It is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth software that provides panoramic views from positions along many streets in the world. It was launched in 2007 in the US, and has since expanded many cities worldwide. Its technology and capturing equipment includes,
- Cameras: Photographs are recorded by in-house developed camera systems with Active pixel sensors and electronic rolling shutter.
- Positioning: Recorded photographs are accurately positioned via a GPS and other data sensor systems.
- Vehicles: Data recording equipment is usually mounted on the roof of a car.
A tricycle/trekker is developed to record pedestrian routes. Trolleys have been used to shoot the insides of museums, and very narrow roads are photographed with backpack-mounted cameras, and canals are photographed from boats. Google street viewer has documented many UNESCO world heritage sites allowing viewers from anywhere in the world to wander around these famous sites. Taj Mahal, Rani ki Vav are some of the Indian sites in the Google Street viewer. Latest Documentation of navigable images of the ancient monument pyramids of Giza is the first in Egypt and this would entice tourists back to see the real thing, after years of unrest in the region which scared the foreign tourists.
