Google has only mapped the shape of the river Sepik on the Indonesian side of the border
Google has only mapped the shape of the river Sepik on the Indonesian side of the border
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This is a fairly upstream part of the river, and when it crosses back over into Papua New Guinea further downstream they have mapped it more thoroughly. Open Street Maps and the UK's Ordnance Survey both have a fuller depiction of this part of the river
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Fun fact: Google has to decide what territory belongs to who, even if countries disagree on it. Example: Taiwan
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Either that or there is a gigantic dam at the border
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Google doesn't map things. They take existing maps and then overlay the satellite images. Most likely Indonesia has more detailed Maos of the area than the Papuan side
more detailed Mao Zedongs?
Papua New Guinea sees him merely as Chairman Mao, but Indonesia recognizes the life conditions and personal traits that influenced him in an attempt to understand a human being not merely a world leader.
How do they convert it into a vector rendering though? I'm assuming they start with topo maps?
I assume they take digital maps when possible. Most countries will have digital maps of their territories, be it for military use or research or other. And many companies do to. Digital car navigation existed before google maps and logistics companies for sure had digital maps as well.
For some parts I am pretty sure they just scan paper maps and convert it by hand.
Of course all of that is some sort of "maping". My previous comment was slightly clickbaity. But the process is still, Maps first, satellite later and not the other way round.