+ The Launch of Google Earth Outreach (via News.com)
Google is working with several non-profits to offer layers of data and imagery about their work accessible using Google Earth. Kudos Google. Important work.

However, at the same time, don’t forget that two other 3D digital globes (both free) are also worth knowing about and using. No database is perfect and ideal for every situation so a quick review of two other 3D digital globes and one source for free aerial imagery is in order.

A) World Wind from NASA
Volunteer effort with help from NASA. Open source technology. New layers/add-ons being added regularly. Here’s a complete list. You can also choose from various databases of imagery (taken at different times) including Virtual Earth content from Microsoft. KML files also work.

Click here to see all of the add-ons available for World Wind. New add-ons are listed here as they become available.

For example, this recent add-on offers info about UN Peacekeeping Missions as well as an add-on for the BrinkX project. What is it?

BrinkX is a cross-globe bicyling expedition for an Australian named Kendon Glass. He has been on this trip for a few years now and is getting ever so much closer to home. This add-on for World Wind charts his progress and his prior points of interest.

Btw, World Wind imagery is also available for:
+ Jupiter
+ Mars
+ Mercury
+ Saturn
+ Sloan Digital Sky Survey
+ Moon
+ Venus

B) Skyline Globe
U.S. imagery only (except for a small portion of the UK). One of our favorite features is the ability to place live traffic cams (for about 20 U.S. metro areas) “on top” of the aerial imagery. Fast download. Registration is free. Make sure to take some of the demo tours available. Flying around Chicago is very cool.

C) Not in a 3D globe format but Seamless.usgs.gov allows any user to download aerial imagery at no charge. Several datsets are available. Several datasets are available. Some global imagery is available.

UPDATE: We’ve posted about a new add-on for World Wind that provides aerial imagery for the complete Tour de France (2007, 2006, and 2005) and links to info about each location here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 and is filed under Databases, Directories, and Guides, Geographic, Resources for Educators, Source File. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.