aerial photo freeware

August 20, 2002

Hi Folks,

I found this freeware on download.com doing a "gps" search. Pretty neat stuff at an incredible price. Also, very small download.

USA Photomaps 1.1

August 20, 2002

This looks like a nice addition to the Garmin "toolbox".

Thanks!

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

August 20, 2002

This looks like a nice addition to the Garmin "toolbox".

Thanks!

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son!

August 20, 2002

That is very cool. I wish there were something eqivalent for the MapQuest arial photos...

df

August 20, 2002

Get the latest version here. The programmer is adding minor upgrades almost weekly to this software:

USA Photomaps

When I posted this the current version was 1.95

1k · August 21, 2002

This program is addicting!

I started out, I'll just get my area...

Then it was:

OK, enough to fill one CD...

Then:

Well, maybe two CD's...

Then:

Maybe the major cities too

Then:

Might as well download a small piece of map everywhere there's a cache in Maine...

I'm still working on the last one and currently I have over a little over 1.8 GB of map data, all via 28.8 K dial up no less!

Hint: If you change your screen resolution to max, like 1600 X 1200 or larger, you can dowload an enormous amount of map without having to reset (takes me overnight).

I can quit anytime... honest...

Me and that dog are gonna take a walk in the woods, and only one of us is coming back...

August 21, 2002

...this program should come with a warning label. I lost some sleep last night because I couldn't drag myself away from it

df

August 21, 2002

...this program should come with a warning label. I lost some sleep last night because I couldn't drag myself away from it

df

August 21, 2002

quote:
Hint: If you change your screen resolution to max, like 1600 X 1200 or larger, you can dowload an enormous amount of map without having to reset (takes me overnight).

Yes, I love my cable modem. A full screen at 1600x1200 takes about 7 minutes to download all of the map files. Trouble is that I end up with even more map files on my hard drive. I occasionally go through and delete all the map files, but it's easy for me to download them again.

I think USAPhotomaps is a great program and use it quite a bit. I like making tracks of golf courses and displaying them over the photomaps. That shows me how badly I am at golf. The track zig-zags back and forth all over the place.

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

August 21, 2002

quote:
Hint: If you change your screen resolution to max, like 1600 X 1200 or larger, you can dowload an enormous amount of map without having to reset (takes me overnight).

Yes, I love my cable modem. A full screen at 1600x1200 takes about 7 minutes to download all of the map files. Trouble is that I end up with even more map files on my hard drive. I occasionally go through and delete all the map files, but it's easy for me to download them again.

I think USAPhotomaps is a great program and use it quite a bit. I like making tracks of golf courses and displaying them over the photomaps. That shows me how badly I am at golf. The track zig-zags back and forth all over the place.

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

August 21, 2002

Awesome program! I have been using it for at least a year now and it's great! Please send the designer of this program a few bucks (I sent $20) to re-pay him for all his hard work and constant updates. I am currently using this program to verify the coordinates of a database of waypoints of both manmade and natural features in Yellowstone National Park (over 1500 of them so far) I use various mapping programs to get the coordinates, then I input them on the above mentioned program and check to see that the feature I am looking for is really, truly there! It works awesome.

August 21, 2002

Which map datum does this program use. On a general note, how can I tell the differences between the datums? Lastly, is there some conversion program out there?

August 21, 2002

It uses NAD83 (that's what the Terraserver site uses), and it treats that datum as exactly the same as WGS84 (most sources say they're effectively the same), which is the basic datum on a GPS. The associated "Convert SDTS Data" program (on the same Web site) converts USGS elevation data from NAD27 to NAD83 so it can be used in USAPhotoMaps.

There are datum conversion programs on the Net (do a search). And of course your GPS will convert datums.

August 21, 2002

This is a very cool program. Being a New Yorker I had to start looking around my city and wanted to see the World Trade Center. It is still there inthis picture so these shots are pretty old. Here are some other places to check out in NYC:

WTC

N40.71106

W74.01164

Central Park

N40.78343

W73.96511

Yankee Stadium

N40.82694

W73.92768

Shea Stadium (NY Mets)

N40.77232

W73.89381

Anyone have any other places to look at? I would like to see Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon.

THANKS

August 21, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by hellmaster:
This is a very cool program. Being a New Yorker I had to start looking around my city and wanted to see the World Trade Center. It is still there inthis picture so these shots are pretty old. Here are some other places to check out in NYC:

Anyone have any other places to look at? I would like to see Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon.

THANKS

The images are of varying age. I've seen images in my area that appear to be as new as <2 years and as old as >6 years. I think if you browse the actual Terraserver, it will tell you the date of the images. The Terraserver pages also have links directly to some other interesting places: http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/famous.aspx

df

1k · August 21, 2002

I have several of these, I'll let you find them yourself...

Bridges, Theme parks, Airports, Farms, Any water large ferries cross, Power Plants, Shopping Centers, Freeways, Universities, Quarries, Sports Stadiums, and one of my favorites:

"Big Muskie" - a VERY big mining machine (with a 220 cubic yard bucket!) in Ohio The machine is dismantled now but the photo image is still old enough to show. A few nice web pages on the history of it. Print out same scale picture of Big Muskie and a known landmark like your house or local bridge and compare it - it was huge! Do a web seach, it'll be there!

Edit: Ok, I'll give the coodinates for Big Muskie since the page I got them from no longer exists!

N 39º 48.717' W 81º 41.464'

OK, I'll say it again, I can quit anytime....

Me and that dog are gonna take a walk in the woods, and only one of us is coming back...

[This message was edited by brdad on August 21, 2002 at 08:24 PM.]

August 21, 2002

As in JDM Cox? As in "This is your program" we are discussing? If so, awesome! I use it all the time and it was well worth the $20 I sent you. One of the most useful reference tools I have.

August 22, 2002

Well MT. rushmore is at N43°52.726' W103°27.539'. Not much to see since it from a top. Does anyone know for sure what the Crazy Hourse coords are? The best I get are N43°50.20'

W103°37.40' (few miles from rushmore), but when I view it, it seems to be quite a strech to believe that is it.

Wyatt W.

The probability of someone watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your actions.

August 22, 2002

Is there a way to determine when the photos were taken?

Mike & Gay

Beer nuts cost $1.50. Deer nuts are under a buck.

1k · August 22, 2002

The images are downloaded from Microsoft Terraserver.

If you were to go to Terraserver and load the same coordinates, then click on the info button for that image, it will tell you the date of that paticular photo.

The age varies from image to image, the ones I have for around here all seem to age in range from 1986-98. The topo maps they have vary even more.

The "advanced.txt" file that comes with the program has lots of information about the process.

Me and that dog are gonna take a walk in the woods, and only one of us is coming back...

August 22, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
If you were to go to Terraserver and load the same coordinates, then click on the info button for that image, it will tell you the date of that paticular photo.

I went to Terraserver and loaded the same coordinates as I use in USAPhotomaps. After bypassing my web filter so I could actually see the images (something I really dislike doing), they weren't the same as USAPhotomaps uses. The maps on Terraserver don't even have coverage over the area I tried to load. Guess I can't get info about the images then.

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

August 22, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
If you were to go to Terraserver and load the same coordinates, then click on the info button for that image, it will tell you the date of that paticular photo.

I went to Terraserver and loaded the same coordinates as I use in USAPhotomaps. After bypassing my web filter so I could actually see the images (something I really dislike doing), they weren't the same as USAPhotomaps uses. The maps on Terraserver don't even have coverage over the area I tried to load. Guess I can't get info about the images then.

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

1k · August 22, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by Couch_Potato:
The maps on Terraserver don't even have coverage over the area I tried to load. Guess I can't get info about the images then.

Did you make sure the selection for Aerial Photo and not the Topo Maps was selected? There is a selection thingy on the left side of page.

If you did, something must have been inputed incorrectly. If you want, post the coordinates you are having trouble with and I'll attempt it.

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

1k · August 22, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by Couch_Potato:
The maps on Terraserver don't even have coverage over the area I tried to load. Guess I can't get info about the images then.

Did you make sure the selection for Aerial Photo and not the Topo Maps was selected? There is a selection thingy on the left side of page.

If you did, something must have been inputed incorrectly. If you want, post the coordinates you are having trouble with and I'll attempt it.

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

August 24, 2002

I'm using my home coordinates, N42.15778, W77.08722. Terraserver shows me this:

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

1k · August 24, 2002

Your terraserver pic does not look like the same I'm accessing at terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/ , so maybe that has something to do with it, can't imagine why though. I also had to use the Degree-Minute-Second coordinates for some reason.

Anyway try this link: Terraserver

Looks like you're at the biggest place on the block... We'll be over at 5 for dinner

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

1k · August 24, 2002

Your terraserver pic does not look like the same I'm accessing at terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/ , so maybe that has something to do with it, can't imagine why though. I also had to use the Degree-Minute-Second coordinates for some reason.

Anyway try this link: Terraserver

Looks like you're at the biggest place on the block... We'll be over at 5 for dinner

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

1.5k · August 24, 2002

I've learned to control myself when using this program finally... I was up to about a gig of map files before I finally realized I had to put an end to it.

I was looking at every place I had been on vacation, every place in Ohio that I *wanted* to go yet... every Nascar race track I could find, etc.

I could never bring myself to delete any of the maps... but during one of the updates he made a change that actually affected the file size of each map chunk saved, and at that point I wiped out EVERYTHING I had and started over.

So far I've only downloaded all of Lancaster and Columbus Ohio, along with Speedway Indiana and Atlantic City New Jersey.

I've finally become strong enough to only download map chunks when I KNOW that I'll be either searching or hiding a cache in that area. I'm still up to about 400 megs already - and I'm going to try very hard to keep it all under 650 in case I ever wanna drop it on a cdrom.

Oh, I'm also guilty of sending in a $20... I suggest everyone else do the same, if you get good use of the program. Unsolicited donations for freeware are so much better than required shareware payments, imho.

- Toe.

--==< http://home.columbus.rr.com/rubbertoe >==--

1.5k · August 24, 2002

I've learned to control myself when using this program finally... I was up to about a gig of map files before I finally realized I had to put an end to it.

I was looking at every place I had been on vacation, every place in Ohio that I *wanted* to go yet... every Nascar race track I could find, etc.

I could never bring myself to delete any of the maps... but during one of the updates he made a change that actually affected the file size of each map chunk saved, and at that point I wiped out EVERYTHING I had and started over.

So far I've only downloaded all of Lancaster and Columbus Ohio, along with Speedway Indiana and Atlantic City New Jersey.

I've finally become strong enough to only download map chunks when I KNOW that I'll be either searching or hiding a cache in that area. I'm still up to about 400 megs already - and I'm going to try very hard to keep it all under 650 in case I ever wanna drop it on a cdrom.

Oh, I'm also guilty of sending in a $20... I suggest everyone else do the same, if you get good use of the program. Unsolicited donations for freeware are so much better than required shareware payments, imho.

- Toe.

--==< http://home.columbus.rr.com/rubbertoe >==--

4.5k · August 25, 2002

Have you tried Mappers Anonymous?

Alan

4.5k · August 25, 2002

Have you tried Mappers Anonymous?

Alan

August 25, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
Your terraserver pic does not look like the same I'm accessing at terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/

That's the difference, www.terraserver.com and terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com use different images. Plain old terraserver.com has very limited maps while terraserver.homeadvisor has more complete coverage. Though it doesn't seem to do well with lat & long coordinates. While I was zooming in and out the position changed a lot. I think I'll stick with USAPhotomaps.

quote:
Looks like you're at the biggest place on the block... We'll be over at 5 for dinner

I'm actually in a cheap apartment across the street from there. The image is off in it's coordinates. The big biulding is a Dresser Rand manufacturing facility.

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

August 25, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
Your terraserver pic does not look like the same I'm accessing at terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/

That's the difference, www.terraserver.com and terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com use different images. Plain old terraserver.com has very limited maps while terraserver.homeadvisor has more complete coverage. Though it doesn't seem to do well with lat & long coordinates. While I was zooming in and out the position changed a lot. I think I'll stick with USAPhotomaps.

quote:
Looks like you're at the biggest place on the block... We'll be over at 5 for dinner

I'm actually in a cheap apartment across the street from there. The image is off in it's coordinates. The big biulding is a Dresser Rand manufacturing facility.

I'm not lost!

I just don't know where I am.

August 25, 2002

Its a shame we cant get such a program for the UK, I can see the great benefits, but we've only just started getting street level mapping (how far we are behind)

Never mind, I downloaded it for a play anyway

1k · August 25, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by Couch_Potato:
I think I'll stick with USAPhotomaps.

I agree! Now if I can only find a 6 terrabyte hard drive so I can download ALL the data, my obsession will be eased!

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

1k · August 25, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by Couch_Potato:
I think I'll stick with USAPhotomaps.

I agree! Now if I can only find a 6 terrabyte hard drive so I can download ALL the data, my obsession will be eased!

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

August 28, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by hellmaster:
Anyone have any other places to look at? I would like to see Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon.

THANKS

Here's one that should be identifiable for any golf fans:

N30.19463 W81.39084

df

1k · August 28, 2002

Anyone aware of what these collections of round things are all around the coast of Campabello Island, Canada?

N44º53.187W 66º57.478

N44º52.399 W66º58.554

There are quite a few more, but these will get the point across. I see a few close to shore as well.

Money doesn't grow on trees, but there is cache in the woods.

August 29, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
...I have over a little over 1.8 GB of map data, all via 28.8 K dial up no less!

28.8? Haven't seen one of those in years!

(My first home computer before the internet age used an external 300 baud modem. You had to dial the number manually and then flip a switch when you heard the connect tone.)

On the serious side, 56K modems are cheap. It would be worth the update.

I get frustrated with 56K and am planning on a DSL line soon.

August 29, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
...I have over a little over 1.8 GB of map data, all via 28.8 K dial up no less!

28.8? Haven't seen one of those in years!

(My first home computer before the internet age used an external 300 baud modem. You had to dial the number manually and then flip a switch when you heard the connect tone.)

On the serious side, 56K modems are cheap. It would be worth the update.

I get frustrated with 56K and am planning on a DSL line soon.

1k · August 29, 2002

quote:
Originally posted by st_richardson:
On the serious side, 56K modems are cheap. It would be worth the update.

I started out with a 1200 modem. I can remember when I got my 2400 it seemed like a race car!

Actually, I do have a 56K modem, but my maximum speed is 28.8, in fact a lot of the time I can only get 26.4. This is due to the fact I live too far away to connect at that speed. DSL and cable are not available within 10 miles of me, so that is not an option, and 2 way satellite is too expensive for my budget. DSL seems to be winnning the race, they estimate another 5-7 years.

That's the price I pay for living in peace and quiet!

Money doesn't grow on trees, but there is cache in the woods.

January 17, 2003

That is a great program. I put it on my laptop and loded down the freeway whare we wer going to drive then hookt the gps to it while in the car. It was great to be able to chek what lane we wer curently driving in on the screan.

January 17, 2003

I don't know how many of you remember the movie "Field of Dreams." The waypoint for the site of that movie is N42 29.868 W91 03.291. If you check it out on the ariel maps, you can clearly see the baseball diamond, farm house, etc. all of which are still there to this day. It remains as one of the more visited sites in Iowa. As you can see from the ariel photo, the baseball diamond is truly in the middle of nothing but cornfields and farmland. If you are ever in the area, be sure to make a visit. Just reading the loose-leaf log book of visitor comments is amazing and uplifting.

5k · January 17, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by RB_Nielsen:
...you can clearly see the baseball diamond, farm house, etc. all of which are still there to this day. It remains as one of the more visited sites in Iowa. As you can see from the ariel photo, the baseball diamond is truly in the middle of nothing but cornfields and farmland. If you are ever in the area, be sure to make a visit. Just reading the loose-leaf log book of visitor comments is amazing and uplifting.

Here is the LostOutdoors aerial of the baseball diamond. To the south of the ball field, you can see two, yes two driveways that are separated by just a few feet. The median between those drives is the property line of the two different owners of the field. The owners each manage visitor centers and gift shops, but the two owners do not get along at all. Reading about their feud is about as amusing as reading the visitor's comments is uplifting.

Jamie

1.3k · January 18, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by phantom4099:
Does anyone know for sure what the Crazy Hourse coords are? The best I get are N43°50.20'

W103°37.40' (few miles from rushmore), but when I view it, it seems to be quite a strech to believe that is it.

Wyatt W.

I have N43° 50.211' W103° 37.441' for the Crazy Horse Memorial, which would be on top of Crazy Horse's head. If you move your waypoint about 250' south, it should mark the end of his outstretched arm.

Greg

N 39 54.705'

W 77 33.137'

January 18, 2003

Here's one that I thought was interesting!

N32.168118

W110.852910

Located in Tucson, AZ Recently featured in a truck commercial.

1.3k · January 18, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by brdad:
"Big Muskie" - a VERY big mining machine (with a 220 cubic yard bucket!) in Ohio The machine is dismantled now but the photo image is still old enough to show. A few nice web pages on the history of it. Print out same scale picture of Big Muskie and a known landmark like your house or local bridge and compare it - it was huge! Do a web seach, it'll be there!

Could Big Muskies bucket be here?

N 39° 39.868' W81° 50.810'

**I think I spoke to soon...checking out new info now....

I don't think the above coords are it...Should be closer to N 39° 41.297' W81° 42.488', but I don't see any sign of it an my aerail photos. The park may be too new to show up (assuming they're about the same age as the photos of the machine still intact)

[This message was edited by gnbrotz on January 18, 2003 at 09:53 AM.]

January 20, 2003

quote:
Originally posted by jphar721:
Here's one that I thought was interesting!

N32.168118

W110.852910

Located in Tucson, AZ Recently featured in a truck commercial.

Is that an SR-71 I see sitting there?

Mr. 0

"Remember that nature and the elements are neither your friend or your enemy - they are actually disinterested."

Department of the Army Field Manual FM 21-76 "Survival" Oct. 1970

January 20, 2003

Here's a Concord at JFK

40 38.467

73 47.078

January 20, 2003

I read this post and downloaded the program. Very cool stuff. I've been sitting here playing with it for hours now.

--RuffRidr

aerial photo freeware

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