Have you ever used Google Earth before? Have you ever wondered how it exactly this awesome feature from Google works? Until today, we weren’t 100% sure, but after doing some research, we’ve got the answers, and they’re actually pretty interesting. So, as most people know, Google Earth is a virtual geographical information program. What we didn’t know until today though is that this program, which was originally called EarthViewer 3D, came from a CIA funded company called Keyhole, Inc. Google purchased Keyhole in 2004, thus acquiring the program that we now know as Google Earth, which maps the entire Earth through a combination of satellite imagery, aerial photography, and a geographic information system (GIS) 3D globe.
Based on 3D maps, Google Earth can replicate 3D versions of buildings and other structures, such as bridges, through information that users provide through SketchUp, which is a 3D modeling software. These 3D structures are incredibly detailed and are from all around the world, not simply places like the United Stated, Canada, or the United Kingdom, but also Germany, Pakistan, and Japan, among others. Additionally, Hamburg was the city to ever be fully shown in 3D on Google Earth back in August 2007.
As far as changes and modification to Google Earth, in 2010, Google Earth updated and enhanced its ocean floor imagery with new images provided by SIO, NOAA, the U.S. Navy, NGA, and GEBCO, although these updates have caused some smaller islands to become invisible while using Google Earth. Also, in 2012, Google stated that it would replace user submitted 3D building with auto-generated 3D mesh ones. This transition started with major cities and has continued.
While a free version of Google Earth is available to all people, certain individuals who would like a more advanced version of the program can update to Google Earth Plus, which costs $399 per year.
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