Google Earth -- Roswell, New Mexico - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 01-21-2007, 06:34 AM

I don't get it. Google Earth has a really low resolution of Roswell but much higher resolution of Ruidoso, NM a small town about 60 miles west. Population: Roswell, 45 K, Rusidoso, 12 K. The former Walker Air Force Base, about 10 miles south, is also shown in high resolution but then scrolling north, you hit major murk at the city line.

It's the one place I'd most like to check out (grew up there, haven't been back since '67) but I don't imagine Google is interested in hearing my complaint.

Oliverp · #2 01-21-2007, 09:37 AM

Don't suppose it will be any better, but have you tried MSN Mappoint? You can find it at mappoint.msn.com

Oliver

Brian Carlton · #3 01-21-2007, 09:39 AM

You can bet some money that the administration was involved in that deal. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to find no resolution on many of the government installations throughout the US. Check out some of the large air force bases. Bet you'll never see any aircraft...........

Botnst · #4 01-21-2007, 11:09 AM

By law since the 1930's (IIRC) the airspace over most major military installations has been strictly controlled -- lots of pilots out there can tell you better than me. As satellites came on line spooks in government realized it exposed our assets to analysis by unfriendly powers. So they got together with politicians and made new laws restricting imaging of assets. Ever seen a fence around an installation that advised, "No Photos" (or something like that)? Think 3-d.

Now what is really screwy about that to me is this: other nations have imaging satellites. At one time you could buy extremely high resolution images of any of our facilities from the Russians. Possibly you still can, I don't know. You can buy fairly high resolution SPOT imagery from the EU of those facilities but I believe it is still impossible to buy the same geographical coverage from domestic agencies and commercial outfits. Kind of silly, huh?

Finally, it really doesn't matter. Satellites travel a mathematically predictable orbit. Spooks know exactly when satellites are obtaining coverage and they plan activities accordingly.

So why do the spooks care? Because secrecy is maintained by keeping outsiders guessing more than anything else. The more folks have to guess about stuff, the better maintained the secret.

B

OMEGAMAN · #5 01-21-2007, 11:36 AM

You can see Area 51 on google earth. There are planes on the tarmac also. Last time I tried to find my house the resolution was low over Grand Junction but 30 miles away in the dessert of Utah it has high resolution. I think it's just a matter of time before it gets an update.

Hatterasguy · #6 01-21-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

You can bet some money that the administration was involved in that deal. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to find no resolution on many of the government installations throughout the US. Check out some of the large air force bases. Bet you'll never see any aircraft...........

Good, people should at least have to work a bit to get sensitive info.

kerry · #7 01-21-2007, 01:58 PM

When I first looked at Google Earth a few years ago, there was a really sharp image of downtown Edinburgh. Now the center of the city is blurred. ???

cmac2012 · #8 01-21-2007, 02:02 PM

I think the former Walker Air Force facility is now used either for mothball storage or maintenance of aircraft -- many can be seen on the tarmac. Then going north, the resolution goes to hell at roughly the city limits. I don't think security concerns would explain it but who knows?

Could be it'll improve before long. I'm going to try to e-mail google about it. I just hope they don't send reps to my door asking my assistance in making their product better.

#9 01-21-2007, 02:23 PM

Tinker AFB is clear with planes on the tarmac.

cmac2012 · #10 01-21-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliverp

Don't suppose it will be any better, but have you tried MSN Mappoint? You can find it at mappoint.msn.com

Nah, couldn't get it to work any better but thanks anyway.

Botnst · #11 01-21-2007, 04:06 PM

My in-laws live in a very low density part of the state. Their area is low-res. My Mom lives in a small town, her town is hi-res. The key to it is going to be money -- how can Google make money off the images? Probably by not screwing with client governments and by having the highest res and most frequent updates in high density, high income areas. Just a guess.

B

Botnst · #12 01-21-2007, 04:07 PM

BTW, how did Ruidoso get it's name? Doesn't that translate to, "Noisy"? It's a loud desert out there?

B

Palangi · #13 01-21-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I think the former Walker Air Force facility is now used either for mothball storage or maintenance of aircraft -- many can be seen on the tarmac.

One of those airfields out there is a training location for Homeland Security. I don't recall if it is Roswell or Artesia.

Emmerich · #14 01-21-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

You can bet some money that the administration was involved in that deal. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to find no resolution on many of the government installations throughout the US. Check out some of the large air force bases. Bet you'll never see any aircraft...........

I bet not. Government security issues have been around a lot longer than any of us (See Bot reply), so the conspiracies can be left at home....