Google Earth zooms in for a closer look
Google Earth uses satellite images to enable users to zoom to street level
Wednesday July 25 2007
IMAGES on Google Earth, the search engine's aerial mapping programme, could become a lot more detailed after the company acquired a firm specialising in high-resolution aerial photography.
The technology giant has bought ImageAmerica, a company that uses its own digital photography system to capture ground level details as small as six inches.
The company also operates its own aircraft from which it takes the pictures.
Google did not reveal the terms of the deal or how exactly it would use the technology.
"We're excited about how ImageAmerica's technology will contribute to our mapping services down the road," said Stephen Chau of Google.
"Since we're in the research and development phase it may be some time before you see this imagery in Google Maps or Earth."
Google Earth uses satellite images between one and three years old, enabling users to zoom to street level.
Most of its images show at least 15 yards of resolution, although some places, including several cities in the US, are depicted in much higher resolutions. (©Daily Telegraph, London)
