If your business, non-profit, or research team is involved in activities that require updated aerial maps, it's important to know that not all Web Map Services (WMS) offer updated aerial maps.

Some aerial imagery services are free but offer old aerial imagery that may not suit specific business, non-profit, or research purposes. Some aerial imagery services offer updated aerial maps but at a price that is so out of budget range that it's not feasible. So, what's the solution?

MapSavvy Offers Updated Aerial Maps & Historic Images, Too

MapSavvy is based on Bing Maps, which introduced a series of updated aerial maps worldwide. As a result, web map services like MapSavvy offer users the ability to access the latest updated aerial imagery of a city or landscape, and at a fraction of the cost of other web map services.

There are many reasons why businesses, non-profits & research teams need updated aerial maps. One of the most common applications is to offer Before-After comparisons of a specific area from an aerial view. Some examples include:

  • Development: Developers pitching a big mixed-use project often show a "Before" image of the proposed development area, along with "After" images of previous projects, to help stakeholders visualize the proposed development.
  • Climate Change Researchers: Climate change research is in particular need of Before-After image comparisons to visually show the rate of change in the form of receding glaciers, dried-up bodies of water & more.
  • Post-Storm Damage Assessment: Before-After images of major hurricanes can show that a storm changed the terrain and washed away portions of land. Post-storm damage assessment teams from local, state & federal agencies find those Before-After images invaluable in assessing infrastructure rebuild priorities.

Do Your Homework: Big Differences in Pricing for Updated Aerial Images

There are a number of free aerial imagery services. The problem is that many of those free services have aerial imagery that's 10 years old, or more. So they may be free, but those services with old aerial images don't meet the needs of businesses, non-profits & research teams that need updated aerial maps for their work.

For the web map services that do offer updated aerial maps, the pricing can be confusing & complex, resulting in big bills that were not anticipated. Here's a quick look at some of the ways updated aerial images are priced:

Flat Fee / Worldwide Imagery: Aerial imagery services like MapSavvy charge one flat fee to access aerial imagery worldwide. In MapSavvy's case, the cost is $999 per year for up to 40,000 WMS requests, to access updated aerial maps as well as historic images. This is typically the most cost-effective pricing.

Pricing by Region or Area: Some web map services charge "à la carte" — you have to pay by area or region. The more regions for which you need aerial imagery, the more you pay.

For businesses, non-profits & research teams that are on a budget, it's important to know the various types of pricing models. To make sure you're opting for the most cost-effective updated aerial maps, ask the following questions:

  • What's the geographic area for which I need aerial maps or aerial imagery?
  • Will my geographic range expand over time for the areas where I need aerial maps or imagery?
  • How many aerial images or maps will I need over the course of a year?

Answer those questions and then use that information to determine what you will pay for updated aerial maps on the various platforms. This will allow you to make an informed decision on web map services.

Interested in learning more about MapSavvy and giving it a test drive? Try our free 14-day trial.