Google Earth
vs.
Custom Satellite Imagery

On close inspection of the images, some differences become clear. The Google Earth image, while an accurate representation of the area, is distinct in several ways:

Unified image quality. The center of the image is where the image is sharpest, while the outlying regions of the photo become increasingly blurry as you move to the edges.

Timely and current. While Google Earth lists its images as “approximately one to three years old,” users are never entirely sure the date an image was shot. This might be fine for satellite images of established, urban areas, but for some projects, such as environmental monitoring or residential development, knowing the exact date on which an image was taken is essential.

The images in SIC’s image library are date-stamped, so you are never in doubt as to how recently the image was photographed. If no image of your target area exists in our library, or if you need to monitor changes over time, we can easily order a custom satellite image to be taken, which ensures that your image is as current as technology allows.

Worldwide availability. Currently, Google Earth provides high-resolution image data for major metropolitan areas, and often, little else. Unfortunately, outlying areas are often a major source of interest for civil engineers, oil and gas exploration teams, and environmental project managers. Satellite Imaging Corporation provides high-resolution for nearly any location on earth, not just major cities.

Using Google Earth to Preview Your Custom Satellite Photograph

In the satellite imagery field, we call it the “Area of Interest.” That’s really just shorthand for the location you want to be photographed. It might be an existing neighborhood, down to the exact street address. It might be a corporate campus or vacant lot. It might be a location in the middle of nowhere, perhaps soon to be an oil field, residential development, or protected wetland.

Regardless of the location, satellite imagery is shot based on Latitude and Longitude coordinates, not by street address. Google Earth is a great help in determining the exact coordinates that you need for your image.

The following notes explain how to utilize Google Earth to determine the exact coordinate boundaries of your “Area of Interest.” In the sample image below, we’ve used the address of Apple Computer’s campus in Cupertino, CA – 1 Infinite Loop.