Keep these fields in the source log
- Coordinates and reference system
- Layer, sensor, date and resolution
- Matching cues and contradictions
Public research resources · FR / EN
Maps, geolocation and satellites · OSINT
Which clues can confirm a place and period ? Practical method, external tools, source log and interpretation limits.
External services · no results hosted here · queries sent only when you click a provider link.
Which clues can confirm a place and period ?
- List visible clues: road, terrain, signs, buildings, vegetation and orientation.
- Form several candidate locations instead of choosing the first similar result.
- Compare independent fixed features using maps, photographs and dated imagery.
- Record coordinates, acquisition dates and why other candidates were excluded.
What the method cannot establish alone
Landscape similarity does not confirm a location. Imagery may be old, cloudy or insufficiently detailed; distinguish geolocation from dating.
External tools for this pathway
Editorial selection of external services and resources, described using their portals or documentation. References reviewed on 3 October 2026; availability, prices, quotas and interface languages can change. Subscriptions and paid features were not tested.
7 catalogue entries
OpenStreetMap ↗
Compare roads, buildings and place names with visual clues.
Limit: The map is community maintained; date and corroborate decisive details.
Google Earth ↗
Explore terrain, buildings and available imagery around a location.
Limit: Images have different dates and resolutions; they may not show current conditions.
Copernicus Browser ↗
Choose an area, period and satellite product to compare observations.
Limit: Clouds, resolution and processing limit interpretation; retain product and acquisition date.
NASA Worldview ↗
Inspect Earth observation layers and compare dates.
Limit: A thematic layer may be a derived product; read its legend and resolution.
NASA FIRMS ↗
Inspect hotspot detections and their temporal context.
Limit: A hotspot alone does not establish a wildfire, its cause or its extent.
GeoNames ↗
Find coordinates, alternative names and places sharing a name.
Limit: Geographic namesakes require country, region and coordinate checks.
cartes.gouv.fr · IGN ↗
Consult French public maps and geographic layers.
Limit: Distinguish acquisition date, basemap updates and layer accuracy.
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These downloads contain tool descriptions and links, not provider search results. Retain limitations, references and review dates when reusing the catalogue.
Continue with the site’s detailed guides and data
Verify an online identityGuide or reference dataset →Verify a company and its directorsGuide or reference dataset →Verify an image or videoGuide or reference dataset →Map public digital infrastructureGuide or reference dataset →Build an OSINT timelineGuide or reference dataset →Compare source reliabilityGuide or reference dataset →
Questions about tools and external searches
Where are search results displayed?
On the selected provider’s website, in a new tab. IIS does not retrieve, host or display investigation results. Directory filters only filter the editorial catalogue.
Is the typed query stored?
The launchpad builds links inside your browser, without sending the query to IIS or storing it in browser storage. Clicking a prepared link sends the query to the named provider, under its own rules.
Are all tools free and available in every language?
No. Access may require an account, subscription, software or quota. The catalogue is available in French and English; providers set their interface languages, coverage and conditions.
Does no result prove that a fact is false?
No. Index coverage, spelling, language, access limits and capture dates can explain a missing result. Record what was searched and what remains unknown.