There is so much beauty in the world, from the lush green forests to the bustling city streets. Since we live within this intricate modern arena, its true intrigue can often be discarded and forgotten. Sometimes, in order to appreciate our industrial creations, we have to take to the sky for a bird’s-eye view of the world.
Thanks to Nearmap, a company that provides high-resolution aerial photos of numerous construction projects, the progression of man-made creations is documented throughout its entirety. Traditionally, in order to achieve such stunning imagery, a low-flying machine snaps the photo. The data is processed manually and later used to create a digital PhotoMap. This procedure isn’t particularly fast, generally taking a couple of months to complete.
Nearmap presents a faster method to produce aerial photography. By using a specialized camera called a HyperPod attached to the Cessna 210 aircraft, large landscapes can be captured in only a few days’ time. The recorded images are processed on super computers using HyperVision software, automatically creating seamless PhotoMaps.
According to Nearmap’s website, the “imagery is better than 2.8″ GSD—which is typically several times sharper than satellite images—giving you unrivaled clarity, precision, and detail.” The photography is also entirely based in the cloud, allowing instant access from your electronic devices.
Below you’ll find three animated images that document the landscape’s interesting change over time.
The Mickey Mouse Solar Farm
A solar farm was recently constructed near Disney’s Epcot Center. Built by Duke Energy Corp, this facility provides 5-megawatts of solar energy from its 48,000 solar panels. The entire structure spans a total of 20 acres.
“The Happiest Place on Earth” couldn’t construct just any ordinary solar-power farm. In typical Disney fashion, the solar panels were strategically placed to form the iconic Mickey Mouse silhouette. Solar panels never looked so delightful!
Overstock’s Peace Coliseum
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Overstock.com Inc. created the Peace Coliseum. This office building is a whopping 231,000 square feet and covers 19 acres of land. Due to its indoor and outdoor pathways within the main circular outline, the building appears as a giant peace sign from an aerial view.
The company’s founder and CEO Patrick M. Bryne said the following about the building’s unique design, “Peace Coliseum manifests the duality of our enterprise. The peace sign represents the caring attitude we extend to our colleagues, clients, and community, while the coliseum representing the toughness of our bold capitalist spirit.”
The Nearmap string of photos above shows the progression of the Peace Coliseum’s construction from October 2014 to August 2016.
Star Wars Land
Back in the summer of 2015, Disneyland CEO Bob Iger announced the creation of Star Wars Land. This will introduce the galaxy far far away to a drivable distance for all to enjoy! I’m sure the force definitely approves of this Disneyland park addition.
Nearmap has been closely following the progression of Star Wars Land, as you can see in the animation above. Although this isn’t technically a start-to-finish animation, it does provide a start-to-almost-finished look at this galactic-themed experience. Disneyland is hoping to debut this attraction in the summer of 2017 before the opening of Episode XIII. May the force be with this awesome construction project.
Filed Under: Industrial automation