inferring map dates for Google Maps

[gusl]

Google Maps, and Google Streetview in particular are not good about saying when the map was made / when the pictures were taken. How would you try to infer this?

The slightly cliché film trope of looking at a newspaper will probably not work.

Comments

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Movie theatres give a good clue.

[widdertwin.livejournal.com]

You can stand in a certain place on the street wearing a vibrant or otherwise flamboyant outfit and check the Streetview every day until you see yourself in that outfit. If you count the days that elapse, you'll have a good idea of how often the database is updated.

It's kind of time consuming and perhaps not the most efficient way of going about it, but hey, you've got an excuse to dress in a duck costume or something. What more could you ask for?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_tove/]

http://www.streetwithaview.com/

[gwillen.livejournal.com]

Not to burst your bubble, but instead of wearing a flamboyant outfit you could just look for the giant fucking van with the camera on top driving by. ;-)

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

If construction schedules are posted online, this could help too.

[widdertwin.livejournal.com]

I still say go for the garish clothing and the prancing around in front of some kind of landmark.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_tove/]

I remember that, a few years ago at least, the satellite images of CMU had been taken during the week that booths are constructed for Carnival. Coupled with information from the Carnival webcam, it was possible to date them to within a 4 hour or so chunk of time.

[bhudson.livejournal.com]

The fact that the map of my address shows green is a hint the picture wasn't taken yesterday.

[theadana.livejournal.com]

It really depends on how precise you want to be and how familiar you are with the location already. For satellite pics of my own house, for example, they were taken before we moved in because the garden boxes aren't on the garage roof and the cars parked in front and back are different. Street view is helped by construction and businesses. For example, now that the big B&N is closed on Murray, and it closed right before new year's day, we can see when it was updated to reflect that. You could also check property records for business districts, to see what stores were open during a given time. Time of year can be inferred from clothing, foliage, and blooming flowers. Once you've narrowed that down, you can infer time of day from how shadows are cast. You could check for street banners for recurring events or large sale signs that indicate a holiday.

[the-locster.livejournal.com]

Car number plates - if they weren't blured out of course. How about observed car models.