When did Google (and Bing) start blurring-out RRs on satellite views?

[C855B]

It can't be just me. I was doing my infrequent Google Maps research in preparation for terraforming, and zoomed in on satellite views for my study area in the California desert. The rail lines are blurred or otherwise obscured with a broad dark gray smudge. I surfed around to other known locations, and found the same thing in many, but not all. The problem carries over to Google Earth, and Bing sat views have a similar treatment.

It seems to be just mainlines. Minor branchlines are clear, as are sidings when they're far enough out of the smudge zone.

When did this start? It's recent, within the past two or three months. It's a shame to lose this easy tool, but why? Are we that paranoid now? Can anybody suggest other sites?

[Chris333]

I know you can have your house blurred out if you want.

[ednadolski]

Doesn't seem to be the case at Walong (whew!), Williams Loop, Horseshoe Curve, or Big Ten (at least for the time being).

Ed

[Chris333]

Got a specific area?  I looked around and everything was clear, but I do not no what a mainline would be.

[GaryHinshaw]

Can you post a sample screen grab?  I just looked at half a dozen random mainlines in California (including Cima) and couldn't find an example. Maybe it's you.   

[C855B]

Afton Canyon, CA is where I first noticed it. Tracks were in clear detail previously. The entire UP line is grayed-out or blurred into the adjacent terrain. I was thinking it was just UP, but BNSF's line at Amboy, CA also has the treatment. Didn't check the adjacent areas.

>...Walong...

Unfortunately, it does. It has the gray overlay making it less visible.

The only "known" I tried that wasn't blurred or grayed was Kearney, NE.

Can you post a sample screen grab?  I just looked at half a dozen random mainlines in California (including Cima) and couldn't find an example. Maybe it's you.   

What? Me blurry? 

Here you go. NW of Afton. No, sand has not blown over the tracks, and you can see algorithmic blur artifacts, especially 2/3 across and down. Something's hinky.

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[Scottl]

Looks like image merge effects to my eye.  You see this on occasion with linear objects in the seamless imagery products.  They are not very concerned with rural areas and let a lot bad merges through to the operational product.

[samusi01]

I am not really seeing anything unusual... just as @Scottl notes, computer imagery merging nonsense. I went about a mile east of your screen grab and tracks looked fine to me; for what it's worth, the imagery date for your screen grab location and the one I was looking at are the same.

When I think of deliberately blurred locations, this is a good example of what springs to mind:

[EJN]

I get the same at that location

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But when I look at the CN/Metra tracks 2 miles from me, they look fine

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[C855B]

I dunno, guys. Here's a before/after from screen caps, the first one from 2020. I don't know what viewer I was using for the top one - it's not Google Earth or Google Maps, at least.

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[Scottl]

Cool image, gets the sed head in me excited 😊.   The second image is not nadir-directly over- the bridge and the merge is cr*p.

[jagged ben]

Image resolution and features may depend on your device, app, and whether you are logged in. Also at times I've noticed that less populated areas have poorer image quality, perhaps dependent on the variables previously mentioned.  I think you are just seeing poorer image quality than might have been available at a previous time, and not a deliberate attempt to hide or obfuscate.

[ednadolski]

.
>...Walong...

Unfortunately, it does. It has the gray overlay making it less visible.

To me it looks pretty much like it always has (Firefox, anyways)

[C855B]

I think I found the answer: reduction in product quality. Here are comparative images from a railfanning spot I'm quite familiar with, where the BNSF Transcon crosses over the ex-CB&Q line in Bucklin, MO. This is in Google Earth Pro, just from tweaking the history slider.

Ignoring the comedy the 3D conversion algorithms add to the bridge, the 2012 view is sharp and clear and color-correct, the 2024 view from two months ago is crap.

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[jagged ben]

Yeah, pretty much what I said.