EDIT: We’ve learned that Garmin decided not to support BirdsEye imagery on the Dakota 10, due to its lack of an expansion card slot.

To get started, run WebUpdater and download or update BaseCamp. Once you start BaseCamp and connect your unit, you should get a message asking if you want to create BirdsEye imagery for your device. You can download a low-resolution demo for free or pony up $29.99 for a year of downloads.

I’m posting a couple of images here. I haven’t used them out in the field yet, but they appear washed out on the screen of my Oregon 400t. The one at left is Panther Stadium in Charlotte; below is a high elevation bald in the Rocky Fork tract, a new 10,000 acre public land acquisition near the NC/TN border. The resolution available for that area does not allow me to pick out forest roads, limiting its usefulness. This is an early test though; other areas may have higher resolution imagery available. In more open terrain (e.g., western US), you might be able to pick out trails and 4WD tracks, even at this resolution.

I’m still left with some questions and I’ll try to find answers to them. One, as mentioned above, is whether the Dakota 10 is compatible or not. It’s not listed as such, though the Dakota series was mentioned in the original news release announcing BirdsEye imagery, so hopefully it’s just an oversight on Garmin’s part. I’d also like to know the resolution of the imagery in meters/pixel.

Chime in and let us know what your experiences are with BirdsEye imagery.

• The $29.99 subscriptions will be available starting this March
• Imagery will include “0.5 meter per pixel resolution in many areas of the United States”
• There is no mention of world-wide imagery in today’s news release, though it was mentioned on the Garmin BirdsEye imagery product page last week, which is unavailable right now
• Another BirdsEye web page has been announced, though it too is currently unavailable
• Image packets will be delivered in multiple resolution levels to avoid pixilation when zooming
• In response to a question, a Garmin PR contact told me “we have nothing to announce re: USGS maps at this time”; my take on that – it’s coming!
• The full news release is pasted below:

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it will begin offering BirdsEye Satellite and Aerial Imagery, an annual subscription service that gives users the option of loading highly-detailed photo-based maps to select Garmin handheld navigators.

“Without a doubt, BirdsEye Satellite Imagery reinforces Garmin as the leader in outdoor cartography,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.  “Whatever the occasion, outdoor explorers can find the ideal Garmin handheld and accompanying maps to complement their specific requirements.”

BirdsEye Imagery is raster-based, meaning it is compiled using actual aerial photos and images that are scanned, geo-referenced and overlaid onto the handheld GPS receiver’s display.  Unlike vector cartography, the resulting images depict actual buildings, vehicles, roads, trails, and land features found nearby – giving explorers a unique understanding of their surroundings.

The images are among the most highly-detailed available – offering 0.5 meter per pixel resolution in many areas of the United States.  Users can also view imagery at every zoom level – from 12 miles to 20 feet – unlike other offerings that force users to stay at pre-determined zoom levels.  BirdsEye Satellite Imagery also lets users overlay vector maps, to get a better idea of terrain contours and points of interest.  The data is collected by DigitalGlobe, a leading global provider of commercial high-resolution world-imagery products and services.

“With today’s innovations in geospatial technology, having a true sense of ‘place’ is no longer a guessing game but a reality,” said Jill Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe. “Our industry-leading satellite constellation and aerial network allow us to collect the most current imagery that, when combined with Garmin’s devices, offers users an accurate picture of their environment wherever they are. We are excited about the possibilities that this opens up for users.”

In practice, BirdsEye Satellite Imagery can help make time afield more productive and enjoyable.  Hunters can easily identify potential tree stand locations, draws, and natural game funnels.  Hikers can quickly locate trailheads, campsites, and scenic vistas.  Geocachers can better assess terrain difficulty and parking areas close to caches.  Even tourists and travelers can navigate amusement parks or historical battlefields like never before.

This imagery can be displayed on Garmin’s Oregon®, Dakota™, and Colorado® series of outdoor navigators.  An annual subscription is $29.99, and it allows the user to unlimited downloads for a single Garmin device.  Customers use Garmin’s free BaseCamp™ application (www.garmin.com/basecamp) for the PC or Mac to quickly load and easily manage BirdsEye data.  For armchair trip planning and review, subscribers can view the same BirdsEye imagery on their PC or Mac when their applicable device is connected.

BirdsEye Imagery is only the latest cartographic advancement from Garmin.  In addition, Garmin Custom Maps is a free and simple utility that transforms paper and electronic maps into customized downloadable maps for Oregon, Dakota, or Colorado handhelds.  The power of Custom Maps is exemplified through paper and digital maps labeled for specific events and purposes, such as a college graduation invitation that lists campus buildings; a roadmap of a parade, marathon, 5K or bike race; a park pamphlet showing trailheads; land-management maps of wildlife and game areas; or a historic illustration of an area as it once stood.  For more information, visit www.garmin.com/CustomMaps.

BirdsEye Satellite and Aerial Imagery will be available in March 2010.  For more information, visit www.garmin.com/birdseyesatimagery.

It looks like Garmin is getting ready to announce a BirdsEye satellite imagery subscription program for owners of the Colorado, Dakota and Oregon handheld series. Similar to DeLorme’s Map Library, the BirdsEye program will let you transfer an unlimited amount of satellite imagery and aerial photos to a compatible Garmin handheld for $29.99 per year. Imagery will be locked to one device per subscription; you’ll need Garmin’s free BaseCamp software (version 3.0.0+, yet to be released) and a myGarmin account. I hope to update this post soon with details on when the program will be up and running.