Thailand Satellite Images from Google Maps

[Oran]

Check out Google Maps' Satellite view of Thailand. In some locations, Bangkok for example, there are high resolution images available. They have the same coverage as Keyhole, but for free!

Bangkok coverage is not complete though there are other spots in Thailand that are covered.

I downloaded Google's Keyhole trial to find satellite images for Thailand last week. Today I used Google Maps to look for directions. Having just tried Keyhole, I got curious about the satellite feature and started dragging my way across the sea to Europe and then Asia, and I found it.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=13.73...7832&t=k&hl=en
an eastbound BTS train leaving Phrom Phong station

[ncr]

Yeah, apparently the same coverage as Keyhole, but no 3-D view feature. But it's still better than Terraserver/GlobeExplorer, where the best resolution of the free content is limited to 8 or 15m. On the other hand, the latter displays resolution, scale, acquisition date, satellite information and, most important, geographic coordinates - things that the (still) very basic Google Map Tool is sorely lacking.

Please note: Googlemap shows "Imagery (c)2005 Digitalglobe" - while the high-res images are indeed QuickBird data, the rest is not, and they are not up-to-date either, definitely not from 2005.

For the case of the Bangkok image linked by Oran, I can tell you it is from November 2002 - my company has exactly the same data.

Furthermore, it has to be noted that what is available is not the full resolution of QuickBird (60cm). It is about half; seems to be resampled/restricted to 1m at the highest zoom level.

Anyway, here are some more places of interest:

Utapao Airport (complete with parked military aircraft).

Construction of new port facilities west of Rayong.

Muang Boran - zoomed in; the miniature Khao Phra Wiharn in the lower right.

Huaykhwang Subway Depot.

Artnarong-Raminthra and Sirat (Rama IX) Expressway Interchange.

Mo Chit Bus Terminal.

The "Amazing Field of Pipes" must be somewhere around here (south of Kaset-Nawamin Road), but I could not pinpoint the exact location.... (Compare this page and this thread if you don't know what I'm talking about.)

And finally: Wat Phra Thammakai - the spaceship stupa in the center, giant assembly hall at the bottom. (Some information in this thread, starting from post #17.)

Happy exploring!

[ncr]

1. HIGH-RESOLUTION

Talking about colours..... Khlong Phrakhanong and Chao Phraya River. Water pollution anyone? Here you are.... (Well, could also be that the khlong is free of sediment and therefore appears black - but we all know it ought to be polluted.)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Sattahip Naval Base (with rail connection - but just where are those ships?)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...3343&t=k&hl=en
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Also: interesting fishing piers?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en

Also: interesting islands (military area?) to the south - what is that bare area?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Nakhon Sawan - is this a Chinese Cemetery?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Maha Sarakham
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Kalasin
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Khorat Airport
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Sukhothai Historical Park - with nice paddy pattern around
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Chiang Mai
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en

Chiang Mai Airport
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...3343&t=k&hl=en

Chiang Mai Railway Station
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Is this the touristy Hmong Village west of Doi Suthep? I am inclined to think so.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Chachoengsao Station and branch-off to Prachin Buri/Aranyaprathet
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en

Interesting building patterns to the west of Chachoengsao
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en

Siam City Park (Spot the airplane?)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Safari World
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...1672&t=k&hl=en
(actually the structure at the top is a golf course; the park only occupies the lower half)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en

Typical strip-shape landuse and interesting pattern of suburban housing (left), Rangsit-Lam Lukka Road
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en
Perpendicular Strips
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en

Dream World (center) - again, a very narrow plot
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en
Space Mountain
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

What's the purpose of these reservoirs in Pathum Thani? Irrigation? Industrial water use?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...3343&t=k&hl=en
Could it be that this is Shinawatra University, with the quirky buildings?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

(Unfinished) Southern Outer Ring Road
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...7918&t=k&hl=en

Weird industrial-residential cluster somewhere around Bang Kunthian
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...5836&t=k&hl=en

2. LOW-RESOLUTION (15m)

Laos: the charred Xiengkhouang plateau (Plain of Jars - heavily bombed during the Vietnam War)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...3372&t=k&hl=en

Vientiane and Wattay Airport
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...6686&t=k&hl=en

Friendship Bridge at Nongkhai
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...6686&t=k&hl=en

Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Mukdahan - Savannakhet (connecting roads under construction can be seen)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...6686&t=k&hl=en

Cambodia: Angkor / Tonle Sap in the Rainy Season
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...3372&t=k&hl=en

Phnom Penh, Pochentong Airport at the lower left
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rang...6686&t=k&hl=en

[Oran]

Originally Posted by ncr

Could it be that this is Shinawatra University, with the quirky buildings?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=ran...07918&t=k&hl=en

If you scroll north a bit you may notice the oddly shaped building that looks like interconnected cubes on their sides. That is the National Science Museum (link: http://www.nsm.or.th/modules.php?name=m_exhibition) which features many interactive exhibits making it popular for school field trips (along with a side trip to Dream World).

Originally Posted by ncr

Construction of new port facilities west of Rayong.

In late 2003 I had a field trip of Glow's (an energy company, see: http://www.glow.co.th) and EGAT's power plants in the Rayong area. Part of the new land being filled in should be a new power plant operated by GLOW.

New Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway rest area near Bang Pa Kong
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=13.53...1329&t=k&hl=en

Up to the north in Chonburi is the unopened Highway 7 Intersection outside Pattaya featured on the 2Bangkok.com homepage.
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=12.96...8659&t=k&hl=en

Tinasulanond Bridge across Songkhla Lake
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=7.1...0626&t=k&hl=en

Pa Sak Jolasit Dam and the railway across the lake
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=14....&z=5&t=k&hl=en

[ncr]

Originally Posted by Oran

In late 2003 I had a field trip of Glow's and EGAT's power plants in the Rayong area. Part of the new land being filled in should be a new power plant operated by GLOW.

What is GLOW?

BTW, your link for "New Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway rest area near Bang Pa Kong" is wrong - it points to the Pasak Chonlasit image.

[Oran]

Glow is an energy company with power plants and industrial water and steam production facilities in Rayong's industrial park. more info: http://www.glow.co.th

The wrong link is now fixed, sorry about that.

[ncr]

Originally Posted by Oran

New Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway rest area near Bang Pa Kong
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=13.53...1329&t=k&hl=en

Next to it is a really interesting oxbow structure marked by dense vegetation and with an old watercourse that peters out in a clockwise direction.

[Oran]

Apparently keyhole.com is now redirected to earth.google.com. Google launched Google Earth to replace Keyhole. There is a free version available that allows you to zoom to anywhere in the world in 3D and improved location/direction search. I just downloaded it and trying it out. Wonder if this has anything to do with the availability of satellite images on Google Maps.

[ncr]

Originally Posted by Oran

If you scroll north a bit you may notice the oddly shaped building that looks like interconnected cubes on their sides. That is the National Science Museum (link: http://www.nsm.or.th/modules.php?name=m_exhibition) which features many interactive exhibits making it popular for school field trips (along with a side trip to Dream World).

Thanks for the hint, interesting. And where are the National Archives that Khun Wisarut is always crawling? Thought they are also somewhere in Pathum Thani?

[ncr]

Phayao
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bang...0088&t=k&hl=en

Golden Triangle
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bang...0704&t=k&hl=en
(yes, it's not that obvious - you may need to zoom in:)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bang...0176&t=k&hl=en

[mryoz]

The Mall Bangkapi
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=The%20...=Bangkok&hl=en

Ramkhamhaeng Univ. and Rajamangkala Stadium
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=The+Ma...=Bangkok&hl=en

[sanseric]

Lopburi, a central province adjacent to Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasrima and Petchaboon.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lopbur...5336&t=k&hl=en

Situated near geographically center of the country, the
military chose Lopburi and built large facilities and
installations such as this one just north of the city.

The new part of the city was actually planned from an empty
land. Two circles linked by a board street lead the traffic out of
the old city. The circle in the west, Sa Kaew is a commercial
and entertainment center of the new city. Theaters, zoo and
bus terminal were build around the circus.
The government circle houses the city hall and other
government services including the governer resident. Along the Phaholyothin road linking the two circles,
there are athelic center, schools, golf course and commercial buildings. Other secondary roads also link
the two circles together and main roads to other city
radiate from here.

[sanseric]

Designed on a triangular themes. Almost all the buildings
do not have a 90 degree corner.
SCB Park

[sanseric]

I don't know the exact name of the park.
Anyone who knows please fill us in on this.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=13.80...1334&t=k&hl=en

Can you spot the Queen's two letter initials?

[ncr]

Originally Posted by sanseric

The new part of the city was actually planned from an empty land. Two circles linked by a broad street lead the traffic out of the old city. [...]

Thanks for the interesting information. When was that new part of the city planned and built? And which route did the short-lived Lopburi Tramway ply (see here - do a search for "Lopburi" on the page - and also the timeline of Thai Railways, 1955-62)?

"After many parts of Bangkok Tram were removed, the removed trams were reinstalled in Lopburi. Actually, Lopburi was to have a tram system since the day the leader (Field Marshall Plaek Phiboonsonggram) wanted to rebuild Lopburi as a new model city in 1938, but the leader need to wait until they removed the Lak Muang-Thanontok line to install in Lopburi in 1955. The Lopburi tram ran from Tha Hin Flea Market to the gate of King Ananda Mahidol Army Hospital via Phra Karn Shrine."

Did its route touch the two circles? I know the Phra Karn Shrine (here, also in some sort of circle), but not the other locations mentioned.