Will the Google/Katrina Affair Finally Push Metadata on GM/GE?

Google has resolved the concerns about pre-Katrina imagery appearing on its mapping properties by posting higher resolution post-Katrina on Sunday night. (Full story on the Official Google Blog)

We pondered this on our podcast and Joe Francica pointed out that perhaps the real issue here is better metadata or what the media might call “more transparency.” Now, I’m sure many a GIS tech geeks would think the same thing. I was suprised however to find that non-GIS tech geeks, including Stevie Smith at Monsters and Critics noticed the value of metadata even if they didn’t call it by name:

It’s also worth noting that although Google’s updated 2006 satellite photography does clearly show elements of the damage wrought by Katrina, there are still significant discrepancies in its chronological accuracy. For example, while New Orleans appears much closer to how it is in 2007, certain small Mississippi Gulf Coast towns that were absolutely devastated by Katrina (literally wiped off the world map) remain eerily untouched.

If the outcome of this “event” is more metadata (for imagery and vector data) on Google mapping properties (which would push other players, I’m sure) that would be a huge positive step forward.