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Google Earth’s Incredible 3D Imagery, Explained

Nat and Friends · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Computer graphics & renderingData visualization & information design

What it is

A short explainer from Nat and Friends on where Google Earth's 3D imagery comes from, how it is stitched together, and how often it is updated. It describes aircraft carrying camera rigs and photogrammetry that turns the photos into 3D models.

Why Hacker News recommends it

People link it as the quick answer to how Google builds 3D maps, and as evidence that planes are still used to capture the imagery.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2022

What HN commenters said

  1. “Fly plane. Zig zag. 5 cameras, then photogrammetry. StreetView, from planes.”

    Shows how planes with cameras produce 3D imagery.

    angch, 2017-12 · Recommendation · in “Google Maps' Moat”

  2. “Here there is a video on how Google creates the 3D for Google Earth”

    Explains how Google creates 3D for Google Earth.

    Hokusai, 2020-08 · Recommendation · in “AI Creates Detailed 3D Renderings from Thousands of Tourist Photos”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: google earth, photogrammetry, aerial imagery, satellite imagery, maps

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