TerraServer-USA web site
TerraServer-USA is a free online repository of
public domain aerial imagery and
satellite imagery, formerly known as
Microsoft TerraServer. Though it was online as early as
December 1997, the site was formally unveiled
June 24, 1998 as part of an 18-month agreement between
Microsoft,
Compaq, and
Aerial Images of
Raleigh, North Carolina. Interestingly it was created as a demonstration system to advertise the scalability of Microsoft's Windows NT Server and
SQL Server, and used images from U.S. Geological Survey and Sovinformsputnik (the Russian Space Agency).
In
January 2000, Microsoft and Aerial Images split their operations, creating two parallel
Terraserver sites. The dualism still causes confusion among web surfers to this day. Microsoft wanted to stick with their free demonstration system, while Aerial Images wanted to press forward and use its marketing rights to Russian satellite imagery. Thus the Microsoft product became known as
Microsoft TerraServer and more recently
TerraServer-USA, while the Aerial Images company remained known simply as
Terraserver.com. Microsoft stuck with
USGS aerial imagery, while Aerial Images hosted the SPIN-2 and OrbImage satellite data. As a result, Microsoft lost virtually all of its foreign imagery.
The TerraServer name is a play on words, with
Terra referring to the
earth or
land and also to the terabytes of images stored on the site.
At present, the site claims to have black and white aerial photographs of approximately 97% of the
United States. In 2000, the USGS launched the new Urban Areas program, which will ultimately take high-resolution color aerial photographs of about 100 major American cities. TerraServer has added Urban Areas data for 40 cities.
See also
External links
*
TerraServer-USA
*
USAPhotoMaps a free Windows program that lets you download large swaths of images, with GPS support