Fay and pilot Peter Ragg followed a general map of the "human footprint" on the continent while automatic cameras snapped a photo of the ground below every 20 seconds.

NPR: African Flyover Reveals Impact of 'Human Footprint'

In November 2010, a Nicaraguan general cited Google's map of the border with Costa Rica to justify a reported raid in a disputed area.

CNN: Iran threatens to sue Google for not labeling Persian Gulf

The map below presents a general visual overview of the 2012 hurricane season.

FORBES: Damaging Hurricanes Could Impact Energy, Insurance Industries In 2012

Overall, our approach is to map technologies on a radar diagram that projects their maturity in terms of general availability.

FORBES: To Claim the Role of Chief Innovation Officer, Think about IT Differently

"Here I am in a nation I had never heard of, couldn't pronounce and couldn't find on a map six months ago, and my remarks are being broadcast on television throughout the country, " the general marveled.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Rebasing -- and Reequipping -- for Transformation