Once (probably from a commuter flight, don't think it would have looked the same from 35,000+ feet) I saw a building nearly completely surrounded by a bright yellow dotted line. Finally figured out what it was: a school, with school buses waiting to pick up students!

The book mentioned above may be Earth from Above: 366 Days by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, or perhaps his earlier Earth from Above: 365 Days. Most of the photos are from much lower than a commercial flight would be, though.