God's Eye View: Real-time Spatial Intelligence on a Photorealistic 3D Globe

Introduction

God's Eye View is an innovative open-source project that transforms your web browser into a sophisticated spy satellite simulator. It leverages real, public data to provide live spatial intelligence on a photorealistic 3D globe. This project gained significant viral attention through its YouTube series and reached #1 on GitHub Trending, demonstrating its unique approach to visualizing global activity. It offers a powerful, interactive, and fully inspectable platform for understanding the world around us.

Why Use It and Key Features

This project stands out by making complex geospatial intelligence accessible and transparent. It feels like a "forbidden cockpit," yet every line of code is open for inspection.

Key features include:

• Photorealistic 3D Globe: Experience the world on a stunning 3D globe, powered by technologies like Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles and CesiumJS.
• Live Data Layers: Track thousands of live aircraft, ships, satellites, earthquakes, traffic, and public cameras. It also includes global radio stations, transit, bikeshare availability, and comprehensive weather data (wind, radar, clouds, lightning, cyclones).
• Interactive Cockpit View: Ride inside a tracked flight, with the camera holding the terrain beneath you, and switch between various sensor styles like Night Vision Goggles (NVG) or FLIR/thermal.
• Voice Control (with OpenAI key): Interact with the globe hands-free. Ask questions, direct the camera, annotate the world with real boundary polygons, or operate console functions using natural language.
• Visual Styles and HUD: Apply GLSL sensor looks (CRT, NVG, FLIR) to the entire globe and utilize a tactical Heads-Up Display (HUD) with intelligence-style telemetry.
• Open and Inspectable: The entire application runs locally in your browser, with source code you can inspect and extend, promoting transparency and customization.
• Start Without API Keys: Many core functionalities, including Esri satellite imagery, keyless terrain, flights, military traffic, satellites, earthquakes, and public cameras, are available right out of the box. Optional API keys enhance the experience with features like Google Photorealistic 3D cities and voice control.

Installation

Getting started with God's Eye View is designed to be straightforward, offering both a one-click installation via Pinokio or a traditional terminal setup.

Path 1: One-click with Pinokio

1. Install or update Pinokio to version 8.2 or later.
2. Open God's Eye View in Pinokio: https://pinokio.co/apps/github-com-bilawalsidhu-gods-eye-view.
3. Click "Install," then "Start."

Path 2: Terminal / Coding Agent

Requires Node.js 24.x (24.14.0 or later) or 26.x.

git clone https://github.com/bilawalsidhu/gods-eye-view.git
cd gods-eye-view
npm ci
npm run doctor
npm run dev

Open http://localhost:4173 in your browser.

Adding Optional API Keys:

API keys are upgrades, not prerequisites. To enhance the experience, click the "POWER UP" chip in the bottom-right corner of the app. Provider Settings lists every supported key, explaining what it enables and where to obtain it. Paste your key, hit "SAVE KEYS," and the app will restart with the new capabilities.

Examples

Explore the world with God's Eye View through these engaging "Field Missions":

• Light up the sky: Activate the Live Contacts mission to see thousands of live aircraft. Click one to lock the camera, draw a trail, and view its telemetry.
• Take the controls: Hit "COCKPIT" on a tracked plane to ride it down, switching between NVG and Ironbow FLIR sensors mid-flight.
• Look through a public camera: Turn on the Cameras layer over a city like Austin or London to see live public video feeds projected into the 3D scene.
• Track something in orbit: Enable the Satellites layer and click the ISS to ride along its orbital path.
• Talk to it (with OpenAI key): Use voice commands like "Take me to LAX and select the nearest airborne aircraft" or "Outline the state of Texas."
• Ask the planet: Select a military track to silently backfill its ~24 hours of real trace history, resolved as stacked 3D loops above the terrain.
• Measure LAX to DFW (with OpenAI key): Ask "How far is LAX from DFW?" and an arrow will span the country, with the distance displayed.

Links

• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/bilawalsidhu/gods-eye-view
• Pinokio App: https://pinokio.co/apps/github-com-bilawalsidhu-gods-eye-view
• YouTube Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6qSg2I-7_koPbDnSMo0QeeHX_RknA2uv&si=nBGYMoHWQw41v93Q
• Halfpixel (Project Maintainers): https://halfpixel.ai