5 Cool Things You Can Do With Bing Maps Aerial View

Exploring the Landscape of Online Mapping Services

Several online mapping platforms currently dominate the digital world. Among the most prominent are Google Maps, Mapquest, and Bing Maps. At MUO, Google Maps is frequently favored for its comprehensive features.

Mapquest also holds a valuable position, particularly noted for its capability to geotag blog posts. This functionality adds a unique dimension to content creation.

A Closer Look at Bing Maps

Despite often being overlooked, Bing Maps presents a compelling alternative. Some users may avoid it due to its association with Microsoft.

However, previous articles on MUO, such as Evan’s guide to car trip planning and Steven’s exploration of Bing’s map applications, demonstrate the platform’s substantial capabilities.

Aerial Views and Satellite Imagery

A particularly appealing aspect of online maps is the overhead perspective, achieved through satellite imagery and aerial or street-level photography. Previously, Google Maps was widely considered the leader in this area.

Initial exploration of Bing Maps’ aerial view quickly reveals that it poses a significant challenge to Google’s dominance. The quality and detail are remarkably competitive.

It appears Google may soon encounter strong competition in providing high-resolution aerial mapping experiences.

Exploring Detailed Aerial Views with Bing Maps

Upon initially experimenting with a significant zoom level on Bing Maps’ “Bird’s Eye” view, I was immediately struck by the superior quality and detail in comparison to Google Maps. Accessing Bing Maps aerial view is straightforward; simply navigate to Bing Maps and select “Bird’s eye” from the drop-down menu located near the zoom controls. Ensure that “show angled view” is also activated.

Selecting this option transforms the map to an overhead perspective. Initially, this perspective doesn’t appear drastically different from those offered by Google or Mapquest. However, the distinctions become noticeable as you repeatedly click the "+" zoom button.

As you zoom further in using Bing Maps aerial view, the increased level of detail becomes readily apparent. This enhanced imagery is believed to be generated through a process known as "photogrammetry." According to the Microsoft News Center, photogrammetry involves deriving geometric properties from original satellite photographs to create 3D map images.

Consider this angled, three-dimensional view of the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, Massachusetts. The resulting view clearly depicts the building, vehicles, and surrounding terrain from a unique perspective.

For comparison, here’s the same location as it appears in Google Maps aerial view.

The greater detail visible in the angled overhead view from Bing Maps is demonstrably more impressive. Furthermore, enabling the Photosynth feature allows users to embark on virtual 3D tours of certain buildings that have been contributed to the map by other users.

Alternative Bing Maps Aerial View Applications

Beyond standard aerial perspectives, remember to explore traffic cameras, which can be activated within the web application interface.

This functionality displays miniature camera icons across the map. Simply position your cursor over an icon to view the most recent image captured by that particular traffic camera. It’s a useful method for quickly assessing current weather or traffic conditions at a specific location.

Another valuable aerial feature is activated by selecting the "traffic" icon, represented by traffic lights. This highlights roadways with color-coding indicating traffic density. When a traffic issue arises, a warning symbol appears on the map; hovering over it reveals details about the incident and its impact.

Bing aerial view also incorporates user-submitted "places," accessible by clicking the "Places" icon (the star) and then selecting the "Explore" link in the subsequent window. This reveals user-generated points of interest, both visually on the map and with detailed descriptions in the adjacent panel.

This feature proves particularly helpful when planning travel. The aerial perspective allows visualization of landmarks and terrain surrounding desired destinations. User-submitted locations are marked with numbered icons, enabling easy itinerary planning through a simple click and review of existing commentary.

Utilizing Bing Maps for route guidance offers another benefit from Aerial view, as you can enable "walking directions" to visualize the buildings and landmarks you will encounter along your pedestrian route.

Furthermore, zooming into the aerial view to street level often reveals remarkably clear images, contingent on the location. The image provided showcases a street-level view of Boston Common.

In conclusion, while it may not entirely dominate the overhead mapping landscape, the quality of Bing Maps has demonstrably improved since its earlier iterations. If you haven’t explored it recently, revisiting Bing’s aerial maps is highly recommended; you might be favorably impressed.

Have you previously utilized Bing Maps’ aerial view functionality? What are your impressions? Please share your opinions and experiences in the comments section below.