Ben Jervey, GOOD Magazine’s superior environmental editor, writes that people at home are making higher resolution maps than google. And they’re doing it faster and cheaper. Balloon camera’s were first used during the BP oil leak to document damage and fill the (many) gaps of mainstream media’s over-sensationalized coverage,
The concept is simple: for about $100 in materials you can shoot aerial imagery that is higher resolution than any standard public satellite imagery. Using incredibly simple balloon and kite contraptions, you can capture the images on demand whenever you want, as often as you want.
The project has finally gained momentum, and Jervey takes it up a notch by carefully, yet concisely, explaining how to make and use the balloons. Check it out below. Comments on his piece are most welcome!
askjerves:
Grassroots Mapping
DIY super high res aerial cartography for under $100. I adore this project.
