14 DAY TRIAL // Google's two popular projects, Google Earth and Google Maps, will benefit from images of a much better quality than that of those currently employed. The company has signed a contract with GeoEye, a satellite imagery provider, which will offer, according to Reuters as cited by the Washington Post, the most detailed images that have ever been captured for commercial purposes.
GeoEye offers incredible possibilities – black and white resolution of 0.41 meters, and perfectly clear color images with a 1.65 meters resolution. Sadly (or not, depending on whether we believe the loud voices that are saying that the current Google technology is already too invasive), government regulations say that satellite imagery must have a maximum resolution of half a meter so, in fact, images will not be as accurate as the technology allows it.
“The satellite is designed to offer three-meter accuracy, which means that end users can map natural and man-made features to within three meters of their actual locations on the surface of the Earth without ground control points. GeoEye-1 was financed in part by GeoEye's approximate $500-million contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).” announced Google's new partner, referring to the August 14 launch on the orbit of its new satellite.
The financial aspects of the contract have not been disclosed, but what is known at the moment is that Google Earth and Google Maps will be the only applications to benefit from the new technology. Also, the Google logo will apparently be displayed on the rocket to be used for the launch of the satellite.
Although the images captured by GeoEye-1 will offer a great global imagery, questions regarding the by now infamous claims of invasion of privacy that are being formulated against Google will certainly gain more ground in the future. After the launch of the satellite, a period of 45 to 60 more days is necessary until all details are set and Google's imagery database is updated. Until then, the team can develop a strategy to emphasize the benefits of the project and minimize the importance of the shortcomings.