Tools for geospatial analysis including web maps, satellite imagery platforms, and street view services. Cross-reference multiple sources to verify locations and track changes over time.
Choosing Tools
- Use map and street-view services to inspect a location; use satellite platforms when you need imagery, dates, or change over time.
- Compare at least two sources when coverage, imagery date, or geographic detail may affect the finding.
Tools
Maps
| Tool | Best for | Cost | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Maps | A digital mapping service with detailed maps, satellite imagery, and location-based… | Free | Apple Maps is a digital mapping service with detailed maps, satellite imagery, and location-based information. | Details |
| Baidu Maps | Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview… | Free | Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview (“Panorama” - zh:百度全景). | Details |
| Bing Maps | A web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information… | Partially Free | Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information and tools for ... | Details |
| Convert Geographic Units | A tool that converts various geographic coordinates to support diverse mapping and spatial… | Free | A tool that converts various geographic coordinates to support diverse mapping and spatial analysis needs. | Details |
| F4Map | An interactive 3D map visualization tool that provides detailed rendering of urban… | Free | F4Map is an interactive 3D map visualization tool that provides detailed rendering of urban landscapes and geographic... | Details |
| Gaode Maps | (also known as AMap) is a mapping application and technology from the Chinese company… | Free | Gaode Maps (also known as AMap) is a mapping application and technology from the Chinese company Alibaba. | Details |
| Gjirafa | Mapping service for Albania (specially Kosovo) | Free | Mapping service for Albania (specially Kosovo) | |
| Global Forest Watch | Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use… | Free | Explore tree cover loss and gain data, recent deforestation and fire alerts, land use designations, carbon emissions,... | Details |
| Google Maps | Mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical… | Free | Google Maps provides mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical Stree... | Details |
| GovMap | An interactive map of Israel, offering users a wide range of data including property… | Free | GovMap provides an interactive map of Israel, offering users a wide range of data including property boundaries, plan... | Details |
| HERE WeGo | Mapping service similar to Google Maps or Apple Maps. | Free | Mapping service similar to Google Maps or Apple Maps. | Details |
| Hitta.se | Mapping service for Sweden | Free | Mapping service for Sweden | Details |
| Kakao Map | A mapping application provided by South Korean technology company Kakao Corp. | Free | A mapping application provided by South Korean technology company Kakao Corp. | |
| MapChecking | This tool helps you estimate and fact-check the maximum number of people standing in a… | Free | This tool helps you estimate and fact-check the maximum number of people standing in a given area. | Details |
| Mapillary | A crowdsourced street-level imagery platform. | Free | Mapillary is a crowdsourced street-level imagery platform. | Details |
| MapSwitcher | Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the… | Free | Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the map centre, zoom level, & di... | Details |
| mapy.cz | Mapping service for Czechia | Free | Mapping service for Czechia | |
| Maritime Awareness Project | South China Sea maps with oil and gas fields, fishing areas, air defense zones and… | Free | South China Sea maps with oil and gas fields, fishing areas, air defense zones and administrative, claimed, disputed ... | |
| NASA Firms | Displays a world map overlaid with infra-red data from one or more satellites, some, but… | Free | Displays a world map overlaid with infra-red data from one or more satellites, some, but not all of which may represe... | Details |
| OpenInfraMap | Power lines, telecoms, solar, oil, gas & water infrastructure mapped globally. | Free | Power lines, telecoms, solar, oil, gas & water infrastructure mapped globally. | |
| OpenSeaMap | Sea map of borders, special zones, shipping lanes, with overlays of MarineTraffic and… | Free | Sea map of borders, special zones, shipping lanes, with overlays of MarineTraffic and other sources | |
| OpenStreetMap | A collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. | Free | OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. | |
| Bellingcat OpenStreetMap Search | A user interface to search OpenStreetMap data for features in proximity to each other. | Free | A user interface to search OpenStreetMap data for features in proximity to each other. | Details |
| Overpass Turbo | A web-based tool for querying and visualizing OpenStreetMap crowd sourced data, aiding in… | Free | Overpass Turbo is a web-based tool for querying and visualizing OpenStreetMap crowd sourced data, aiding in extractin... | Details |
| PeakVisor | Dual window views for any global location: (1) a 2-D map & (2) a 3-D rendered terrain… | Free | Dual window views for any global location: (1) a 2-D map & (2) a 3-D rendered terrain model, with photo fitting, shad... | Details |
| QGIS | A free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS). | Free | QGIS is a free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS). | Details |
| Quick geolocation search | A tool that brings several maps into one place for easy location search. | Free | A tool that brings several maps into one place for easy location search. | Details |
| Satellites.pro | Open source researchers to quickly switch between several free satellite imagery and… | Free | Satellites.pro allows open source researchers to quickly switch between several free satellite imagery and mapping se... | Details |
| ShadeMap | A global simulation of mountain, building & tree shadows for a given date & time. | Partially Free | ShadeMap is a global simulation of mountain, building & tree shadows for a given date & time. Base data is free, but ... | Details |
| ShadowMap | Global map of 3D buildlings and the shadows they cast at a specific time a day | Free | Global map of 3D buildlings and the shadows they cast at a specific time a day | Details |
| Strava | A fitness tracking platform where publicly shared GPS activity data can reveal movement… | Partially Free | A fitness tracking platform where publicly shared GPS activity data can reveal movement patterns, routines, and preci... | Details |
| Tencent Maps | (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology… | Free | Tencent Maps (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology provided by Chinese... | Details |
| Topotijdreis.nl | Over 200 years of maps and topography from the Netherlands. | Free | Over 200 years of maps and topography from the Netherlands. | |
| UTM grid zones | An overview of the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system. | Free | An overview of the Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system. | |
| what3words | A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to… | Free | A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to a resolution of 3 metres. T... | Details |
| Wikimapia | Was a long-running collaborative mapping project that remains partially accessible,… | Free | Wikimapia was a long-running collaborative mapping project that remains partially accessible, providing open source r... | Details |
| Yandex Maps | A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes… | Partially Free | A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes dynamic imagery, including aer... | Details |
Satellite Imagery
| Tool | Best for | Cost | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baidu Maps | Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview… | Free | Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview (“Panorama” - zh:百度全景). | Details |
| Bing Maps | A web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information… | Partially Free | Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information and tools for ... | Details |
| Earth Explorer | Query and order satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products from USGS | Partially Free | Query and order satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products from USGS | |
| Earth Online | The ESA's Earth Online product offers a portal for accessing satellite imagery and… | Free | The ESA's Earth Online product offers a portal for accessing satellite imagery and environmental data, supporting a r... | Details |
| EOS Landviewer | Free services for up to 10 images. | Paid | EOS Landviewer provides free services for up to 10 images. More images and analysis are available to journalists at a... | |
| Google Earth Engine | A platform for environmental monitoring and analysis through satellite imagery and… | Partially Free | Google Earth Engine is a platform for environmental monitoring and analysis through satellite imagery and geospatial ... | Details |
| Google Earth Pro | Google Earth is a geospatial tool that provides detailed, global satellite imagery, maps,… | Partially Free | Google Earth is a geospatial tool that provides detailed, global satellite imagery, maps, 3D terrain models, and the ... | Details |
| Google Maps | Mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical… | Free | Google Maps provides mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical Stree... | Details |
| GovMap | An interactive map of Israel, offering users a wide range of data including property… | Free | GovMap provides an interactive map of Israel, offering users a wide range of data including property boundaries, plan... | Details |
| HERE WeGo | Mapping service similar to Google Maps or Apple Maps. | Free | Mapping service similar to Google Maps or Apple Maps. | Details |
| Index Database | A database which relates remote sensing indices with satellite imaging sensors | Free | A database which relates remote sensing indices with satellite imaging sensors | Details |
| Mapa.sk | Mapping service for Slovakia | Free | Mapping service for Slovakia | |
| Mappy | Mapping service (and streetview in a couple of French cities \double check this!) | Free | Mapping service (and streetview in a couple of French cities [double check this!]) | |
| MapSwitcher | Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the… | Free | Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the map centre, zoom level, & di... | Details |
| NASA Worldview | An online tool for visualizing and downloading near real-time satellite imagery and… | Free | NASA Worldview is an online tool for visualizing and downloading near real-time satellite imagery and scientific data... | Details |
| OpenAerialMap | Platform for accessing open-licensed satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery | Free | Platform for accessing open-licensed satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery | Details |
| OrbTrack | Predicts & describes the position & path of >10K satellites in Earth orbit, relative to… | Free | Predicts & describes the position & path of >10K satellites in Earth orbit, relative to points on the earth's surface... | Details |
| Planet Labs | PBC is an American optical satellite imagery company that sells access to imagery. | Partially Free | Planet Labs PBC is an American optical satellite imagery company that sells access to imagery. | Details |
| QGIS | A free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS). | Free | QGIS is a free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS). | Details |
| Radar Interference Tracker | Bellingcat's radar interference tracker can be used to locate and monitor active military… | Free | Bellingcat's radar interference tracker can be used to locate and monitor active military radar systems. | Details |
| RAMMB SLIDER | Real-time weather satellites of the entire globe | Free | Real-time weather satellites of the entire globe | Details |
| Satellites.pro | Open source researchers to quickly switch between several free satellite imagery and… | Free | Satellites.pro allows open source researchers to quickly switch between several free satellite imagery and mapping se... | Details |
| Copernicus Browser (formerly Sentinel Hub Playground, EO Browser) | A free web-based platform for viewing, analyzing, and downloading satellite imagery from… | Free | A free web-based platform for viewing, analyzing, and downloading satellite imagery from the European Space Agency's ... | Details |
| SkyFi | Used to purchase commercial satellite imagery and task (order the collection of images)… | Paid | SkyFi is used to purchase commercial satellite imagery and task (order the collection of images) satellites without a... | Details |
| Tencent Maps | (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology… | Free | Tencent Maps (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology provided by Chinese... | Details |
| Umbra Space | Umbra is an American synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging company that sells… | Paid | Umbra is an American synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging company that sells on-demand taskings for satel... | Details |
| what3words | A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to… | Free | A proprietary geocode system which identifies any location on the surface of the earth to a resolution of 3 metres. T... | Details |
| Yandex Maps | A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes… | Partially Free | A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes dynamic imagery, including aer... | Details |
Street View
| Tool | Best for | Cost | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baidu Maps | Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview… | Free | Baidu’s mapping service offering satellite imagery, street maps, and streetview (“Panorama” - zh:百度全景). | Details |
| Bing Maps | A web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information… | Partially Free | Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided by Microsoft that offers detailed geographical information and tools for ... | Details |
| Carte.ma | Mapping/streetview service for Morocco | Free | Mapping/streetview service for Morocco | |
| GeoHints | A website that provides information about things like traffic lights, utility poles,… | Free | GeoHints is a website that provides information about things like traffic lights, utility poles, bollards etc. for di... | Details |
| Google Earth Pro | Google Earth is a geospatial tool that provides detailed, global satellite imagery, maps,… | Partially Free | Google Earth is a geospatial tool that provides detailed, global satellite imagery, maps, 3D terrain models, and the ... | Details |
| Google Maps | Mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical… | Free | Google Maps provides mapping information, satellite imagery and Google Street View imagery including historical Stree... | Details |
| KartaView | A crowdsourced platform for street view imagery. | Free | KartaView is a crowdsourced platform for street view imagery. | Details |
| Mapillary | A crowdsourced street-level imagery platform. | Free | Mapillary is a crowdsourced street-level imagery platform. | Details |
| MapSwitcher | Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the… | Free | Chrome extension switches between online map apps, maintaining (as far as possible) the map centre, zoom level, & di... | Details |
| Photo-Map.RU | Geotagged VK posts. | Free | Geotagged VK posts. | |
| Tencent Maps | (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology… | Free | Tencent Maps (formerly SOSO Maps) is a desktop and web mapping service application and technology provided by Chinese... | Details |
| Wikimapia | Was a long-running collaborative mapping project that remains partially accessible,… | Free | Wikimapia was a long-running collaborative mapping project that remains partially accessible, providing open source r... | Details |
| Yandex Maps | A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes… | Partially Free | A platform offering detailed maps, satellite imagery, street views (static & sometimes dynamic imagery, including aer... | Details |
Investigation Tips
- Cross-reference locations across multiple map services (Google, Yandex, Baidu, Tencent) for areas where coverage varies
- Use satellite imagery time-series (Copernicus Browser, NASA Worldview, Google Earth Engine) to identify changes over time
- Combine street view platforms (Google Street View, Mapillary, KartaView, Yandex) for wider coverage
- Use Overpass Turbo and OpenStreetMap Search to find specific features near a location
- Shadow analysis tools (SunCalc, ShadowMap, ShadeMap) help verify photo/video timestamps and locations