USA Photomaps is a great tool to use with a GPS and to explore an area you are working in. However, there are some limitations that you should consider.
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Some of the data is old. This is controlled by the people at Terraserver. For most forest uses it doesn’t matter much. It’s more an issure where development has occurred, or if there were logging operations or other land changes.
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USA Photomaps is a mapping tool, not a GIS. It’s missing some functions you would expect. But you can’t beat the price. Also, many times it’s better to have a simpler tool and bring out the big guns later.
- USA Photomaps uses UTM coordinates, as does Terraserver. The maps are discontinuous between UTM zones. You have to keep scrolling to come to the next zone.