GeoTips: Ep 1 Unusual Landmarks.

Hey! Thank you for reading my new entry. I want to offer a brief introduction to this new rubric, and I want to clarify one thing: I don’t consider myself an expert. However, this blog was created to share my learning journey through the OSINT world. I generally focus on geolocation because I find it fascinating, and there’s a distinct pleasure when you pinpoint the correct location. I decided to create a section dedicated to any tips I come across that might be helpful for geolocating photos or videos. The purpose of this rubric is to share knowledge and assist those who are just starting out, as well as those who are more experienced in the practice of geolocation.

LANDMARKS: Why are they so important?

As defined by the Oxford Dictionary, a ‘landmark’ is an object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance, especially one that enables someone to establish their location.

But why are landmarks so important? Simply put, they provide us with the opportunity to narrow down the location of the photo we are examining. For example:

Geolocate this picture. (i know is very easy, it’s just an example)

Yes, it might seem straightforward. But what is the reasoning behind this geolocation? You see a landmark, such as the Eiffel Tower, and your first thought is, “I must be in Paris.” You then go to Google Maps and search for a structure similar to the one in front of the tower. Using Google Street View, you locate the exact spot.

This simple example illustrates why landmarks are so crucial in geolocation. The more widely recognized the landmark, the easier it will be to pinpoint the exact location. But what kinds of landmarks can you use?

Generally speaking, landmarks can be monuments, tall buildings, shop signs (we can even consider the name of a shop as a landmark), or even mountains. (I’m sure the list is even longer.)

Which are the best landmarks?

Personally, the best landmarks are the tallest ones, because they can be seen from various positions due to their height. They are generally easier to spot in satellite images as well, since they cast shadows on the ground or on the rooftops beneath them.

Look at the beautiful shadow the Eiffel Tower casts on the ground. However, depending on the place you are geolocating, you might not find any kind of landmark, or at least not one that’s easily recognizable.

So which landmarks can i use?

You need to identify your landmarks. This advice is especially useful when you at least know which city you are geolocating in; otherwise, you’ll likely need to determine the city first. This approach is particularly helpful for ongoing investigations.

Lately, in my geolocations, I’ve found it very useful to understand how high-voltage lines are distributed within a city, as well as to know the positions of potential radio towers around the town.

In areas without tall buildings, these are likely the best references to pinpoint something you might see in a video or to help you narrow down a position. Just remember, that at least you need to have them into the picture/video you are geolocating.

Radio towers:

Personally, I find radio towers the most challenging to locate because they don’t seem to follow a specific pattern; they appear to be placed randomly throughout the city. (If there’s a discernible pattern, please message me; I’d love to know!) To locate them, you’ll need to scrutinize the map closely. One hint is that, like all tall structures, they will cast a shadow on the ground. However, it’s worth noting that the visibility of this shadow can vary based on the quality of the satellite imagery you’re examining.

As you can see from the picture at the coordinates 9.058912, 7.427747, there’s a radio tower. It’s challenging to spot initially, but once you identify the shadow, it becomes easier.

In this image, we can see the same tower (I’m not entirely sure it’s a radio tower; it looks like it might not be finished. Regardless, use your imagination! I sourced this image from Google Street View.) By utilizing the coordinates of the tower, we should be able to find our precise cordinates.

As long as that tower is in plain sight, or even further away, pinpointing its location can make geolocating all videos and pictures much easier (at least video or picture that have something in common).

HIGH-VOLTAGE LINE:

That’s my favorite part: how can I spot a high voltage line?( P.s The high-voltage tower need to be on the picture or at least on the background.)

I’ve found a few rules that might be helpful to you:

First: Similar to radio towers, they cast a shadow on the ground. Be careful regarding the quality of the satellite picture, as this can affect visibility. They might not always be easy to spot; sometimes, they can be quite invisible, also sometimes is possible to see the cables.

Second: They are interconnected, generally spaced at consistent distances from each other. It can change based on the enviroment.

Third: they generally follow big or central street.

Now that you know the rules, you can locate your high-voltage line. Let me explain. You just need to find one. Naturally, if you’re aware of the general area (like a neighborhood) where your picture was taken, you can better pinpoint the position. If not, you simply start by identifying one line, then the next, and so on. In a nutshell:

First: Explore the map, getting as close as possible to where you believe the geolocation photo was taken. If you’re uncertain, begin by examining the main streets of the area you’re focusing on. If you can access Street View or even Mapillary, use them; they will help you locate the line.

In this example, I spotted this tower. (It took more time to find a new one than to use the ones I already had).

From the satellite view, I can pinpoint the coordinates of the tower (9.032843, 7.504595).

This example is actually perfect because the tower is nearly invisible.

Second: At this point, by following the street, I should be able to locate another tower not far away. Using the Google Earth ruler, you can measure the distance between the two towers.

Third: use the distance from the first measurement as a reference. Draw a line with the ruler, following the streets, and near that endpoint, there should be another tower.

In this case, we located a tower 250 meters away. So, now you have a range between 230 and 250 meters (note: sometimes they might be closer, like the one next to “tower example 3,” due to the environment). If it’s particularly difficult to spot a tower, consider using the time machine feature in Google Earth.

In this case, it also helps you see the cables, making it even easier.

Fourth: Just repeat.

This represents just a section of the city’s power line, but I can continue mapping. This will add more landmarks to my map, facilitating easier geolocation within this city.

Conclusion:

I hope this wasn’t too tedious, and thank you if you read the entire article. In conclusion, this is just advice: don’t solely rely on tall buildings or obvious landmarks. Sometimes, you need to create your own personalized map, filled with locations that can assist you in pinpointing your photos.

I hope you will find this tip usefull and that you will use it in your geolocation!