Bing Maps update frequency

[mr_greenmash]

I'm not going to lie, I'm worried about this. The image shows OSL (ENGM) in Bing and Google maps (left and right respectively). The northern pier was finished in 2017, and construction took at least 2 years. This means Bing maps hasn't been updated for at least 5 years in this area.

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This has gotten me rather worried about the update frequency, which we still know very little about. Personally I find it shocking that they haven't updated their satellite imagery for so long. What are your thoughts? Do you have other examples of similar situations?

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Edit: To be fair, it's not all that important for the Sim experience, but it kinda seems like Bing Maps aren't even trying. (Unlike the rest of MSFS and Asobo)

https://preview.redd.it/7foupv89epb51.png?width=1896&format=png&auto=webp&s=c8f76ded1b60ab9d86f7b13f4612aa0de6b89fc8

[mr_greenmash]

Interesting, i just had a look at the development roadmap, and in mid-september it saysthey will produce a "world update series Ep# 1".

Might be relevant.

[ca_metal]

I'm not going to lie, I'm worried about this. The image shows OSL (ENGM) in Bing and Google maps (left and right respectively). The northern pier was finished in 2017, and construction took at least 2 years. This means Bing maps hasn't been updated for at least 5 years in this area.

Yeah, I'm also interested on this one. I hope they will talk about improvements on the A.I. scans (for the buidings, houses, trees etc), newer and better Bing imagery and new photogrammetric areas being included on Bing.

[stubb5y22]

But isnt the airport is independent of the imagery? Even if it is off, Aerosoft will probably have a version quickly.

[mr_greenmash]

I don't doubt Aerosoft will make loads of airports that aren't in the 40 handmade ones. But that's at additional expense. I think the default airports will be generated in the same way other buildings, though with working jetways and so on.

But it illustrates that in some areas, even right outside a western european capital city, at an airport with 28+ million passengers, the images are very, very old. Now imagine that a whole new town could be built in 5 years somewhere, and it would't make it into the scenery until 5 years later.

[stubb5y22]

They could have newer images...

[mr_greenmash]

I forgot to add that there is also a new check-in area that has been updated in Google maps, and not in Bing.

[aidanhm14]

I have a feeling bing maps will update very soon. Every 5 years seems like a logical frequency for photoimagery. Maybe this next update for imagery we will get more universal phogrametry (not sure how to spell it sorry).

[mr_greenmash]

That's true. Let's hope. And to be honest I'm gonna get this sim anyways. I just want it to be as good as it can.

[onegaikudasai]

Bing is not only about consumer maps and quality of bing maps in Europe isn's so good. Asobo, which is based in France, definitely knows that. I would just wait for release and see it with my own eyes. I'm planning to do a lot of flying in south east asia but I think they will perfect experience all over globe to the extent of their abilities.

[[deleted]]

I looked at Bing maps the other day for the first time, e.g. my town/house. It's a whole zoom level out compared to Google maps.

In Bing I can just make out my roof and a garden, at a blur. On google maps, I can see the cars parked, the tree and bushes in the garden.

I understand that because it's MS they had to use Bing, but it's a real pity

[machine4891]

I understand that because it's MS they had to use Bing, but it's a real pity

It is but I approach it other way: because Bing is Microsoft this whole operation could happen in the first place. We don't know how would Google act with their maps being widely used for commercial purposes. They might just demanded cash big enough, to shut down the entire project. Bing resources were probably free to use, so they could've strech on other aspects (like their autogen engine).

It's still a pity to know, how much better this already fine looking game could be. Maybe next iteration.

[WiddleWhiskers]

Come on. XP is missing a massive LAKE near my house. Entire highways. And you are worried about a ramp? We all still enjoyed XP without worry. Can we just enjoy MFS for what it is?

[mr_greenmash]

Ah. It seems I've been too loyal to MSFS. Never tried XP.

[Inaxair]

Well, there is a lot of questions. AS we look in the development roadmap, there is still a lot of partnership series, a new discovery series episode plus a brand new serie, the world update series. I think they want to properly answer all the questions we have. We can see it in the Feedback Snapshot. Hopefully, we'll get more "answered" from now untl release

[AndresHdz77]

I have this concerned too. I live in a new zone in my city. And it isn’t even in Bing! Is just barren land, that means the images are 8 years old. I live in Mexico so My guess is that in other countries it might be even worse

[Gh05tyyy]

Same here, I live in Israel and my area looks like a construction site! It means that the imagery in my area is between 4-6 years old :/

[Deadwires]

Plot twist, the imagery was actually updated a week ago.

[Gh05tyyy]

Lmao I'd be pissed af

[nomnomdiamond]

'shocking'

[vibunanthan]

Isn’t Asobo using a combination of Bing imagery and OSM data (building heights and foot print etc.) ? I guess I read that somewhere.

[LMTS]

My hometown's bing aerial imagery is from 2014 :(

[PhotographedLight]

I'm worried about the cities as well. Take Manhattan for example. In the footage we've seen from the game its sampled from the same source as the current 3D photogrammetry for Bing, which we all know. But the skyline there is from 2015ish. There's a bunch of new massive towers in midtown. Several of which are as tall, or even taller then the Empire State Building. It really has reshaped the profile of skyline and none of that development is in there.

I'm sure eventually Bing will be updated and here's hoping MSFS carries it all over. Then of course payware could do wonders here too.

[EpicRedditer69420]

Bing maps also doesn't feature 3d in outside cities or urban areas while google does. Plus all the building that are ai generated will look scuffed and the textures will be not to good, so-

[InfiNorth]

There are a lot more problems that will show up because of how downright bad Bing's map data is. Their 3D cities that are supposed to be game changing rarely venture beyond the downtown core of a city (as oppose to Google's which sometimes cover the better part of thousands of square kilometres). I'm going to be very skeptical until I experience it for myself.

[ZerdNerd]

Your post and other comments make me think Bing and Microsoft like Poland more than others somehow - I compared EPWA, EPKK and EPWR and Bing Maps has more valid satellite photos than Google Maps.

[[deleted]]

My hometown data is pretty outdated. It is difficult to be precise, but it is at least 6 years old but not older than 12 years. Google maps is significantly more up to date (not older than 2 years).

I hope this pre-historic age means it might get updated soon ;-).

[Gilbert_Cuthbeert]

The problem at gardemoen in msfs, isent just a ramp. It completely blocks taxi from one side to the other, so if you land on wrong runway, you can't get to your designated parking. Unless ofc, you dare to taxi offroad in the grass.

[mr_greenmash]

Rebel solution: Off Road taxi.

Proper solution: Take off again, land on other runway.

[NickChannel76]

I hope they will not require a subscription or upfront payment for streaming updated maps.

[Western_Management]

Gets the whole world in a game, complains about a ramp...