Central Singapore And The Grand Prix Track, Singapore
27 June 2008

Note: The area of coverage in this IKONOS image is approximately 1.6 km x 1.6 km.
The reduced resolution image on display has undergone compression and so does not represent the true resolution of the original satellite image.

The old colonial heart of Singapore has undergone remarkable transformation in recent years. This image shows the range from the old landmarks of Singapore to the west to the large new structures to the east, mostly on reclaimed land. The green area clearly visible towards the west is the padang: the playing fields in the centre of Singapore. Starting from the southwestern corner, moving clockwise, the padang is flanked by the Supreme Court, City Hall, and St. Andrew’s Cathedral. The hotel and shopping complex of Raffles City lies beyond with its tall tower. Across the road is the large red-roofed block of Raffles Hotel. Construction sites and large new structures mark the northwestern corner of the image, the bright-roofed multistoried National Library being the most conspicuous. More new buildings, on land reclaimed several years ago, are on the other side of the curving Nicoll Highway, which skirts the area. Across Nicoll Highway, is Suntec City with its large convention centre (under the shining roof with stars), multistoried offices, shopping complexes, and hotels. Towards the south, various recreational centres, including the Esplanade Theatres, Marina Bay Outdoor Gallery, and the Floating Platform are located on Marina Bay. Further to the east, where the Kallang River flows into Marina Bay, is the newly constructed Singapore Flyer, with its very distinctive shadow. The East Coast Parkway and its bridges mark the southeastern corner of the image. More land transformation is happening towards the southeastern corner. Towards the southwest, the Singapore River flows under three bridges before joining Marina Bay, marked by the statue of the Merlion. Part of the road network has recently been modified to suit the requirements of Grand Prix racing. The modified track, imaged in a darker shade of grey, skirts a number of well-known landmarks. The track can be picked up in the middle of the image, south of Suntec Convention Centre. The route then turns south, loops round the padang, crosses the Singapore River, and turns north to circumvent the two buildings of the Esplanade Theatres. It then continues along the waterline past the Floating Platform, turns north at the corner with the Singapore Flyer, runs parallel to the Kallang River, and finally swings back into the Suntec City area to complete the circuit.