Google Maps Warzones

[Mannginger]

I've just been watching some of Vice News' excellent reporting from the Ukraine fighting and thought I'd reacquaint myself with geography.

Interestingly if you check out Google maps of Donetsk, especially the Airport to the NW of the city you can see the utter devastation of the terminal building and even a few trench systems to the South West behind the terminal.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@48.0669665,37.74327...

What I found more interesting is when I then decided to check out Aleppo it seems Google haven't updated their imagery of the city so it still looks intact. (QQ: are they Hinds on the apron at Aleppo?)

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.184565,37.228305...

I wonder what drives their decision making process on what to update and what to leave as is? Either way, the Donetsk map really drives home what's going on in a land that's really not all that far away. Crazy how wars become out of fashion in the media!

[anonymous-user]

Crikey, am I mistaken or are they trenches at the corner of Zitna St in the Donetsk one?

[lufbramatt]

It's interesting if you compare the aerial view of the airport terminal to street view, on street view there's a big shiny new terminal being built, is that before or since the aerial photos were taken?

[Mannginger]

Before I'd say. They seem to have been fighting up until the cease fire recently

[lufbramatt]

Yea reading up I think the street view images are from about 2012, so all the shiny new buildings are the ruins in the aerial view. Pretty shcking.

[308mate]

Who bombed the runway, Stevie Wonder?

[simoid]

I'm thinking it may be difficult to get aerial photography of Syria presently

[Puggit]

The airport at Donetsk was built for the Euros. 2012...

[richtea78]

simoid said:

I'm thinking it may be difficult to get aerial photography of Syria presently

Bloody ISIS, shooting down satellites!

[Mannginger]

richtea78 said:

Bloody ISIS, shooting down satellites!

[Fozziebear]

Google has still got Air Cav painting on Taji runway, apple maps on my phone has it shiny and clean!
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5181205,44.259131,...

[eybic]

This is a photo from inside the terminal : https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@48.0682617,37.74225...

[Mannginger]

Current pic of the Metro Mall bus stop to the South East:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/METRO+Mall/@48...

[Tuvra]

This could be one hugely fascinating thread.....

[xRIEx]

richtea78 said:

simoid said:

I'm thinking it may be difficult to get aerial photography of Syria presently

Bloody ISIS, shooting down satellites!

Yeah, satellites. They're famous for those close-in, high-detail photos - and at such low cost too!

[sidekickdmr]

Yeh I love stuff like this, following this thread with interest!

[768]

Yeah, Google wouldn't use expensive satellites for aerial imagery around the globe...

[xRIEx]

768 said:

Yeah, Google wouldn't use expensive satellites for aerial imagery around the globe...

They do, just not for the close in stuff.

[worsy]

xRIEx said:

768 said:

Yeah, Google wouldn't use expensive satellites for aerial imagery around the globe...

They do, just not for the close in stuff.

http://www.intelligence-airbusds.com/en/147-spot-6...

Unfortunately a software upgrade today means you can't purchase an image. Try again after 6pm tonight.

[durbster]

That's very sad to see the shiny new airport knowing it was obliterated in a few moments.

Seeing it like that somehow makes it easier to imagine it happening closer to home too.