NASA World Wind

[P95Carry]

OK folks - this is only for broadband type users.  

I downloaded this today (185Mb) - from link below. On install it expands to near 600Mb and requires a sizeable cache so - allow a Gig or two spare for that.

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/download.html

I am starting to explore it and it so far seems pretty incredible.  It is very 3D - needs accelerated graphics and reasonable CPU speed.  Also DirectX latest and .NET.

You start with an earth globe but when you want to go look somewhere - punch in a place name and it zooms in - then downloads map stuff to suit.  I think I am scratching the surface right now.

Anyone interested go look - it seems to have an interesting potential.

[jefnvk]

Got an E-Mail from a friend about that a few days ago.  Downloaded it then.  It is an awesome program.  You can do USGS Topo layovers and USGS photo survey layovers of the US, and satellite layovers of the entire world.

Highly reccomended.

Also, you can tilt down and get a 3D altitude view of an area.

[J.J.]

Great program!  I have had it for a couple of months now. My suggestion is to clear out the cache files every now and agian. That program will end up useing ALOT of space if your not careful.

[jefnvk]

In the US part of the globe, I think the USGS photos go to 1m resolution, higher if you are in an urban center.  Outside, its good enough to make out roads and such, but no real detail.

EDIT: Some Examples, showing the Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Hall in Detroit:

Urban view, only available over big US cities


Same shot, only using the USGS survey photos, available for anywhere in teh country:


Same area, but zoomed out so it wasn't a big blob.  Satellite photo, this resolution is available for anywhere in the world:

[K Frame]

I'm surprised at you people downloading this to your computers.

Don't you know it's just a way for the government to spy on everthing you do?

[Azrael256]

This really is pretty sweet software.  It'll be nice when the infrastructure supports it fully, but for now, it's a good demonstration of a really neat idea.

The only problem I noticed was that it sucked down all of my CPU.  Anybody else notice that?

[P95Carry]

Yep - very CPU intensive - tho I could still use browser etc ... just a greedy app - guess it's all the graphic load in part, even with a good graphics card - direct-X will be working overtime too.

I look forward to developments over time.