We all use Google maps, but how many of us have thought about technologies for collecting photo information, without which it is often impossible to imagine life? Mashable.com has put together a list of fun facts about how the Google Maps team works.
1. How much data has Google Maps already collected?
If you combine satellite, aerial and street imagery, Google Maps has more than 20 petabytes of data in total, which is roughly 21 million gigabytes, or about 20,500 terabytes.
2. How often are images updated?
Aerial and satellite photos are updated every two weeks, subject to data availability. Street View images are updated as quickly as possible, although Google was unable to provide specific data due to factors such as weather, driving conditions, etc.
3. How does Google Maps monitor captured inappropriate content?
According to a Google spokesman, users sometimes report “bad moments” on Google maps, usually in Street View. By the way, anyone can help maps get better - you just need to click the users “Report a problem” button at the bottom of the image, these requests are regularly monitored by Google employees.
4. Does Google blur every person's face?
Google uses automatic face and license plate blur technology to protect people's privacy, and users may even request additional enhancement.
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5. Who owns the satellites used for the survey?
Satellite imagery for Google Maps and Google Earth comes from a wide variety of sources and third-party providers. This same information is available to anyone who licenses or acquires it from the public, government, commercial and private sources.
6. Private areas?
Satellite owners may require blurring a specific area in their images. Street View provides images of public roads and private malls through the Street View Affiliate Program.
7. In which countries can you look inside museums and buildings using Street View?
Google uses this technology to work with thousands of businessmen in eight countries: USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands. In addition to various business buildings, you can take a virtual walk through the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other famous landmarks.
And in Google Art, you can visit 156 museums around the world.
8. How many images were taken for the Street View project?
Tens of millions since 2007, the team has traveled more than 5 million kilometers of roads.
9. What type of camera is used for Street View?
Initially, Google worked with few lenses and low image quality, but now the Street View camera system has 15 lenses and can take photos with a resolution of about 65 megapixels.
10. How are seamless panoramas made?
15 lenses in the Street View system are shot in different directions, cameras on the car take overlapping shots. The team then aligns the photographs and stitches them together to create a continuous 360-degree panoramic image, using rendering techniques to reduce seams.
11. How does the Google Maps team work where cars do not pass?
Google uses tricycles, carts, and snowmobiles.
Author: Anna Sukhacheva