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Google to Map San Francisco in 3D

Posted by samzenpus on from the topographical-internet dept.

mtz206 writes "SiliconValleyWatcher reports that "Google plans to use trucks equipped with lasers and digital photographic equipment to create a realistic 3D online version of San Francisco, and eventually other major US cities. The move would trump Amazon's A9 service, which offers two-dimensional photos of buildings on US city streets.""

13 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by PlancksCnst · · Score: 1, Funny

    Worlds biggest scanner?

  2. Trucks? Pft by strongmace · · Score: 1, Funny

    What, Google couldn't find a way to use sharks running on linux?

    --
    "If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." -Zapp Brannigan
  3. Warning... by HaydnH · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... to anyone living in San Francisco: Make sure your curtains are drawn while doing things you shouldn't be doing.

    "Hey mom, check out this 3D Google version of our home, hey what are you and dad up to in your bedroom??? Ewwww!"

    --
    Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so. - Douglas Adams
  4. Re:Imagine.. by markild · · Score: 4, Funny

    Could get troublesome though...

    "I rememeber i robbed this bank once.. Wait, was that real life or GTA."

    --
    Scully: Should we arrest David Copperfield?
    Mulder: Yes we should, but not for this.
  5. Google to take over the world! by el_womble · · Score: 4, Funny

    Step 1: Strap frickin' laser beams to sharks head
    Step 2: Map the ocean
    Step 3: ????
    Step 4: PROFIT!!!

    --
    Scared of flying, pointy things snce 1979!
  6. I knew it... by derkyjadex · · Score: 5, Funny

    "...trucks equipped with lasers...", Google have finally begun their attack on the world...

    --
    Lift out of order. Bubble sort in progress.
  7. Lasers on trucks are "old hat"... by pandrijeczko · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...just nuke the site from orbit.

    --
    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
  8. I Have A Plan...... by SaleNowOn · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Find details of the trucks route and the dates that Google will be mapping San Francisco.

    2) Download pictures of the FBIs 50 most wanted and photoshop bodies on to them.

    3) Get the local print shop to create life size cardboard cutouts.

    4) Place cuts outs strategically around San Francisco. I like the thought of Osma coming out of McDonalds with a bigmac.

  9. Tantrum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    But I want Google Maps of Europe.
    I want it.
    I want it.
    I want it.
    NOW.

  10. LOL GoogleTank by LaserTank2005 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Heya! Seems to me that these kind of vehicles are cruising the cities now... http://storagetank.nordinary.com/GoogleTruck.jpg

  11. Re:copyright... by MyLongNickName · · Score: 4, Funny

    And since I own the patent on "The process of making insightful comments in a ditigal forum,"

    I've scanned Slashdot. No one has any examples of prior art. You are in like Flyn!

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  12. Re:Well by teksno · · Score: 2, Funny

    before they would even conceve a plan like this im sure that they spoke with the mayors office yo get what ever permits they needed.

    and now for your reading pleasure, the teksno players reinactment of the trip to the permit office:

    minimum wage clerk:"next...man i hate my f*#king job...

    Google:"yes hi, i was wondering if we could get a permit to drive around the city with a truck full of lasers and scan all the buildings. we're trying to make a 3d map of the city..."

    clerk: what the hell is this granolla nut talking about... ummm..what?

    google: id like to make a 3d map of the city...we have big trucks woth lasers that are going to kill ever...er....scan all the buildings so we can plan our take over of the world one city at a time...i mean ...wow did i just say that...what i meant to say is...ummm...yeah...look i doubt you have any permits for what i want to do so just give me one of everything...cause all i REALLY want to di is make a map of the city.

    clerk: you can but a map at the gas station on the cornner...

    Google: can i please just have all the permits you guys have...i want to do something so technologicaly advanced that no one in their right mind would even think about doing it...

    clerk: well ok, wheres your paper work?

    google:err...paper work...umm...yeah about that....look im from google...we didnt really know we needed paper work...

    clerk: oh Google....like gmail and stuff...thats so cool. here ya go....dont worry about any paper work...ill take care of it. by the way, can i have an invite to gmail...i hear its kinda exclusive

    google: ...yeah...its real exclusive....here sonce youve been so cool about the whole paper work thing, heres 10,000,000,000 invites...do what ever you want with em..

    clerk: WOW!!!thanks. im so cool.

  13. Re:ground truthing civic data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    but if you cram all that into a civic, where will you find room for the oversized tailpipe and spoiler? *maybe misunderstood the topic*