sunrise location

Keep me in the loop.

+1

[colin_12]

The trouble I have with nearmap is that it is only good for certain areas. If you go out from major population centres/towns then it has zero useful imaging. This is due to the photosets they utilise. There is no money to be gained from aerrial photography if no one wants to pay for it. Pity, the resolution of what they do have is great.

[Jenno]

the resolution of what they do have is great

good enough for the solar guys to check to see if your roof was suitable for the installation of solar panels without making a house call.
This is what they used
Note the pic of my digs was taken Sept 2011... so pretty current

[surenj]

good enough for the solar guys to check to see if your roof was suitable for the installation of solar panels without making a house call.

[biggerry]

here we go

google maps




nearmap

[surenj]

Looks like a massive tide location... Where is it?

[biggerry]

Looks like a massive tide location... Where is it?

south coast near gerrigong