The much anticipated satellite-based 3D mapping application Bhuvan was launched by Indian Space Research Organization last week. Many have compared it to Google Earth and held it as the ‘Google Earth killer’.
The site is still in its beta version and as of now, it can be very safely said that it is not going to pose any threat to Google Earth very soon.
Bhuvan functions within the browser whereas the Google Earth works on downloadable basis. Another limitation of Bhuvan is that it only supoorts Internet Explore 6 or above and Windows.
India's own geographic information system (GIS) dubbed 'Bhuvan' is now available for download, currently under BETA release country's indigenous Google Earth is capable of Indian specific features not available in any other competing product, Bhuvan features multiple layers of information showing topography, altitude, depth weather and other features helpful in managing public services, internal security, town planning, and infrastructure development activities.
The web-based portal requires an initial plugin download in order to provide promising high-resolution 3-D satellite imagery with smooth video acceleration, Bhuvan offers images of the globe similar to Google Earth but provides best resolutions over the Indian sub-continent with ISRO having plans to expand high-resolution images globally.