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Maps & Satellites

Street View

Name
Description
Cost
Tool Review and Guide

About Maps and Satellites

A guide to using map and satellite tools.

Free

Baidu Maps

Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview (“Panorama” - zh:百度全景).

Free

Bing Maps

Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information and tools for route planning, location search, and satellite imagery.

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/bing-maps

Carte.ma

Mapping/streetview service for Morocco

Free

Guide not available

http://carte.ma/arrow-up-right

Geograph

Georeferenced images.

Free

Guide not available

http://geograph.org/arrow-up-right

GeoHints

GeoHints is a website that provides information about things like traffic lights, utility poles, bollards etc. for different regions of the world to help geolocate a location.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/geohints

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.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/google-earth-pro

Google Maps

Google Maps provides mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical Street View images.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/google-maps

KartaView

KartaView is a crowdsourced platform for street view imagery.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/kartaview

Mapillary

Mapillary is a crowdsourced street-level imagery platform.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/mapillary

MapSwitcher

Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the map centre, zoom level, & directions of the source map.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/mapswitcher

Photo-Map.RU

Geotagged VK posts.

Free

Guide not available

http://photo-map.ru/arrow-up-right

Tencent Maps

Tencent Maps (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology provided by Chinese company Tencent, offering satellite imagery, street maps, street view (coverage) and historical view perspectives.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/tencent-maps

what3words

A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to a resolution of 3 metres. The identifier is a unique combination of three words, available in 60 languagues.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/what3words

Wikimapia

Wikimapia was a long-running collaborative mapping project that remains partially accessible, providing open source researchers with a unique database of historical, user-generated content.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/wikimapia

Yandex Maps

A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes dynamic imagery, including aerial views). Often the best available data on Russia & surrounding regions.

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/yandex-maps

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/about-maps-and-satellites
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/baidu-maps

Satellite Imagery

Name
Description
Cost
Tool Review and Guide

About Maps and Satellites

A guide to using map and satellite tools.

Free

Baidu Maps

Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview (“Panorama” - zh:百度全景).

Free

Bing Maps

Maps

Name
Description
Cost
Tool Review and Guide

Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information and tools for route planning, location search, and satellite imagery.

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/bing-maps

Copernicus Browser (formerly Sentinel Hub Playground, EO Browser)

A free web-based platform for viewing, analyzing, and downloading satellite imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel missions, with data updated every 5-10 days.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/sentinal-hub-playground

Earth Explorer

"Query and order satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products"

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/earth-explorer

EOS Landviewer

EOS Landviewer provides free services for up to 10 images. More images and analysis are available to journalists at a discount. Contact: Artem Seredyuk artem.seredyuk@eosda.com. EOS is in the process of developing a service provisionally called EOS Media that will be providing free images and analysis of major natural disasters.

Paid

Guide not available

http://eos.com/landviewerarrow-up-right

Google Earth Engine

Google Earth Engine is a platform for environmental monitoring and analysis through satellite imagery and geospatial data.

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/google-earth-engine

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.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/google-earth-pro

Google Maps

Google Maps provides mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical Street View images.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/google-maps

GovMap

GovMap provides an interactive map of Israel, offering users a wide range of data including property boundaries, planning information, and infrastructure details.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/govmap

HERE WeGo

Mapping service that can serve as an alternative to Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Free

Guide not available

https://wego.here.com/arrow-up-right

Index Database

A database of remote sensing indices and satellite imaging sensors

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/index-database

Kakao Map

A mapping application provided by South Korean technology company Kakao Corp.

Free

Guide not available

https://map.kakao.comarrow-up-right

Mapa.sk

Mapping service for Slovakia

Free

Guide not available

http://mapa.sk/arrow-up-right

Mappy

Mapping service (and streetview in a couple of French cities [double check this!])

Free

Guide not available

http://en.mappy.com/arrow-up-right

MapSwitcher

Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the map centre, zoom level, & directions of the source map.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/mapswitcher

NASA Worldview

NASA Worldview is an online tool for visualizing and downloading near real-time satellite imagery and scientific data of Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/nasa-worldview

OrbTrack

Predicts & describes the position & path of >10K satellites in Earth orbit, relative to points on the earth's surface input by the user, for 5 days ahead, + International Space Station video feed.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/orbtrack

Planet Labs

Planet Labs PBC is an American optical satellite imagery company that sells access to imagery.

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/planet-labs

QGIS:

QGIS is a free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS).

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/qgis

Radar Interference Tracker (RIT)

Bellingcat's radar interference tracker can be used to locate and monitor active military radar systems.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/radar-interference-tracker

RAMMB SLIDER

Real-time weather satellites of the entire globe

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/rammb-slider

Resource Watch

A free open-data platform that hosts 300+ datasets on different topics relating to the environment, people and resources, including real-time datasets.

Free

Guide not available

https://resourcewatch.org/arrow-up-right

Satellites.pro

Satellites.pro allows open source researchers to quickly switch between several free satellite imagery and mapping services.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/satellites.pro

SkyFi

SkyFi is used to purchase commercial satellite imagery and task (order the collection of images) satellites without a subscription.

Paid

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/skyfi

Soar.earth

Aerial, satellite and drone imagery on a global map.

Paid

Guide not available

https://soar.earth/?pos=-24.806025673047216%2C112.37019712776902%2C7arrow-up-right

Tencent Maps

Tencent Maps (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology provided by Chinese company Tencent, offering satellite imagery, street maps, street view (coverage) and historical view perspectives.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/tencent-maps

The European Space Agency (ESA) - Earth Online

The ESA's Earth Online product offers a portal for accessing satellite imagery and environmental data, supporting a range of applications from climate monitoring to natural disaster assessment.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/earth-online

Umbra Space

Umbra is an American synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging company that sells on-demand taskings for satellite imagery.

Paid

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/umbra-space

what3words

A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to a resolution of 3 metres. The identifier is a unique combination of three words, available in 60 languagues.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/what3words

Yandex Maps

A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes dynamic imagery, including aerial views). Often the best available data on Russia & surrounding regions.

Partially Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/yandex-maps

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/about-maps-and-satellites
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/baidu-maps

Free

Bellingcat OpenStreetMap Search

A user interface to search OpenStreetMap data for features in proximity to each other.

Free

Bing Maps

Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information and tools for route planning, location search, and satellite imagery.

Partially Free

Convert Geographic Units

A tool that converts various geographic coordinates to support diverse mapping and spatial analysis needs.

Free

F4Map

F4Map is an interactive 3D map visualization tool that provides detailed rendering of urban landscapes and geographical features.

Free

Gaode Maps

Gaode Maps (also known as AMap) is a mapping application and technology from the Chinese company Alibaba.

Free

Gjirafa

Mapping service for Albania (specially Kosovo)

Free

Guide not available

Global Fishing Watch Map

The Global Fishing Watch Map is a digital platform for investigating fishing activities worldwide by utilising satellite and AIS data.

Free

Global Forest Watch

Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use designations, carbon emissions, biodiversity metrics and more.

Free

Google Maps

Google Maps provides mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical Street View images.

Free

GovMap

GovMap provides an interactive map of Israel, offering users a wide range of data including property boundaries, planning information, and infrastructure details.

Free

HERE WeGo

Mapping service that can serve as an alternative to Google Maps or Apple Maps.

Free

Guide not available

Hitta.se

Mapping service for Sweden

Free

MapChecking

This tool helps you estimate and fact-check the maximum number of people standing in a given area.

Free

Mapillary

Mapillary is a crowdsourced street-level imagery platform.

Free

MapSwitcher

Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the map centre, zoom level, & directions of the source map.

Free

mapy.cz

Mapping service for Czechia

Free

Guide not available

Maritime Awareness Project

South China Sea maps with oil and gas fields, fishing areas, air defense zones and administrative, claimed, disputed zones, submarine data cables.

Free

Guide not available

NASA FIRMS

Displays a world map overlaid with infra-red data from one or more satellites, some, but not all of which may represent heat from fires and explosions.

Free

Nullschool Earth Map

View current and historic wind, weather, ocean and pollution conditions on an interactive animated map.

Free

Guide not available

OpenInfraMap

Power lines, telecoms, solar, oil, gas & water infrastructure mapped globally.

Free

Guide not available

OpenSeaMap

Sea map of borders, special zones, shipping lanes, with overlays of MarineTraffic and other sources

Free

Guide not available

OpenStreetMap

OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world.

Free

Guide not available

Overpass Turbo

Overpass Turbo is a web-based tool for querying and visualizing OpenStreetMap crowd sourced data, aiding in extracting specific information like locations of amenities e.g.hospitals.

Free

PeakVisor

Dual window views for any global location: (1) a 2-D map & (2) a 3-D rendered terrain model, with photo fitting, shade/slope mapping, sun trails & weather data. In active development for OS research.

Free

QGIS:

QGIS is a free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS).

Free

Quick geolocation search

A tool that brings several maps into one place for easy location search.

Free

Resource Watch

A free open-data platform that hosts 300+ datasets on different topics relating to the environment, people and resources, including real-time datasets.

Free

Guide not available

Satellites.pro

Satellites.pro allows open source researchers to quickly switch between several free satellite imagery and mapping services.

Free

ShadeMap

ShadeMap is a global simulation of mountain, building & tree shadows for a given date & time. Base data is free, but users can buy 30cm accurate data per sq km for areas of special focus.

Partially Free

ShadowMap

Global map of 3D buildlings and the shadows they cast at a specific time a day

Free

Strava

Social media fitness app with exercise map based on users' GPS data.

Partially Free

Tencent Maps

Tencent Maps (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology provided by Chinese company Tencent, offering satellite imagery, street maps, street view (coverage) and historical view perspectives.

Free

Topotijdreis.nl

Over 200 years of maps and topography from the Netherlands.

Free

Guide not available

UTM grid zones

An overview of the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system.

Free

Guide not available

what3words

A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to a resolution of 3 metres. The identifier is a unique combination of three words, available in 60 languagues.

Free

Wikimapia

Wikimapia was a long-running collaborative mapping project that remains partially accessible, providing open source researchers with a unique database of historical, user-generated content.

Free

Yandex Maps

A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes dynamic imagery, including aerial views). Often the best available data on Russia & surrounding regions.

Partially Free

About Maps and Satellites

A guide to using map and satellite tools.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/about-maps-and-satellites

Apple Maps

Apple Maps is a digital mapping service with detailed, interactive maps, satellite imagery, and location-based information.

Free

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/apple-maps

Baidu Maps

Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview (“Panorama” - zh:百度全景).

https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/baidu-maps
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/openstreetmap-search-tool
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/bing-maps
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/convert-geographic-units
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/f4map
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/gaode-maps
https://gjirafa.biz/arrow-up-right
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/global-fishing-watch-map
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/global-forest-watch
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/google-maps
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/govmap
https://wego.here.com/arrow-up-right
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/hitta.se
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/mapchecking
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/mapillary
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/mapswitcher
http://mapy.czarrow-up-right
https://map.nbr.org/interactivemap/arrow-up-right
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/nasa-firms
https://earth.nullschool.net/#currentarrow-up-right
https://openinframap.org/#2/26/12arrow-up-right
https://map.openseamap.org/arrow-up-right
http://openstreetmap.org/arrow-up-right
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/overpass-turbo
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/peakvisor
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/qgis
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/quick-geolocation-search
https://resourcewatch.org/arrow-up-right
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/satellites.pro
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/shademap
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/shadowmap
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/strava
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/tencent-maps
http://topotijdreis.nlarrow-up-right
http://dmap.co.uk/utmworld.htmarrow-up-right
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/what3words
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/wikimapia
https://bellingcat.gitbook.io/toolkit/more/all-tools/yandex-maps