59 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.

[Stadtplan]

Immersive View coming to Google Maps:

 

https://blog.google/...pdates-io-2022/

 

"Immersive view lets you explore and understand the vibe of a place before you go"

[Austin55]

Google Earth's images are still fairly out of date (last shots were 6/15/22 ) but TAD has 2023 imagery on the interactive map.

 

Hard to tell when exactly but looks quite recent. There is either set up or tear down for the FWSSR going on, so Jan or Feb at the latest. There are a lot of interesting things to see. Deco 969 is already at the pool level. You can clearly see the underground tanks at the new QT downtown.

[elpingüino]

Google Earth's images are still fairly out of date (last shots were 6/15/22 ) but TAD has 2023 imagery on the interactive map.
 

Do Google Earth and Google Maps have different satellite imagery? I estimate that Google Maps' satellite layer is still from late 2019 or early 2020.

When I open Google Maps, TCU Hyatt Place and the zoo's Elephant Springs are under construction, construction has barely started for Burnett Lofts and Waterside's Residence Inn, and ground hasn't been cleared for Deco 969 or the Crowley ISD stadium on Hemphill.

[John T Roberts]

Austin, I am guessing that the TAD aerials were taken in Mid-January.  They are the latest that I have found online.

[Austin55]

Some places in the Google Earth desktop app updated as recently as last month. One of the more interesting things I've found is a fire scar from the wildfire near Rockwood Golf Course. 

 

[Stadtplan]

[Austin55]

Google Maps has new 3d imagery now. Appears to have been taken this last winter. Deco 969 is farily far along.

[roverone]

Google Maps has new 3d imagery now. Appears to have been taken this last winter. Deco 969 is farily far along.

 

Here is what is fascinatingly different about this time: it seems as though they have worked out how to incorporate the imagery of Street View into the 3D view.

 

If you see a vehicle parked in front of a residence in 2D or 3D view, and zoom in, it smoothly transitions into a street view with that vehicle, even though there is zero chance that all of the imagery was collected at the same time.

 

It has always been disconcerting that they could be off by many years between the 3 view types -- it seems as though they have figured a way to pull of the data together into a single fused presentation.

 

I don't know what happens when the property had major changes over time.

 

EDIT:  and then as soon as I writ that, I see it is not the case everywhere

[george84]

A few observations. I have not yet had the chance to look at this new update, but I have noticed that Fort Worth always gets satellite 3D view in winter when the trees are bare and everything is brown. Dallas and Houston both currently have green trees in theirs. Both look like they were also from 2022. I wish Fort Worth would get updated in the spring sometime. I am glad that they are updating more regularly now, seems like about once a year or so. Whats odd is there are some major cities with very outdated imagery. Cleveland for example appears to be from about 2017.

[mmmdan]

The imagery of my house seems to have gone back in time.  It doesn't show the patio we installed in 2020.  Pretty sure the last time I really paid attention to the imagery the patio was there.

[elpingüino]

The imagery of my house seems to have gone back in time.  It doesn't show the patio we installed in 2020.  Pretty sure the last time I really paid attention to the imagery the patio was there.

Same here, for me Google Earth is still showing December 2019 imagery for most of Fort Worth.

[Austin55]

That's interesting. Are you using Google Earth online or the app? 

[John T Roberts]

The aerial at my house is new.  The tree that fell and I had to remove the rest of it, is clearly missing.