36 replies to this topic

[cbellomy]

I just noticed that the satellite imagery for FW at maps.google.com is now up-to-date. It's now possible to see things like the construction of TCC, all the development out on 7th, and all the changes on Samuels. Just to name a few.

[360texas]

Yes, I too noticed that google updated their maps. Also NTCOG also updated their free maps for business (as long as you put their DFW Maps url on the maps).

[elpingüino]

Google Maps has updated their satellite images of Fort Worth. I don't know how recently this happened, because Maps on my browser defaults to Google Earth mode, and the new maps are only visible when you are in Lite mode and turn off the 45° view. (The four squares icon at bottom right.)

 

Here are some images that show new construction progress. Feel free to add your own. Maybe one of you can do some detective work to narrow down when these pictures were taken (beyond "Map data ©2015").

 

White Settlement/Henderson roundabout and artwork for Panther Island

Eyeworks building at Seventh/University

Clearfork: Construction on The Kelton apartments, site cleared for Smith & Nephew

Walsh Ranch

[Austin55]

I believe they are from September. I'll have to update this post. 

[Dylan]

I'm too busy using Bing maps to notice changes on Google maps.

 

I'm still mad at Google for completely destroying the once awesome product they had!!!

[John T Roberts]

I believe they are from July 14, 2015.

[elpingüino]

Google Maps has updated its satellite images of Fort Worth. They seem to have been taken in fall 2019.

[John T Roberts]

They were updated on Google Earth several weeks ago.

[Austin55]

I noticed today it was Maps acting up, then realized it was new imagery. I wonder if we could date it exactly.

It has to be after Sept 23rd as I found 3 of the DASH buses out running the route. There are big gatherings in front of Livestock Exchange Building and in the Clearfork lawns too. Might narrow it down.

[JBB]

October 27 of last year. I am 99.99% certain on that and I can verify it a few hours.

[elpingüino]

It's either a Saturday, or a Sunday afternoon, because the parking lots at office buildings, schools and churches are empty. It's October or later based on the demolition work to convert Globe Life Park for football.

[JBB]

It's definitely Sunday, October 27 based on an event I can see set up at my work and the way cars are parked.

[John T Roberts]

The Google Earth images have dates on them and it says October 26, 2019; however, I know that is not 100% accurate because that was the date of the opening of the Dickies Arena.  No cars are parked in the lot to the east and there aren't any people in the plaza.  I went back over there, the next day on Sunday to take a few more photographs around it from a distance, and it looks like the parking situation that was present on that day.  Maybe, if I look close I can see my vehicle on the roads around it.  My guess of October 27, 2019 would be very close, if not the exact day.

[JBB]

Looks like the update was only to Earth and the mobile app.  The desktop site still has the old images.

[elpingüino]

The images updated on my desktop several days before the app did. Maybe clearing your browser cache will reveal the new images?

[John T Roberts]

The images have been updated on my desktop and mobile app.

[roverone]

I've noticed in the past that the browser / application might be pulling the image tiles from different sources until it is fully propagated to their content distribution network.  I've seen it be different no different devices, or different connections, or even go from newer to older and back to newer.

[Doohickie]

It's definitely Sunday, October 27 based on an event I can see set up at my work and the way cars are parked.

 

Yep, definitely updated on my desktop.  Previously it showed the electricians trucks that upgraded my wiring when we bought the house in 2018. 

 

Now it shows a semi truck with a trailer full of cars that was parked across from my driveway the weekend of October 25-27.  The driver lives around the block from me and I complained to him, to the city, and to his company that he's not allowed to leave a truck that size parked on a residential street.  I took pictures of the truck and they're dated to that weekend.

[Dylan]

You can tell the images are from a Sunday because TRE park-and-ride lots are empty.

[JBB]

I can see the new images on a desktop in Edge, but not in Chrome.  I've cleared my data going back a week and it still won't show.  I haven't tried on my Chromebook at home, but it's outdated to the point that it won't complete software updates any more.

[Austin55]

You can tell the images are from a Sunday because TRE park-and-ride lots are empty.

Fun game, try and find all the TEXRail trainsets.

[JBB]

1 at T&P, 4 at the maintenance facilty, 1 north of 820 and south of Iron Horse station, 1 north of Iron Horse station and west of Rufe Snow, and 1 in Grapevine just to the east of Brumlow and west of Kimball.

[Austin55]

1 at T&P, 4 at the maintenance facilty, 1 north of 820 and south of Iron Horse station, 1 north of Iron Horse station and west of Rufe Snow, and 1 in Grapevine just to the east of Brumlow and west of Kimball.

 

I think there is also one at DFW. My guess is that one of them got photographed twice and layered in. Or Trinity Metro accidentally  bought an extra train-set. 

[JBB]

You're right.  I quit looking when I got to 8 in Grapevine.  It's entirely possible that more than one was photographed twice since there could have been one indoors at the maintenance facility.  Amtrak is also parked at Central Station just to make sure you're paying attention.

[johnfwd]

With the new virtual reality technology, could a person don the goggles, go on Google maps for the street layouts, and virtually travel from New York to Los Angeles?  Wonder how long it would take?

[Austin55]

With the new virtual reality technology, could a person don the goggles, go on Google maps for the street layouts, and virtually travel from New York to Los Angeles?  Wonder how long it would take?

 

You totally could do this yes. It would be jerky as streetview only takes photos every few feet though. But I've worn VR goggles and looked around tourist landmarks and whatnot. Rather interesting to do. 

[johnfwd]

You're right that it's sluggish going.  Someday maybe Google will correct that and make it smooth traveling.

[Not Sure]

I haven't used Google Earth in some time, but there's a flight simulator included that's a good bit of fun. You can fly a Cessna or an F16 if I remember correctly.

[elpingüino]

The 3D imagery for Fort Worth has been updated on Google Maps. You can see it by selecting the globe icon in the bottom right corner in a desktop browser. It appears to be from December 2019 or January 2020, based on the construction progress of the AC Hotel and the Armed Forces Bowl theme painted on the field at Amon Carter Stadium.

[Doohickie]

I concur.  I can see in my house something that I did in November and it's reflected in the image.

[John T Roberts]

I noticed this a few days ago.

[george84]

At one point it took almost five years for the imagery to be updated, and now I think theyve updated it 3 times in the last 3 years.

[John T Roberts]

They need to keep it up-to-date.

[Doohickie]

They need to keep it up-to-date.

But they also need to provide the option to look back (like with Street View).

[John T Roberts]

That would be nice. 

[elpingüino]

But they also need to provide the option to look back (like with Street View).

I'm not aware of a turn-back-the-clock function for Google's 3-D imagery, but it is available for 2-D satellite photos on Google Earth.

[John T Roberts]

The Google Earth App now has updated satellite photographs of Fort Worth.  The latest image is dated 11-15-2020.