Mixing
Why are airports in Greece blurred and low res in Google Maps?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
45
down vote
favorite
Why are airports in Greece blurred and low res in Google Maps?
airport
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
45
down vote
favorite
Why are airports in Greece blurred and low res in Google Maps?
airport
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
– BlueCacti
2 days ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
45
down vote
favorite
up vote
45
down vote
favorite
Why are airports in Greece blurred and low res in Google Maps?
airport
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Why are airports in Greece blurred and low res in Google Maps?
airport
airport
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
edited yesterday
Lenne
972
972
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
asked 2 days ago
Gianluca Ghettini
328126
328126
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
– BlueCacti
2 days ago
add a comment |Â
1
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
– BlueCacti
2 days ago
1
1
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
– BlueCacti
2 days ago
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
– BlueCacti
2 days ago
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
up vote
79
down vote
accepted
The short answer seems to be that some countries have persuaded Google to blur out specific areas for "national security" reasons. Wikipedia has an article on it with some more (limited!) information. Interestingly, I couldn't find any official Google article on blurring in Maps, apart from some general references to Street View. And, as it turns out, Street View at ATH works as normal.
FWIW, it seems that Greece didn't persuade Microsoft to play along, because Bing Maps has much better images. That strongly suggests that the blurring is mostly security theater.
(By the way, I'm not saying that there are no security/privacy risks with Google Maps, Bing or other tools; it's just that some risks are more credible than others. security.SE would be a good place to ask more about that.)
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
8
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
44
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
17
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
6
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
4
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
22
down vote
In Greece, many domestic airports are (or were) either officially military airports, or they have an air force base attached which uses the airport.
Most other countries have entirely separate military bases. With Greek geography being so fragmented by mountains and islands though, and with such a shortage of flat land where runways can be built, it simply isn't practical for every island and every major area of habitation to have separate air force bases and civilian airports. Combining the two makes absolute sense; but it does have the knock-on effect of requiring precautions to be taken for the civilian airport which would normally only apply to a military establishment.
Most Western countries wouldn't consider this level of military infrastructure to be necessary. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 though, Greece is very aware of the vulnerability of its territory and the need to be able to rapidly deploy troops to defend that territory. This is a major factor in Greece still requiring its young people to carry out national service. The military are regularly visible in a way which might be normal for people in Northern Ireland or Israel, but not for people in much of the rest of the world.
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
1
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
1
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
3
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
3
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
2
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
6
down vote
This blurring or pixellation is quite common on military airfields in France, and I've even seen a few military airfields in the Netherlands pixellated.
Ironically, the fact that the area is pixellated is a huge red flag to 'there's something interesting here'!
It's not just airfields ... in France there is a place to the north of Paris which is pixellated, but it's in the suburbs (no airfield anywhere near!) see N 49.032600 E2.221700 ... it's a place called Tavernay.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
7
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
2
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
1
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
I was once getting a flight home from a small airport on the Greek mainland. We boarded the plane but take off was delayed for a long time. The pilot got on the intercom and apologised for the delay which was 'due to congestion in the Athens airspace'. We then saw a Nato AWACS take off from the runway we were waiting to use. Shortly after that two very smart Greek Air Force officers walked out of the flight deck, got in a car and drove away.
Short answer: many Greek civilian airports have a military role as well.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
79
down vote
accepted
The short answer seems to be that some countries have persuaded Google to blur out specific areas for "national security" reasons. Wikipedia has an article on it with some more (limited!) information. Interestingly, I couldn't find any official Google article on blurring in Maps, apart from some general references to Street View. And, as it turns out, Street View at ATH works as normal.
FWIW, it seems that Greece didn't persuade Microsoft to play along, because Bing Maps has much better images. That strongly suggests that the blurring is mostly security theater.
(By the way, I'm not saying that there are no security/privacy risks with Google Maps, Bing or other tools; it's just that some risks are more credible than others. security.SE would be a good place to ask more about that.)
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
8
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
44
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
17
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
6
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
4
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
79
down vote
accepted
The short answer seems to be that some countries have persuaded Google to blur out specific areas for "national security" reasons. Wikipedia has an article on it with some more (limited!) information. Interestingly, I couldn't find any official Google article on blurring in Maps, apart from some general references to Street View. And, as it turns out, Street View at ATH works as normal.
FWIW, it seems that Greece didn't persuade Microsoft to play along, because Bing Maps has much better images. That strongly suggests that the blurring is mostly security theater.
(By the way, I'm not saying that there are no security/privacy risks with Google Maps, Bing or other tools; it's just that some risks are more credible than others. security.SE would be a good place to ask more about that.)
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
8
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
44
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
17
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
6
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
4
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
79
down vote
accepted
up vote
79
down vote
accepted
The short answer seems to be that some countries have persuaded Google to blur out specific areas for "national security" reasons. Wikipedia has an article on it with some more (limited!) information. Interestingly, I couldn't find any official Google article on blurring in Maps, apart from some general references to Street View. And, as it turns out, Street View at ATH works as normal.
FWIW, it seems that Greece didn't persuade Microsoft to play along, because Bing Maps has much better images. That strongly suggests that the blurring is mostly security theater.
(By the way, I'm not saying that there are no security/privacy risks with Google Maps, Bing or other tools; it's just that some risks are more credible than others. security.SE would be a good place to ask more about that.)
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
The short answer seems to be that some countries have persuaded Google to blur out specific areas for "national security" reasons. Wikipedia has an article on it with some more (limited!) information. Interestingly, I couldn't find any official Google article on blurring in Maps, apart from some general references to Street View. And, as it turns out, Street View at ATH works as normal.
FWIW, it seems that Greece didn't persuade Microsoft to play along, because Bing Maps has much better images. That strongly suggests that the blurring is mostly security theater.
(By the way, I'm not saying that there are no security/privacy risks with Google Maps, Bing or other tools; it's just that some risks are more credible than others. security.SE would be a good place to ask more about that.)
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
answered 2 days ago
Pondlife
48.6k7129262
48.6k7129262
8
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
44
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
17
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
6
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
4
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
8
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
44
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
17
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
6
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
4
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
8
8
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
Greece seem particularly funny about this stuff - I believe there have been a few cases of plane spotters being detained and such.
– Dan
2 days ago
44
44
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
@RedSonja There's a row of satellite dish antennans somewhere on a mountain in Switzerland. One is green and all the others are white. One is military and all the others are civilian. Which one is military is officially a state secret.
– gerrit
2 days ago
17
17
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
@DohnJoe It isn't the green one. I know that for sure. I was involved in installing a lot of extra security equipment on one of the white ones a few years ago. The others (including the green one) have all the same equipment. And everyone from my company who worked on that needed clearance.
– Tonny
2 days ago
6
6
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
Possibly, they were all intended to be painted green, but it was only discovered that somebody forgot to tell the painting company after n-1 of them had already been painted. Never attribute to conspiracy that which can be explained by a simple mistake!
– alephzero
2 days ago
4
4
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
BT Tower is a 600FT+ tower in central London (Which even had a revolving restaurant) and yet for decades it did not officially exist - State secrets can be weird
– EdHunter
2 days ago
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
22
down vote
In Greece, many domestic airports are (or were) either officially military airports, or they have an air force base attached which uses the airport.
Most other countries have entirely separate military bases. With Greek geography being so fragmented by mountains and islands though, and with such a shortage of flat land where runways can be built, it simply isn't practical for every island and every major area of habitation to have separate air force bases and civilian airports. Combining the two makes absolute sense; but it does have the knock-on effect of requiring precautions to be taken for the civilian airport which would normally only apply to a military establishment.
Most Western countries wouldn't consider this level of military infrastructure to be necessary. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 though, Greece is very aware of the vulnerability of its territory and the need to be able to rapidly deploy troops to defend that territory. This is a major factor in Greece still requiring its young people to carry out national service. The military are regularly visible in a way which might be normal for people in Northern Ireland or Israel, but not for people in much of the rest of the world.
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
1
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
1
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
3
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
3
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
2
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
22
down vote
In Greece, many domestic airports are (or were) either officially military airports, or they have an air force base attached which uses the airport.
Most other countries have entirely separate military bases. With Greek geography being so fragmented by mountains and islands though, and with such a shortage of flat land where runways can be built, it simply isn't practical for every island and every major area of habitation to have separate air force bases and civilian airports. Combining the two makes absolute sense; but it does have the knock-on effect of requiring precautions to be taken for the civilian airport which would normally only apply to a military establishment.
Most Western countries wouldn't consider this level of military infrastructure to be necessary. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 though, Greece is very aware of the vulnerability of its territory and the need to be able to rapidly deploy troops to defend that territory. This is a major factor in Greece still requiring its young people to carry out national service. The military are regularly visible in a way which might be normal for people in Northern Ireland or Israel, but not for people in much of the rest of the world.
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
1
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
1
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
3
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
3
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
2
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
22
down vote
up vote
22
down vote
In Greece, many domestic airports are (or were) either officially military airports, or they have an air force base attached which uses the airport.
Most other countries have entirely separate military bases. With Greek geography being so fragmented by mountains and islands though, and with such a shortage of flat land where runways can be built, it simply isn't practical for every island and every major area of habitation to have separate air force bases and civilian airports. Combining the two makes absolute sense; but it does have the knock-on effect of requiring precautions to be taken for the civilian airport which would normally only apply to a military establishment.
Most Western countries wouldn't consider this level of military infrastructure to be necessary. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 though, Greece is very aware of the vulnerability of its territory and the need to be able to rapidly deploy troops to defend that territory. This is a major factor in Greece still requiring its young people to carry out national service. The military are regularly visible in a way which might be normal for people in Northern Ireland or Israel, but not for people in much of the rest of the world.
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
In Greece, many domestic airports are (or were) either officially military airports, or they have an air force base attached which uses the airport.
Most other countries have entirely separate military bases. With Greek geography being so fragmented by mountains and islands though, and with such a shortage of flat land where runways can be built, it simply isn't practical for every island and every major area of habitation to have separate air force bases and civilian airports. Combining the two makes absolute sense; but it does have the knock-on effect of requiring precautions to be taken for the civilian airport which would normally only apply to a military establishment.
Most Western countries wouldn't consider this level of military infrastructure to be necessary. After the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 though, Greece is very aware of the vulnerability of its territory and the need to be able to rapidly deploy troops to defend that territory. This is a major factor in Greece still requiring its young people to carry out national service. The military are regularly visible in a way which might be normal for people in Northern Ireland or Israel, but not for people in much of the rest of the world.
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
edited 2 days ago
Lightness Races in Orbit
1657
1657
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
answered 2 days ago
Graham
1,214310
1,214310
1
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
1
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
3
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
3
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
2
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
 |Â
show 4 more comments
1
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
1
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
3
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
3
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
2
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
1
1
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
It's pretty normal in many parts of the world for the military and civilian operations to share the same airfield, but the blurring of Google Maps doesn't happen in most countries. Even completely military airfields in the U.S. aren't blurred like that. You can go look at full-res maps of Edwards AFB or even Groom Lake on Google Maps if you want.
– reirab
2 days ago
1
1
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
Wasn't it Greece who arrested a couple of game developers that observed its military installations for gameplay ideas (as THEY claimed!)?
– IMil
yesterday
3
3
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
@IMil Yes, Greece arrested 2 people that were in possession of 800 photos out of which 14 were of "classified" military installations. There are large signs saying "No photos!" on military bases but were ignored by the 2. They intentionally violate the law multiple times in 2011 and 2012.
– Fermi paradox
yesterday
3
3
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
I'm not saying they didn't photograph the bases; but surely if a base's secrecy is protected only by a sign - even a large one! - all competent spies already know it to the last inch. So, Greek action may have been completely legal, but IMHO hardly reasonable.
– IMil
yesterday
2
2
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
The military airfield at Agrinio is not pixellated, and shows a lot of military aircraft in open storage at the eastern end and in the north-western corner.
– Graham Tanner
yesterday
 |Â
show 4 more comments
up vote
6
down vote
This blurring or pixellation is quite common on military airfields in France, and I've even seen a few military airfields in the Netherlands pixellated.
Ironically, the fact that the area is pixellated is a huge red flag to 'there's something interesting here'!
It's not just airfields ... in France there is a place to the north of Paris which is pixellated, but it's in the suburbs (no airfield anywhere near!) see N 49.032600 E2.221700 ... it's a place called Tavernay.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
7
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
2
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
1
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
This blurring or pixellation is quite common on military airfields in France, and I've even seen a few military airfields in the Netherlands pixellated.
Ironically, the fact that the area is pixellated is a huge red flag to 'there's something interesting here'!
It's not just airfields ... in France there is a place to the north of Paris which is pixellated, but it's in the suburbs (no airfield anywhere near!) see N 49.032600 E2.221700 ... it's a place called Tavernay.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
7
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
2
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
1
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
This blurring or pixellation is quite common on military airfields in France, and I've even seen a few military airfields in the Netherlands pixellated.
Ironically, the fact that the area is pixellated is a huge red flag to 'there's something interesting here'!
It's not just airfields ... in France there is a place to the north of Paris which is pixellated, but it's in the suburbs (no airfield anywhere near!) see N 49.032600 E2.221700 ... it's a place called Tavernay.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
This blurring or pixellation is quite common on military airfields in France, and I've even seen a few military airfields in the Netherlands pixellated.
Ironically, the fact that the area is pixellated is a huge red flag to 'there's something interesting here'!
It's not just airfields ... in France there is a place to the north of Paris which is pixellated, but it's in the suburbs (no airfield anywhere near!) see N 49.032600 E2.221700 ... it's a place called Tavernay.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
answered 2 days ago
Graham Tanner
611
611
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Graham Tanner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
7
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
2
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
1
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
7
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
2
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
1
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
7
7
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
Taverny was the HQ of air borne French nuclear power (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taverny_Air_Base). EDIT: was (until 2011)
– WoJ
2 days ago
2
2
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
Second sentence: see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
– cmbuckley
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
It's rather interesting how all of the famous "Area 51" in Nevada is 100% visible (and in high definition) on Google Maps. Makes you wonder if they really have nothing interesting in the surface, or if maybe the imagery is completely doctored.
– Bruno Philipe
yesterday
1
1
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
@BrunoPhilipe - In the past, R-4808N (Area 51) was blurred on Google images. It was one of the first things I looked for as a kid when free online satellite imagery was coming into being.
– Steve V.
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
I was once getting a flight home from a small airport on the Greek mainland. We boarded the plane but take off was delayed for a long time. The pilot got on the intercom and apologised for the delay which was 'due to congestion in the Athens airspace'. We then saw a Nato AWACS take off from the runway we were waiting to use. Shortly after that two very smart Greek Air Force officers walked out of the flight deck, got in a car and drove away.
Short answer: many Greek civilian airports have a military role as well.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
I was once getting a flight home from a small airport on the Greek mainland. We boarded the plane but take off was delayed for a long time. The pilot got on the intercom and apologised for the delay which was 'due to congestion in the Athens airspace'. We then saw a Nato AWACS take off from the runway we were waiting to use. Shortly after that two very smart Greek Air Force officers walked out of the flight deck, got in a car and drove away.
Short answer: many Greek civilian airports have a military role as well.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
I was once getting a flight home from a small airport on the Greek mainland. We boarded the plane but take off was delayed for a long time. The pilot got on the intercom and apologised for the delay which was 'due to congestion in the Athens airspace'. We then saw a Nato AWACS take off from the runway we were waiting to use. Shortly after that two very smart Greek Air Force officers walked out of the flight deck, got in a car and drove away.
Short answer: many Greek civilian airports have a military role as well.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I was once getting a flight home from a small airport on the Greek mainland. We boarded the plane but take off was delayed for a long time. The pilot got on the intercom and apologised for the delay which was 'due to congestion in the Athens airspace'. We then saw a Nato AWACS take off from the runway we were waiting to use. Shortly after that two very smart Greek Air Force officers walked out of the flight deck, got in a car and drove away.
Short answer: many Greek civilian airports have a military role as well.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
answered 2 days ago
JustATourist
511
511
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
JustATourist is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Gianluca Ghettini is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2faviation.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f54953%2fwhy-are-airports-in-greece-blurred-and-low-res-in-google-maps%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
1
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
– BlueCacti
2 days ago