Google Earth Pro
Google Earth is a geospatial tool that provides detailed, global satellite imagery, maps, 3D terrain models, and the ability to explore geographic data interactively.
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Google Earth is a geospatial tool that provides detailed, global satellite imagery, maps, 3D terrain models, and the ability to explore geographic data interactively.
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Google Earth is a comprehensive geographic and spatial information tool suite. It allows users to explore a 3D representation of the earth, leveraging detailed imagery, geographic data, and various layers to display geographical phenomena, landmarks, and more. It offers open source researchers satellite imagery in relatively high resolution from various regions around the world, including historical imagery.
Google Earth Web: A browser-based version that allows quick access without the need for software installation. Ideal for collaboration, casual exploration and educational purposes.
Google Earth Mobile: Offers the core functionalities of Google Earth optimized for mobile devices, enabling users to explore geographic data on-the-go.
Google Earth Pro Desktop: The most powerful version offering advanced features (historical imagery, sunlight angle, other planets, video tour recording) for professional users. It is recommended for open source researchers to use this version.
The example below shows a search for Amsterdam filtering layers to display only photo layers on Google Earth Pro Desktop:
Geolocation: Open source researchers use the satellite imagery provided by Google Earth Pro to geolocate photos and videos.
Investigative Reporting: Research and investigate environmental changes, urban development, and other phenomena that are best observed from an aerial or geographic perspective.
Historical Analysis: Compare historical satellite images to present-day images to document changes in the environment, urbanization, and other significant transformations.
Educational Content: Produce educational material that explains geographical, political, and social issues in a visually engaging format.
Web: any modern web browser and a Google account with an email address.
Mobile: iOS and Android and a Google account with an email address.
Desktop: Windows, macOS or Linux.
While Google Earth is a powerful tool for geographical information systems, it does have some limitations that researchers should consider:
Availability of up to date satellite imagery: While Google Earth Pro offers satellite imagery for free, it is not always very recent and it depends on the location how often it is updated. Open source researchers who need both up to date and high resolution imagery will need to use another satellite imagery provider.
Network Dependency: Google Earth requires an internet connection for access to maps and imagery, limiting use in offline settings.
In the context of using remote sensing in online open source investigations, several ethical considerations should be considered:
Privacy Concerns: Remote sensing technologies can capture detailed images from space or high altitude, potentially compromising individual privacy. Researchers must balance the public interest with the rights to privacy.
To effectively use Google Earth Pro, especially for beginners or those looking to refine their skills, the following resources are highly recommended:
Bellingcat Volunteer Team/Unassigned
Data Accuracy and Currency: Data in Google Earth may not always be up to date, leading to potential discrepancies with current conditions. Users should verify important information through other sources. For more information see
Resolution and Detail: Image resolution varies across different regions, with some areas having detailed imagery and others being less clear. See .
3D Modeling: While Google Earth provides 3D models of some cities, not all geographical areas have detailed 3D representations. See .
Data Privacy: There are concerns regarding the exposure of sensitive locations, potentially compromising privacy and security so some areas are blurred out on Google Eart Pro. See Wikipedia's .
Performance: High-quality imagery and 3D models can be resource-intensive, possibly affecting performance on less powerful computers or devices. Too many My Places locations can for instance cause laggy performance. For more information see
Accuracy and Misinterpretation: Ensuring the accurate representation of data is critical. Misinterpretation of remote sensing data can lead to misinformation. For more information on how Google tries to ensure accuracy see and .
: installing, navigating, marking places, using KMLs, etc.
: official Google Earth Pro help.
: official Google Earth help.
Britt, K., McGee, J. and Campbell, J. (2024) An Introduction to Google Earth Pro, archive.is. Available at: (Accessed: 4 April 2024).
Hanham, M. (2015) How Tall is That Gantry?, bellingcat. Available at: (Accessed: 4 April 2024).
Katz, G. (2023) Measuring Up: How to Calculate the Size of Objects in Open Source Material, bellingcat. Available at: (Accessed: 4 April 2024).
Strick, B. (2019) How To Use Google Earth’s Three Dimensional View: Feat. Syria, Yemen, Sudan, bellingcat. Available at: (Accessed: 4 April 2024).
Google Earth Basics Tutorial (2016). Available at: (Accessed: 4 April 2024).
Google Earth Pro - A Complete Beginner’s Guide (2021). Available at: (Accessed: 4 April 2024).
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