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More Info on Google's 3D Maps

Posted by timothy on from the this-will-rock-for-directions dept.

Will Stewart writes "You have doubtless read that Silicon Valley Watcher reported on 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, but you may not have seen the picture of where the trucks are kept and Berkeley's unrelated research project and published technical research (PDF file)."

6 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Picture of the actual 3D images? by moz25 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Are there any public screenshots available yet of what it's going to look like? I understand the basic principles of what they're going to do, but it's still a little hard to envision what the end result is going to look like.

    --
    see a Text Widget
  2. Giant Anderson Shelter by Ronald+Dumsfeld · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well, their picture looks like a giant Anderson Shelter

    Are their competitors likely to try and bomb the truck?

    --
    Where's the Kaboom?
    There's supposed to be an Earth-shattering Kaboom.
  3. I call BS by SquierStrat · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I call BS. That looks like any one of a thousand quonset huts on Camp Pendleton and other Marine Corps bases. How do I know that it isn't a picture of one of them?

    Also - wow, who cares.

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    Derek Greene
  4. How do they remove people? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Won't they capture 3d shots of people walking past or standing around?

    Does the software only account for 3d structures over a certain size?

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    liqbase :: faster than paper
  5. Midtown Madness by BlueOtto · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This would be awesome to integrate for Midtown Madness maps, especially when your own city gets added.

    Regardless, being able to "drive through" from car perspective would seem like a great way to learn your way around a town.

  6. Google is making a virtual shopping mall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It's pretty obvious that google is making a virtual shopping mall that people can "fly through" and click on the building that they want to enter. Google will sell that click to the business owner to place their web page. Potential for huge income if it becomes a popular way for people to browse and shop a city. Plus, the store/building owner has a vested interest in keeping the google photos and data up to date, so they will contact google if they change their facade with construction, etc.