Map-viewing tools for viewing the conflict area

tal, 8 months ago

• I have also, on occasion, used the open-source software package Marble locally on my Linux desktop; it's also apparently available for Windows, MacOS, and Android. A bit more-responsive than Web-based map viewers, this includes a wide variety of data sources, including the ability to view locally-rendered vector OpenStreetMap data (as opposed to tiles rendered on a remote server from OpenStreetMap data). Can measure distances along multiple-point paths. Can provide routing information along streets.

tal, 8 months ago

• NASA FIRMS. This is an interactive map which is notable for including infrared satellite fire data; because explosions can start fires, this can provide insight into where fighting is occurring. Uses a number of different satellite systems, and includes information about age of fire, intensity, which systems have detected it, satellite pass times, and so forth. I recommend at least trying the "time-based view", which is not the default setting. Includes satellite, street, and topographic data. Latinized names only. Includes tools for measuring distance along a multiple-point path, areas, and will dynamically display distances when moving the mouse.

tal, 8 months ago

• Wikipedia. This isn't really a map tool as such, but it includes pages with a number of handy maps, including an oblast map of Ukraine, and a page specifically on the invasion with a frequently-updated map.

tal, 8 months ago

• Jomini of the West. (Using nitter.net rather than Twitter link.) This Twitter user compiles static military maps notable for showing identified force locations from open source intelligence, including both Russian and Ukrainian forces. To read this, if not familiar with NATO military map symbols, you may want to refer to the Wikipedia page on it. These maps are only updated something like once a month, so they won't have the absolute-latest information, but they give a pretty good idea of the disposition of forces.

tal, 8 months ago

• Institute for the Study of War's daily update map. These are notable for providing a daily summary of the events occurring and what things should be looked for. This also includes a series of non-interactive maps covering the conflict.

tal, 8 months ago

• MarineTraffic. What ADSBExchange is for aircraft ADS-B information, MarineTraffic is for ship AIS position data. Military ships generally won't show up, but this is useful for seeing the position and identity of civilian ships. This is significant both for civilian ships in the Black Sea passing the blockade and may become much-more-significant later in a scenario where Ukrainian forces cut the land bridge, reach the shores of the Sea of Azov, and aim to cut shipping between Russia and Crimea.

tal, 8 months ago

• ADSBExchange. This is an interactive map which is notable for including ADS-B information, which aircraft broadcast to inform other aircraft and ground stations about their location. Military aircraft won't typically broadcast this in a conflict, but some military aircraft -- including air tankers refuelling aircraft inside Russia, US Global Hawks in the Mediterranean monitoring Russian forces, military transports moving cargo to Ukraine (often through Poland's Rzeszow-Jasionka airport) -- do. VIP civilian jets, like those used to move Putin or other diplomats around, will also tend to show up. I prefer this to the somewhat-similar FlightRadar24 site, as it can easily filter out non-military aircraft and has better history.

tal, 8 months ago

• Google Maps. This is an interactive map which is notable for including high-resolution satellite imagery. It sometimes has information that the more-widely-used-by-other-services OpenStreetMap database does not, since Google maintains their own database. Both Cyrillic and Latinized placenames are included. Includes routing data, to measure distances along roads. Good searching tools for finding places and locations.

tal, 8 months ago

• Google Earth. This is an interactive map which is notable for permitting 3d views (which can be useful for comparing against aerial imagery or understanding the impact of elevated terrain), notable for providing elevation data under the mouse pointer, and notable for high-resolution satellite imagery. I believe that the mobile version of this website is now app-only, unfortunately. Both Cyrillic and Latinized placenames are included. Permits seeing a dynamically-updated distance when measuring, as well as measuring distance along a multiple point path. Does not, unfortunately, have building 3D data in Ukraine, as it does for some other places in the world. Good searching tools for finding places and locations.

tal, 8 months ago

• LiveUAMap. This is an interactive map which is notable for including current events in the news on the map. Includes information about which forces control which areas. Permits seeing a dynamically-updated distance when measuring, as well as measuring distances along multi-point paths. Both Cyrillic and Latinized placenames are included. Satellite imagery is included, but only in a "pro" version.

tal, 8 months ago

• DeepStateMap. This is an interactive map which is notable for including Russian fortifications as-determined-by-satellite-imagery. I was unaware of any interactive map that included the fortification data until recently; DefMon3 on Twitter linked to it. This is what inspired me to post this, since my guess is that others might have also been unfamiliar with the tools. Permits measuring distances along multi-point paths. Includes OpenStreetMap layout information. Includes information about which forces control which areas. Includes satellite imagery. Includes satellite fire data map (though I'm not sure of the source).