For those who want to download full Raster Imagery

montaser

this is the tool to use
Satellite Maps Downloader
if u have any problem with downloading from this link
you may search for the following title ( Google Maps Downloader ) for less traffic downloading websites...also if anyone one likes to go farther for terrainage
search with this title through any search engine ( google terrain downloader )

STH

Is this software legal from a Google-point-of-view? Copy from Google Maps Help

Photographic Imagery

The photographic imagery made available for display through Google Maps is provided under a nonexclusive, non-transferable license for use only by you. You may not use the imagery in any commercial or business environment or for any commercial or business purposes for yourself or any third parties.

You may not copy, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, translate, modify or make derivative works of the imagery, in whole or in part. You also may not rent, disclose, publish, sell, assign, lease, sublicense, market, or transfer the imagery or any part thereof or use it in any manner not expressly authorized by this agreement.

By using Google Maps, you do not receive any, and Google and/or its licensors (if any) retain all ownership rights in the imagery. The imagery is copyrighted and may not be copied, even if modified or merged with other data or software.

czietz

I don't think downloading Google's imagery is legal either. If you want free raster maps, get them from OpenStreetMap.org. That's legal as long as you adhere to their Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license.

I've posted some hints how to get both raster and vector data from OpenStreetMap on the Global Mapper mailing list: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/global_mapper/

STH

Oh, thanks! I didnt know about the mailing list and I have been searching for both a way to download the vector data - and to use the vectordata in GlobalMapper. This stuff would be nice for a great tutorial Unfortunately I don`t have a Yahoo ID and dont plan to have one, but atleast I can look at the mailing list.

czietz

Below are my two postings to the mailing list concerning the use of OSM vector data in Global Mapper. Maybe I'll add a tutorial at a later time.

---

OpenStreetMap (OSM, OpenStreetMap) not only provides
free [1] raster data (see my previous post) but also vector data.
Unfortunately, Global Mapper can't read their file format, but since
it is XML based [2], it is quite easy to convert it to something more
useful.

I adapted a Python script, which will convert "ways" (the name for all
line features, not just ways, in OSM) and optionally "nodes" (point
features) to GML files which can be read by Global Mapper. By default
it will also copy all "tags" (attributes in OSM jargon) to the GML
file so you can use Global Mapper's extensive "Search by attributes"
functionality to filter the data and assign feature types to it.

[...]

You can get the data either by using the OSM API or by downloading the
whole set or extracts: Planet.osm - OpenStreetMap

Note that for some countries there also exist ready-to-use shapefiles
made from OSM data: GEOFABRIK Downloadbereich

Enjoy,
Christian

[1] Although their data is free, there is a license you must adhere to
when using it:
OpenStreetMap License - OpenStreetMap

[2] File format is described on
OSM Protocol Version 0.5 - OpenStreetMap
Tags are described on Map Features - OpenStreetMap

---

[F]or those not keen to use the command line to run the Python script
which converts OpenStreetMap vector data to GML for import into Global
Mapper I just [attached] an updated version (osm2gml.zip) which includes
a very simple GUI.

After installing Python just double click osm2gml_gui.py. You will get
two dialogs to choose the input and the output file. Then the
conversion will start. Note that depending on the file size this can
take some time. No visual indication will be provided during this time
but a message box will appear upon successful completion of the task.

montaser

I was always admired by taking Sat imaging technology...but from the ethical point of view
could anyone tell me rather through Google Co. or whatever called trends.
how to come with those imagery for many areas around here and there which forms sensitive spots for the country allocated in!!??..at least If someone grab any raster alike data for my country in a way or another without prior permission from the authorized part
in it. then I would consider this as an offensive behavior. The legislation matter in this issue would be ;the one who owns rastering technology doesn't make him with authority to
grab those imagery and to have full controlling after publishing...e.g. from who to whom
would be this if property transferred for other countries rather than the country’s people... the international law doesn’t speak from specific countries’view… just FYI.

Another issue with Google earth technology which already published through many
web sites ; who give those companies the authority and to whom to seize web technology to collect data of civilest around the world and at the same time these sites offer many terrorists the facility to aim there actions easily....I think the legal matter of ownership should be
Calculated again regarding the human rights other than commercial trends.

plz don't be exaggeratedly missed up with technology’ status quo over other people' rights.