Bing Maps(formerly Microsoft Virtual Earth) is an online mapping Platform operated by the Bing division of Microsoft Corporation. The platform includes map tiles, map embedding APIs, routing, etc. It uses proprietary datasets, often licensed from third party geodata providers, and therefore its use is subject to copyright restrictions...

Bing Maps is exploring working with OpenStreetMap in a variety of ways.

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Bing Aerial Photos

In November 2010, it was announced that Bing had granted the rights to track their aerial imagery to provide content in OpenStreetMap. Please note that the only legal use of Bing maps is to use an aerial imagery layer as a background to create your own OSM drawing (also known as a "trace"). It is not legal to use any other information from Bing Maps (such as street names, street view, etc.).

For more information, see Bing license.pdf.

Attention. In May 2018, Microsoft updated its general license terms to include specific clauses regarding OpenStreetMap. Specifically, in section 2:

• 2. What rights do I have? The rights you have under this Agreement are limited solely to the use of aerial photographs in the non-commercial online OpenStreetMap maps editor (the “App”). We require that you use access credentials to use the service and require the use of transaction and/or session tracking methods for all uses of the service as described in the applicable SDKs.
• In addition, we grant you the limited right to use street-side imagery provided by the STREETSIDE API in read-only format solely as an additional source of supporting truth in the OpenStreetMap editing environment. You may not use the StreetSide API to retrieve StreetSide images or for any other use.

Some clarification of these terms may be necessary (for example, what exactly is meant by a non-commercial online OSM editor). On at the moment It's best to assume the following:

• Bing images can still be used in typical core OSM editors (iD, Potlatch2 and JOSM) and in mobile editors that remain connected to the internet.
• Active image caching for offline use not allowed
• Street imagery can be used to confirm surveys, but not to extract POIs de novo.
• Bird's eye view images are not available for OSM

Open in editors

• The most commonly used editors (sorted alphabetically):
  • – Opens with bing by default, but you can select "Bing aerial photos" in the layer selector icon on the right
  • JOSM– In the main menu bar of the program, select "Layers" then " Satellite images Bing"
  • Potlatch 2– Opens with bing by default, but you can select "Bing" from the background dropdown. You can also turn off the backlight there.
• Other editors:
  • Merkaartor– Create a new layer using the New → Add New Image Layer menu, and then change the image layer source to Bing using the Layer → Map → Plugins → Bing menu (v0.17 and later).
  • Potlatch 1- unavailable, and probably won't ever be.

Source tag

The age of images can be viewed using the Bing imagery analyzer for OSM (link). By changing the zoom, you can view the age of images taken at each zoom level. See discussion. Currently, Bing's editable OSM images are similar to the ages displayed on their free-as-in-beer map.

See also Bing Maps/Coverage to learn and help document areas of available coverage.

Accuracy

Keep in mind that at lower zooms, Bing's imagery may be misaligned. That is, the alignment is not consistent across the scales; at one zoom you will be aligned, but at another, you will be misaligned. This is different from other image sources, including number Yahoo, which if the offset tends to constantly shift regardless of the scale you use. This applies to different places around the world.

Areas with elevation changes (mountains, hills, bridges) seem more prone to this, suggesting that images were not always taken at an exact 90 degree angle (fixed images are available as a bird's eye view on the Bing map, but are not allowed to be used as a source in OSM). As a result, objects at the same height (ground level in a flat area) can be quite accurate, while objects that are higher (Embankments, bridges, buildings) or lower (cuttings) may be slightly off.

Use GPS tracks, other OSM data you know is aligned, or other aligned images (if available) to align images in the local area.

Accuracy-discussions

• Imagery Offset Database - free database, functional API and JOSM offset correction plugin
• See Talk:Bing for more ground-based testing.
• See the "Bing maps is misplaced" section in the OSM-talk mail list; initial posting item link dated December 7, 2010, or entry thread from Gmane's OSM-talk archive.
• True Offset Process - ideas for building a base of correction offsets
• Use tools like

Bing Maps is a serviceof Microsoft that provides people the chance to view maps of the places they are trying to find. It was launched in 2005 and has since then been updated many times to include new features. Unlike the Google Maps, this map service is not available on mobile platforms like Android and iOS.

Features of Bing Maps

The Bing Maps are extremely feature filled and offer a number of exciting options to the users to play with.

• Number of Street Views

The best feature of Bing Maps is the number of views that you get when trying to find the exact location of a street. You get to choose from a set of five views to see a street. These views are classified as bird’s eye view, aerial view, road view, street side view and 3D view.

• Directional Information

Another of the great features of Bing Maps that sets them apart from others is the wealth of directional information they offer to the users. These maps provide detailed directions to you so that you can easily find your way to your target destination. Directions are available for three different modes of travel which are driving, walking and using the transit system.

• ClearFlow

ClearFlow is a useful little feature offered by Bing Maps that lets you avoid traffic jams with ease. By providing updates of traffic to the drivers, ClearFlow can help them in knowing which roads are open for traffic and which ones are facing congestion. This smart technology is available for 72 cities of the United States at the moment.

Recently Added Features to Bing Maps

Bing Maps have been updated from time to time to add new features. The following are some of the new options that have been added to the service not so long ago.

• Augmented Reality

This is a new feature that has been added by Microsoft to the map service which utilizes real photos of famous stores and businesses located on the streets you are searching for. These pictures create the effect of augmented reality and offer you a dynamic view of all the marquee shops that are present on your destination’s route.

• Traffic Incidents

This is another one of the new features to have been added to the map service by Microsoft. It keeps you informed about the latest happenings taking place on your route, thus, keeping you prepared for any unexpected event.

Advantages You can Gain by Using Bing Maps

There are a number of advantages and benefits that can be availed through the use of Bing Maps.

• You get the chance to find the streets you have not traveled to before with ease.
• You will have a number of views to play with when trying to find the exact whereabouts of a particular street.
• You will have access to detailed information regarding the driving and walking routes of many locations in many cities of the United States.
• With these maps, you get the chance to avoid losing time in traffic jams as they offer you real time updates about the traffic conditions on the roads.

Many users would like to enjoy satellite photos of their native places, to see their house, a nearby river or forest from above, in a word, everything that is commonly called “small Motherland”. A tool for realizing this desire can be satellite mapping services, which provide a unique opportunity to view all required geolocations in detailed graphic mode. After my attempts to look at my house online from a satellite, I found really high-quality services and in this article I will share my experiences.

There is a huge variety of mapping services on the Internet that provide the user with access to high-resolution satellite maps. At the same time, the vast majority of such services use the API from Google Maps, and only a few services (including the domestic Yandex.Maps) can boast of their own cartographic developments that differ from the dominant Google maps in this segment.

At the same time, working with such cards is quite formulaic. You go to one of them, turn on satellite display if necessary, and then enter your address (town, street, house number) into the search bar. After this, the service finds the required location, and you can use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the existing display. If the service for some reason does not find your house, I recommend entering the name of the city (town, village) and street, and then find the right house independently using the mouse.

At the same time, some services allow you not only to see your house from above, but also to walk along the streets hometown, and enjoy the view of the buildings we need up close.

Let's move on to the list of services that will help us see our home from satellite.

Google Maps - look at your home from satellite in real time

The most popular global mapping resource is undoubtedly Google Maps. In addition to maps presented in schematic and satellite form, the service also includes the ability to 360° view the streets of many cities around the world (Street View). Information about street traffic and traffic jams (Google Traffic), a route planner from point A to point B, 3D display of many geographical points, and other useful features.

There are two main options to view your home:

Yandex.Maps - will allow you to see the necessary object in Russia

Another mapping service with which you can enjoy the view of your home is Yandex.Maps. This service is the most popular in Russia, since the level of display of the territory of Russia and the frequency of updating data for the Russian Federation exceeds all existing analogues, including generally accepted maps from Google.

Like the Google Maps service, Yandex.Maps can boast of both standard and satellite display of maps (as well as the “Hybrid” mode, which involves applying various text and schematic markings on a satellite map). In addition, users have access to a street display mode (“Yandex.Panoramas”), a traffic congestion indicator (“Yandex.Traffic”), as well as the crowdsourcing system “People’s Map,” which can be edited by any user.

To view your home using Yandex.Maps, go to the resource, enter your address in the search bar at the top, and press enter. To switch to street view mode, click on the button with binoculars at the bottom of the screen (street panoramas and photographs). And then select one of the streets marked in blue (you will switch to the street view mode at this point, and you will be able to enjoy the color of these places).

Bing.Maps – satellite map from Microsoft

Bing.Maps is an online mapping service from Microsoft, formerly known as Windows Live Maps and MSN Virtual Earth. Its capabilities include satellite mapping, street view, 3D mapping for 60 cities around the world, laying optimal route and other features that are typical for services of this type.

To watch your home using Bing.Maps, go to the specified service, click on “Road” on the right, and select “Hybrid View”. Then enter the address you need into the search bar and view the view that opens.

MapQuest is a popular American mapping service

"MapQuest" (translated as “Card Search”) is a free American mapping service, the second most popular in the United States after Google Maps. The resource boasts a high degree of detail on the streets of many countries around the world, will help you plot a convenient route, inform you about existing traffic, and much more.

To work with it, you need to go to this resource, click on the button with the image of the globe on the right (Satelite), which will allow you to switch to satellite display mode. After that, in the search bar on the left, enter the address you need (preferably in Latin), and enjoy displaying the desired location using the MapQuest service.

MapQuest service is the second most popular in the USA

Conclusion

You can look at your home from satellite using the services I listed in this material. For the territory of Russia, I would recommend the Yandex.Maps service - the level of detail and frequency of updated data inspires us to consider maps from Yandex the best mapping service in the Russian Federation. On a global scale, the Google Maps service is the undisputed leader, so it would be optimal to use the tools of this service to display maps of many countries around the world.

Bing Maps or Bing Maps is a mapping service provided by Microsoft.

Types of Bing cards:

City maps

On Bing Maps, users can find and view topographic maps of many cities around the world. Maps include information about important city sites, such as metro stations, stadiums, hospitals, etc.

You can also view user-created points of interest. For some countries, such as South Africa And South Korea Bing maps provide data for highways and some interstates.

Satellite images

Just like Google Maps, Bing Maps provides the ability to switch from a topographic map to a satellite map in the left control panel, as well as change the image scale. In many areas the maximum resolution is approximately 4.5 pixels per meter. In others, especially in the most remote areas of the world, the resolution is several orders of magnitude less. List of countries for which detailed satellite imagery is currently available: United States, Australia, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom.

Bird's eye view – Bird's eye view

In over 100 cities in the United States, Canada, Japan and over 80 European settlements, Bing maps present aerial panoramas high quality. These images are much more detailed than satellite images from the air, from the rooftops of buildings. Switch to this mode viewing is also carried out using the control panel on the map.

Street panoramas – Streetside

Streetside provides a panoramic view of city streets captured by special cameras mounted on moving vehicles. vehicles. The Streetside project was launched in December 2009 and is constantly expanding its geography.

3D Bing Maps

Bing 3D maps allow the user to see buildings in 3D with the ability to change the angle and scale while viewing the image. To see 3D maps, users must install a special plugin and then select the "3D" function. Currently, approximately 68 cities around the world are viewable in 3D, including most major cities in the United States and several cities in Canada, the United Kingdom and France. It is also possible to use a 3D modeling program called "3DVIA Map Form" to add your own models to 3D map. Partial list of cities represented in 3D on Bing maps:
United Kingdom: Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Gloucester, Liverpool, London, Northampton, Plymouth,
Austria: Vienna
France: Toulouse, Paris, and Vannes
Japan: Tokyo
Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, and Vancouver
USA: Atlanta, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Boston, Buffalo, Cape Coral, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Canton, Decatur, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Jacksonville, Joliet, Kalamazoo, Kansas City, Knoxville, Lansing, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Montgomery, Naperville, Nashville, New Haven, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Saginaw, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Tucson, Tulsa, Washington DC, etc.

You can explore Bing maps in more detail at www.bing.com/maps