[GIS] Google Maps OpenLayers plugin not aligned with the OpenStreetMap building layer in QGIS

google mapsopenstreetmapqgis

I am working on an OpenStreeetMap (OSM) building layer (I download the imposm GeoJSON in city Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania from https://mapzen.com/data/metro-extracts and used the building layer) and the Google satellite layer in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania using QGIS. However, it seems to me that the Google map is misaligned.

overlaid image

I tried an imagery from OpenAerialMap and it aligns well with the OSM building layer.

enter image description here

Changing the current coordinate referenced system (CRS) in the bottom right of QGIS to match the CRS in the building layer does not fix the issue.

What are the possible reasons and is there any way to fix it so that they are aligned?

Best Answer

I tried an imagery from OpenAerialMap and it aligns with the OSM building layer well.

Of course, buildings in OSM, most probably, were traced over this OpenAerialMap images, so they match them.

All satelite images could have alignment errors (as well as data traced among them). The quality of image referencing connected with:

  • Relief and Digital Elevation Model precision and quality.
  • Incline which under image was taken.
  • Visual references, with known coordinates availability.
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