TerraServer

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TerraServer

• By Victoria Ferrara Stefanie Combs
• MGS 3040-04

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What is TerraServer?

• Internet-assembled database of high resolution
  photos and topographic maps of the United States
• You can only look up places in the United States

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How Does TerraServer Work?

• Enter a(n)
• Name of a famous place
• Example Golden Gate Bridge
• Address
• Example 1000 Morris Ave, 07083
• Coordinates (X,Y)
• 37, 122

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How it Came About

• In 1990 there was criticism over Microsoft's
  SQL server
• Too slow on large databases
• Microsoft decided to come up with a new version
  and publish a large database to demonstrate its
  new capabilities.

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Continued

• Wanted database to be free and interesting.
• Finding a database was difficult.
• Most large databases were either private or
  boring.

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Discovery!

• Microsoft came across the library of aerial
  photos from United States Geological Survey
  (USGS)
• The photos met all of Microsoft's needs

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Digital Files

• Photos were stored in digital files
• Are extremely large files
• Public Photos
• Who wouldnt like to see their house from space!

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Database Creation

• Microsoft partnered with
• Compaq for computers
• ADIC for backup hardware and software
• Veritas for backup hardware and software
• Extreme Networks for backbone of private networks
• Project is supported and paid for by Microsoft
  home service

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Image Transfer

• Original photo files were too large
• Each photo instead is cut into sections
• Sections are then stored as images in the
  TerraServer database

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TerraServer Database

• Has more than 30 tables
• The primary table required 3 tera bytes of
  storage
• Database is divided in to thirds
• Processed by three separate computers

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Popularity

• Only mistake by Microsoft was under estimating
  its popularity
• As of Feb 2003
• More than 67 million users
• Has processed more than 7.5 billion database
  inquires

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TerraServer Tutorial

• http//terraserver-usa.com/advfind.aspx

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References

• Kroenke M. David. Using MIS. Pearson
  Education,Inc.Upper River, New Jersey