Google Street View: A Look Back at 15 Years of Immersive Mapping
Summary
In this article, we explore the history and technology behind Google Street View, which has been mapping the world for 15 years. From its humble beginnings as a camcorder strapped to a car, to the latest generation camera with seven lenses, we delve into how Street View has evolved to provide an immersive on-the-ground experience of far-flung locales.
Table of Contents
- The Birth of Street View
- Advanced Technology for Detailed 3D Reconstruction
- Privacy Protection and Blurring
- Innovations in Immersive View
The Birth of Street View
Google co-founder Larry Page was the brainchild behind Street View, which began as a project to collect imagery around the Bay Area using a camcorder and GPS unit. From there, engineers built a custom prototype camera system with multiple camera units and laser scanners, and the project expanded to cover more countries and thousands of miles of road. Today, Street View has covered 102 countries and 7 continents, and 10 million miles of road.
Advanced Technology for Detailed 3D Reconstruction
Every Street View route is planned in advance, and the hardware is standardized as much as possible, though sometimes local quirks require custom rigs. The Street View Trekker is a camera system attached to a backpack that allows for off-road image gathering. Google collects imagery through staffed Trekkers, third-party contractors, or community contributors. Google has also experimented with side-profile cameras and machine learning to extract information from images.
Privacy Protection and Blurring
Google has built-in blurring and privacy protection into its Street View feature through automatic algorithms that blur faces and license plates. The latest generation camera, set to roll out on Street View cars over the next year, can be mounted on any vehicle with a roof rack and has seven lenses arranged around the outside, as well as one pointing upwards.
Innovations in Immersive View
Google is also innovating on the software side with Immersive View, which is all of the billions of Street View images and aerial photos. This allows users to see additional information overlaid on top of the model of the world, such as real-time busyness and immersive experiences.
Conclusion
Google Street View has come a long way since its inception, and continues to evolve with advanced technology and innovative features. With its immersive on-the-ground experience, Street View has become an essential tool for exploring and navigating the world.
