India's Alternative to Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth
Now we have an alternative to Google Earth and Microsoft Virtual Earth, the name is ISRO's Bhuvan.The meaning of Bhuvan means Earth.Bhuvan allows users to explore a Virtual world in a 3-Dimensional environment.ISRO released beta version of this tool on August 13,2009 and it got a good response with over 1,56,000 downloads nearly.Bhuvan uses images shoot from ISRO's seven remote sensing satellites. These satellites can capture images of objects to form a 3-Dimensional map of the world. The images of Bhuvan are sharper than Google Earth as ISRO's Bhuvan uses 10 meter resolution images as against Google's 200 meter resolution. But from Bhuvan users will not be able download images.Google Earth uses Single layer information where as Bhuvan uses Multi-layer information.Google Earth upgrades images for every 4 years where as Bhuvan upgrades every year. There is no alternative in viewing images in Google Earth where as you can view images with respect to dates on Bhuvan.Google uses international satellites whereas Bhuvan uses Indias satellites. Main use of Bhuvan will be india specific. Using this we can able to produce local information and the information with this tool can be helpful to address problems like infrastructure development, floods,education and more. The prototype of Bhuvan will be available by this November and official launch will be in March next year. Below is the preview of Bhuvan.
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