Monday 28 October 2013

360 views of the river Thames are added to Google Street View - Technology - News - London Evening Standard

360 views of the river Thames are added to Google Street View - Technology - News - London Evening Standard


Google has added groundbreaking 360 views from the River Thames to its Street View service.
The search giant worked with the Port of London Authority to mount a specially developed camera on one of its boats.
Over 30 miles of the Thames from Woolwich to Richmond was captured by the the trekker camera, a 4ft, 18kg (40lbs) backpack fitted with a 15-angle lens camera that takes 360-degree pictures every 2.5 seconds.
It was mounted on the PLA’s hydrographic surveying vessel, Yantlet.
From today, the Thames joins the penguins of the Antarctic, Scott’s hut and the Grand Canyon as ‘special projects’ on Street View. The firm is also adding London’s canals to the project.
John Pinder, the PLA’s port hydrographer, said the project would help boost tourism by letting potential visitors see the capital from the river.
“It’s great that people across the world will now be able to take a virtual journey down the Thames, enjoying a unique perspective of London,” he said.
“The River Thames now has a place alongside some of the world’s most famous locations on Street View and we’re proud it is the first river in Europe to be mapped using the technology.”
Ed Parsons of Google said “The river offers some of the most scenic and iconic views of London from arguably the best vantage points the city has to offer, and we are thrilled to be able to work with the PLA to share this with users from around the world through Street View.