Google Earth - Do NOT Trust what You See ;)

[hoppy]

I have noticed that some people here refer to using google earth to study up on unfamiliar places. I just hope they don't trust everything they see or don't see.

In this case an extra obvious feature has been added which makes me wonder what things might be missing from harbour entrances or wherever

[Palarran]

I use it all the time. But I don't for navigation so no worries in regard to your find. What I like is the connection to panoramio to check out pictures.

[Healer52]

I've also found that the satellite images from the actual Google Earth app, rather than Google Maps satellite images, are better and more current....

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Healer52

I've also found that the satellite images from the actual Google Earth app, rather than Google Maps satellite images, are better and more current....

I just checked google earth and it has the same problem

[sarafina]

it's not so much that the image has been tampered with, it's that the program stitches together many maps and sometimes they don't match up cleanly and over lap occurs. Here you are seeing a shadow image of one map over the other.

[John A]

Google Earth is over five years outdated for my local area in Vancouver, Washington. The small airport has been closed for years.
The picture of my boat in Trinidad, taken between 2005 and 2007 still looks great!

[sarafina]

lol... well time is a consideration on any map, including as marine chart, stuff does change...

google is still showing the trap that covered our roof 3 or 4 winters ago while we waited for a break in the storms to put on a new roof...

[maxingout]

In areas where I really need maps, I usually don't trust them. Things have a way of shifting around, and local knowledge is frequently important.

I always trust my eyes, usually trust my depth finder, and when I am not sure about what's going on, I go very slow with both engines running.

I always remember Captain Cook making his discovery of Endeavor Reef out on the Great Barrier Reef.

When you are on a voyage of discovery, it's best to not discover reefs.

I don't want any reefs named after Exit Only.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by maxingout

I don't want any reefs named after Exit Only.

Actually thats a great name for a reef..

[rebel heart]

There are a couple of docks that have been built over the last couple of years; google earth (and google maps, and bing maps) don't show them. Sharp lookout > laptops.

[SabreKai]

I find google earth to be good for giving you a general lay of the land, but of course we are interested in the water. They are still showing my house as a pasture and I have already lived there 4.5 years and moved on. Ditto the photo of our club still shows my old Grampian up on the trailer, which I sold in 2006 and it went to Brighton.

I suppose if you were going into a place in an emergency with no chart, it would be better than having nothing.

Sabre

[brak]

Google earth/maps uses the same satellite data they bought from a few companies a number of years ago. This data is not "live" and they can't really update it all the time - the cost would be too prohibitive.

In that sense, it is always a good idea to consider the data for what it is - general guidance. Same really applies to charts, although official NOAA charts come with frequent updates that are supposed to keep them current, and there is explicit statement as to how current the chart is. I.e. it still may be based on a 40 year old survey, but at least it admits of doing so.

[Pete7]

Pah, don't know what you lot are all on about, rocks don't move, you should know that well apart from those spooky ones in your deserts.

I think Google Earth is great for exploring new locations but not to navigate by. Makes me wonder if the likes of Garmins Vision 2 charts will be updated egularly when land side features change or just they just update the wet bits.

Pete

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Pah, don't know what you lot are all on about, rocks don't move, you should know that well apart from those spooky ones in your deserts.

Last week was using a chart dated 1962 (some old fart had wiped his waypoints ). As you say, the rocks ain't moved - even if not all were ever exactly where the charts says they are

But I am sure the little man who lives inside a chartplotter knows more

[barnakiel]

Well it is not a charting program but a nice reference when a chart is not available, too old or simply to visualise the chart info.

b.