Google Earth Map View Not Satellite: Understanding the Confusion

When you're using Google Earth or Google Maps, it's easy to get confused about what kind of view you're looking at. Sometimes, you might expect to see a satellite image, but instead, you're shown a map view with street names, city names, and other geographic information. This article aims to clarify the differences between the 'Satellite' layer in Google Earth and Google Maps, and how TerraMetrics contributes to these products.

The confusion often arises when users notice that some areas don't have high-resolution satellite imagery, but instead show lower-resolution or even map-like views. In such cases, it's likely due to an error in the imagery data, which could include street names, city names, addresses, or boundaries. TerraMetrics, a provider of geospatial data and imagery, works closely with Google to ensure that the data is accurate and up-to-date.

Google Earth and Google Maps use a combination of mid-resolution and high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery from multiple providers to create the 'Satellite' layer. This layer provides a mix of images, which can sometimes lead to confusion about what kind of view you're looking at.

In addition to providing imagery, TerraMetrics also contributes place names, roadway data, and other datasets that are used to create the final Google Earth and Google Maps products. These datasets come from various providers, including TerraMetrics itself.

The 'TruEarth 15-meter' imagery is a crucial baselayer for both Google Earth and Google Maps. It provides continuous, wide-area coverage of the entire globe, serving as an essential foundation for overlaying other data and imagery. This mid-resolution imagery is used as the base layer, and high-resolution imagery is added on top to provide additional visual details.

When you're using Google Earth or Google Maps, keep in mind that you're often looking at multiple layers of data, including satellite imagery, aerial photography, synthetic ocean imagery, roadways, location names, addresses, and more. These layers come from various data and imagery providers, which can sometimes lead to confusion about what kind of view you're seeing.

In summary, the 'Satellite' layer in Google Earth and Google Maps is a mix of mid-resolution and high-resolution satellite and aerial imagery from multiple providers. TerraMetrics contributes to this layer by providing mid-resolution imagery as the baselayer, as well as place names, roadway data, and other datasets. By understanding how these products are created, you can better appreciate the complexity and richness of the data that makes up your Google Earth or Google Maps experience.

Google earth map view not satellite