The state of Maine recently made the following mapping sites available:

http://musashi.ogis.state.me.us/catalog/catalog.asp

http://megisims.state.me.us/website/orthomap/viewer.htm

It takes half an hour to figure out how they work, but they are Absolutely
Amazing!

There is an area of greater Portland and the surrounding towns with
high-res arial photos in color. There is no "fly-by", but there is a
measuring function. I can accurately measure the size of my roof, and any
one elses for that
matter, plus or minus four inches, compared to on-the-ground tape
measurment! I could almost trust this for take-offs on roof work. I can
measure how much fire wood I had stacked up the year they
took the photo. I can see the groundleaders of my downspouts slanting
across the lawn, and little piles of tree seeds that wash through the
downspout and accumulate at the end of the groundleaders. I can see all the
features of my roof, just shy of the individual shingles, but  including
valleys, flashing over the bay, chimney, shadows that indicate the 4"
diameter and 2" diameter x 8" tall stack vents! I just took a look my
buddy's house down the street,
I think he needs to clean out his gutters! Too--oooo much!

Wait a minute. Is that a terriorist hiding behind my woodpile?

John

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>