Google Earth Sidewalks

[BillK]

I saw a post in passing and cannot find it now - that referenced Google Earth and that they had a "sidewalk" view? I got the idea that you could see if there were bike paths or sidewalks in an area?

Does anyone know how to access this in Google Earth or was I just dreaming/wishing I saw it?
Bill

[quade]

I saw a post in passing and cannot find it now - that referenced Google Earth and that they had a "sidewalk" view? I got the idea that you could see if there were bike paths or sidewalks in an area?

Does anyone know how to access this in Google Earth or was I just dreaming/wishing I saw it?
Bill

You're thinking of Google Maps and their "Street View (http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/)" feature. Only available in certain cities right now.

The way they do this is kind of interesting. They have a camera mounted on top of a van tied into a gps. The images are tagged with the gps coordinates and then uploaded to their database. What's interesting as a result of this is if you follow the direction the van was moving, you get to see progressive snapshots in time. So, in consecutive images, you could see a person get into their car, drive for a bit and then eventually get out of their car, if the stars aligned and this all happened in front of the van the Google Maps team was in.

Take a look, at the Street View images going over the Golden Gate Bridge to see what I'm talking about.

[polo_pro]

StreetView is fantastic. I stopped by Electric Tours in SF down by Fisherman's Wharf yesterday on my way home from the polo match. Sure I had an address, but where was I going to park on a busy weekend? Where were they located among all the tiny crowded storefronts?? Where'd they have enough space to do their training???

Well, 5 minutes on Google's StreetView answered all my questions completely, and my trip into the city went as smoth as silk. (And check out the zoom feature...you can actually read their sidewalk signs.) Well, except for those damn one-way streets that kept corralling me off in the wrong direction! Nothing that waving a polo mallet out the window at oncoming traffic didn't fix...8^) 8^) 8^)

ps - For anyone who follows this kind of stuff, a website A9.com use to do this. Unfortunately, they didn't have the deep pockets that Google does. So they ended up going under. It was probably for the best since their UI was really clunky.

[Timezkware Tim]

I like the Zoom feature; like on the Golden Gate Bridge:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/subwayseries/sf1copy.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/subwayseries/sf2copy.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/subwayseries/sf3copy.jpg

sign says:

Bicyclists Slow
Keep Right
Prepare to Stop
Yeild to Pedestrians

Unfortunately, a Segway is a pedestrian in a lot of places, but not on the Golden Gate. Not yet. :)

Tim

[dynk]

I used to like that feature on my iPhone, it was great for viewing where I was going at times. Unfortunately AT&T has no service in my area. Right in the center of U-Mass Lowell, and no service, so I returned the iPhone. I miss it.

[hellphish]

I saw a google maps mashup wherein you could double click anywhere on the map to create a path, and it would tell you the total length of the path you create.

[polo_pro]

I saw a google maps mashup wherein you could double click anywhere on the map to create a path, and it would tell you the total length of the path you create.

Google Earth has this already...it's the Ruler/Measure tool. Just switch from the Line tab to the Path tab.

[bentbiker]

I saw a google maps mashup wherein you could double click anywhere on the map to create a path, and it would tell you the total length of the path you create.
Are you talking about Gmap Pedometer? http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

[quade]

This just in . . .

Google Inc. has been watching you, Southern California. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-google7aug07,0,6978998.story?coll=la-home-center)

[hellphish]

Google Earth has this already...it's the Ruler/Measure tool. Just switch from the Line tab to the Path tab.

I was under the impression that this tool required a subscription to the service in order to use.

Regardless, not all web-enabled devices have adequate 3d acceleration to use Google Earth.

Are you talking about Gmaps Pedometer? http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

That's the one.

[polo_pro]

I was under the impression that this tool required a subscription to the service in order to use.

Regardless, not all web-enabled devices have adequate 3d acceleration to use Google Earth.

Long ago it use to be subscription oriented. That was back when it was Keyhole. I actually subscribed to it for a year or two. But then Google bought them out as they "stalled", and it became Google Earth. Suddenly, I didn't have to pay anymore!

To Google's credit, they've taken the whole concept, added lots of neat features and also made an open API to it. I even used this in my web site documenting the glide from SF -> LA if you look at the last entries!

ps - I'm sure Google Earth has a "pro" version so that businesses can pay to incorporate some really incredible features into their website/offerings.

[BringOnI2]

Here's an interesting tool that plots your course on google maps as you go using GPS:

http://research.nokia.com/research/projects/SportsTracker/index.html

I love the "user of the month" :) http://research.nokia.com/research/projects/SportsTracker/userofthemonth/

[hellphish]

Here's an interesting tool that plots your course on google maps as you go using GPS:

http://research.nokia.com/research/projects/SportsTracker/index.html

I love the "user of the month" :) http://research.nokia.com/research/projects/SportsTracker/userofthemonth/

That is fun.

[quade]

That is fun.

Simultaneously fun and potentially nefarious.

Not that there aren't dozens of other ways of covertly tracking a person's movements (http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/gps-car-tracking-vehicle-logging.html). But at least with this one your kids probably wouldn't get too suspicious if they found it in the car.