Microsoft TerraServer
Tom Barclay, Robert Eberl, Jim Gray, John Nordlinger, Guru, Raghavendran, Don Slutz, Greg Smith, Phil Smoot, John Hoffman, Natt Robb III,, Hedy Rossmeissl, Beth Duff, George Lee, Theresa Mathesmier, Randall Sunne
TL;DR
Microsoft TerraServer is a large-scale online database of aerial and satellite images, providing intuitive access and e-commerce capabilities, representing a significant achievement in geospatial data management and dissemination.
Contribution
The paper details the design and implementation of the world's largest atlas database, integrating extensive satellite imagery with web interfaces and e-commerce features.
Findings
Stores five terabytes of geospatial imagery
Provides intuitive web-based spatial and gazetteer interfaces
Enables users to purchase imagery rights online
Abstract
The Microsoft TerraServer stores aerial and satellite images of the earth in a SQL Server Database served to the public via the Internet. It is the world's largest atlas, combining five terabytes of image data from the United States Geodetic Survey, Sovinformsputnik, and Encarta Virtual Globe. Internet browsers provide intuitive spatial and gazetteer interfaces to the data. The TerraServer is also an E-Commerce application. Users can buy the right to use the imagery using Microsoft Site Servers managed by the USGS and Aerial Images. This paper describes the TerraServer's design and implementation.
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