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At Home, Winter 2007

• Rising stars
• Mountains of coal
• Q&A with Verne Lundquist
• Icons of Routt County
• Cozy spaces
• More in At Home

It wasn't more than five years ago that satellite imagery seemed to be a tool solely of government surveillance and military intelligence. Colorado-based companies like Space Imaging and DigitalGlobe led the way, securing contracts with private companies, the U.S. Defense Department and foreign governments to provide amazingly detailed overhead imagery of just about any corner of the earth. (Remember those satellite images published in newspapers and on cable TV news channels of alleged Iraqi nuclear weapons manufacturing sites?)

Well, that same technology is now available - often for free - to anyone with a decent computer and Internet connection. And in addition to providing useful applications such as planning road trips and jaunts into unfamiliar cities, the programs tickle our voyeuristic fancies by allowing users to check out the value of their neighbor's home (Zillow.com), for example.

Google Earth (earth.google.com) is perhaps the most popular satellite imaging program. Google Earth operates similar to the popular Google Maps program, and it's customizable, allowing users to add layers such as roads, restaurants, parks and other attractions and landmarks to their satellite imagery maps. But what makes Google Earth shine is its "Fly to" feature. Pick a location - Paris, for example - and watch as the application spins the globe to France and zooms in on the streets and buildings of Paris. Find the Eiffel Tower, and use the 3D function to take a street-level tour of the famous city.

Unfortunately, many parts of the globe - and even U.S. destinations such as Steamboat Springs - lack clear imagery. But Google Earth's coverage is good enough to keep you busy for hours, especially if you're planning a trip and want to get the lay of an unfamiliar land before your departure.

Zillow.com was launched last year as a free real estate site for home buyers, home sellers and the curious. Type in an address, and Zillow.com often will call up a satellite image of the home and surrounding neighborhood. Detailed information such as square footage and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms aren't always accurate, users say, nor are the "Zestimates" of the home's value. But the site will show you what similar homes in the neighborhood sold for, and it's updating its database daily.

Cyclists and joggers should check out Gmap-pedometer.com. Using the Google Maps application, the program lets users zoom in on a street map of Steamboat Springs and Routt County and use the pushpin feature to plan a new cycling or jogging route. The site will provide exact distances and elevation gain. And if you want, it even will tell you about how many calories you'll burn while exploring your new trail. The best part? Like Google Earth and Zillow, it's free.

- Brent Boyer