MS Terraserver - better than ever.

[Tim The Enchanter]

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/address.aspx

Now you can enter an adress and it will find it for you, and you can see an aerial (satellite?) pic, and topographic maps. Pretty cool. Found my house, but the newish homes just to the south are mia. Oh, the pic is from 1994.

I used it today to help try and estimate how much of some comps land was usable and how much was mountainside just today. Beats trying to guess from the street alone. Well, I can see an steep upslope behind it, but how far behind? Or asking the realitor, how much of that 2.4 acres was reasonably flat. "I dunno, I can't visualize." Never heard of a measuring tape I guess. :? C'mon, I'm looking at land values well over $1M per acre! Flat is usable, cliff just helps provide privacy from neighbors. Now if I could find a way to save those flash and surround views of properties off the MLS for my files. [/End Rant]. :lol:

 

[Head Surfer]

You can also enter an address in http://mapquest.com and when it gives you a map you can click the "aerial photo" tab. The aerial photos are in color and you can zoom in and out. Be sure to click "big photo" to get a larger view.

 

[Rick Kulman]

Aerials don't give you the depth. Try using Delorme's 3D Turbo Quad program. These are the topo maps that can be viewed in 360 degree format and with profile views. Map intervals are 20 feet. Profiles are to the foot. You can plot your subject on the maps and get a good handle on elevations.

We just used it on a large land appraisal and put in tops of the comps in the report as well.

We tried using aerials but couldnt get the depth perception.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

tried using aerials but couldnt get the depth perception.

Hey, just get two overlapping aerials and include a little set of stereoscopic glasses in your report...now that would impress 'em.

Actually I used to belong to the Amer. Soc. of Photogrammertric Engineers and looked at so much Aerial photography I got to where I could lay down two photos and using my hand to divide my eyes, could see in stereo without stereo lens. Strain on your eyes though.