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Google to Map San Francisco in 3D 267
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.""
A strange sight (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:A strange sight (Score:3, Informative)
Re:A strange sight (Score:2)
Why? (Score:3, Interesting)
That depends on the user (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:3, Interesting)
So with respect to the park, from the satellite image I was able to determine there is a beach, it is not apparent that access is controlled (i.e. stat
Two words: (Score:2)
Re:Why? (Score:2)
Yes, but now we'll know where the better looking hookers are at before we travel to a new city.
Re:Why? (Score:2)
If you're driving on any sane road system this pretty much isn't necessary. But if you're driving in Massachusetts some of the intersections are pretty hairy and you have no idea what you're in for from the map. Some roads go up in the air, some go down and around, some you have to be in a certain lane to have any chance of taking, etc. The closer you get to Boston the more the insane meter starts to peg.
Google can show me,
Warning... (Score:5, Funny)
"Hey mom, check out this 3D Google version of our home, hey what are you and dad up to in your bedroom??? Ewwww!"
Re:Warning... (Score:2)
The reporter was giving the viewers a brush up of what happened when the cameraman caught something behind her. A couple was doing it and had forgotten to draw their curtains. The cameraman zoomed into the couple and filmed their act.
Of course, they re-shot the scene later when the couple was done. However, the clip leaked to the internet, and within hours
Re:Warning... (Score:2)
Imagine.. (Score:3, Insightful)
You could visit every city they have mapped.
Yummy!
Re:Imagine.. (Score:4, Funny)
"I rememeber i robbed this bank once.. Wait, was that real life or GTA."
Re:Imagine.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Also, I found myself recognizing my surroundings in Dublin, Ireland. as soon as I saw the "spike" [educate-yourself.org] I realized where from: Remember that slashdot article [slashdot.org] from about a year ago where you could control a set of sky
One Upmanship (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:One Upmanship (Score:2)
Re:One Upmanship (Score:2)
Re:One Upmanship (Score:2)
ground truthing civic data? (Score:2)
That could effectively break the monopoly of the big mapmakers for those things we like to hack.
Anyone know?
Re:ground truthing civic data? (Score:2)
If everyone was to map out their local area by means of GPS and some simple software, then all the small patches could be combined into a street level map of the whole world. Or at least, the part of it populated by people with GPS receivers.
I guess that's the problem at the moment. Hopefully, once they start embedding GPS receivers in every cell phone, this sort of application will really take off.
Th
Why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:2, Insightful)
When they score geek points, geeks want to work for them. That way, they get the best people for the lowest price.
Geeks are also the have a major influence on other people's online behaviour. Did your mother try out all the other search engines before deciding that google was the best?
Google to take over the world! (Score:5, Funny)
Step 2: Map the ocean
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!!!
There is already a virtual London project at UCL (Score:5, Informative)
About Virtual London here:
http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/research/virtuallondon.
About CASA's research here:
http://www.casa.ucl.ac.uk/research/index.htm [ucl.ac.uk]
Declaration of Interest: Professor Mike Batty, who runs CASA, was one of my PhD supervisors.
Re:There is already a virtual London project at UC (Score:5, Interesting)
There was a project to create a 3D model of Helsinki about 10 years ago in VRML. I think it was a part of some bigger project they called Arenanet, which included map services etc.
The version I tried on the Net was basically quite ready in that sense that it had most if not all the buildings. The project however disappeared silently some years ago. There is still this site [virtualhelsinki.net] left with some panorama photos. The original site, arenanet.fi, does not exist any more. Some remnant may still be found at http://arenanet.fi/ [archive.org]">the Internet Archive.
Somebody know more about this project?
Re:There is already a virtual London project at UC (Score:2)
Fixed link: http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://arenanet.fi [archive.org].
Slashdot seems to screw up that URL if you put it in <a>. Sorry!
Not just the USA (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes, we did (eventually) get Froogle here in the UK, but I don't believe any of the other countries have. Google maps also arrived, but again, I don't believe it covers anywhere else.
Now you have satellite imagery and 3D maps and again the UK hope for it and the rest of Europe seems to be out on a limb.
I have no doubt that the UK will eventually see this stuff (as with the others) and for that I am thankful - however our friends elsewhere in Euroland I fear will never see the light of day of some of this rather cool products.
Re:Not just the USA (Score:2)
Re:Not just the USA (Score:5, Insightful)
I knew it... (Score:5, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Lasers on trucks are "old hat"... (Score:2)
J.
Here's what I would like to see one day (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Here's what I would like to see one day (Score:2)
Re:Here's what I would like to see one day (Score:2)
The regular maps get outdated, but they can be fixed relatively quickly. Pictures of a place--whether 3D, 2D or satellite--would take longer to update.
For an example of this, look at Highway 87 in San Jose, which was recently upgraded to a freeway for its whole length. The regular map [google.com] view shows the freeway as it is today, passing over a road (Hedding) with no direct access to 87. When you switch to the satellite view [google.com], thou
US cities? (Score:2)
Re:US cities? (Score:2)
Re:US cities? (Score:2)
"The goal is to create similar 3D online versions of other cities in the US and overseas."
Colossal waste of money? (Score:2, Informative)
woa... fricking lasers on ... em... trucks.. (Score:2)
Extra dimensions equals faster invalidity (Score:2, Insightful)
I know there are acceptable degrees of invalidity for mapping, but wouldn't adding an extra dimension to the map make it invalid even more quickly ? The applications for which one uses 3D maps are likely to require a lower error tolerance, aren't they ?
(Someone correct me if I'm wrong - I'm no 3D modelling guru or map expert)
Already done (Score:2)
I Have A Plan...... (Score:5, Funny)
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.
Re:I Have A Plan...... (Score:2)
I can't help but wonder what would happen if someone were to run alongside one of these trucks in line with the sensors and just leap around. Would they then end up with just a big, smeared, stretched out person rather than the city?
Trucks equipped with lasers? (Score:2)
Throw me a fucking bone here
LOL GoogleTank (Score:2, Funny)
Google VS A9 (Score:2)
"I've got the best search technology in the world."
"Oh yea, well mines better now."
"What?!? Well, now I've got maps of the world... from space."
"Huh? No, I've got maps from space and ground level pictures of buildings in American cities."
"Regular maps? I've got maps in 3D now."
Of course, the difference is, Google and A9 are actually telling the truth, although I'd be wary if A9 starts talking about 'their Dad's flying car.'
The Matrix (Score:2)
So there I was toying with sending my resume... (Score:2)
On the other hand, from what I hear I'd have been paid peanuts if I worked there.
Hmm... (Score:2)
Sharks perhaps?
~D
Google ride (Score:2)
http://graphics.stanford.edu/projects/cityblock/ [stanford.edu]
Now thats a nice job. Get in the Google/Stanford truck and drive around (don't forget to check out the Indian dude in Google truck. Talk about cheap labor)!
Phew... (Score:2)
Most of these posts.... (Score:2)
Google makes money by selling advertising "words"... auction-style. Now imagine the space that 'words' encompass. It's friggn huge.
Now imagine how Google can make scads of money if they sell nearly limitless virtual billboards to advertisers for people using these 3D maps.
Advertiser w
I wonder if they can forgo the laser. (Score:2)
It seems to me that it should be possible to get all of the information that they need by taking multiple, overlapping pictures (say, video frames). Image analysis could get the various scale and perspective issues worked out after the fact, and save them the time and hassle of the laser measurements.
Or maybe the image processing would take so long that the laser turns out to be faster anyway. But is there an eye-safety issue, lasering arbitary objects on the street?
Re:Well (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Well (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Well (Score:2)
Re:Well (Score:5, Insightful)
As a corporation it is legaly bound to do what is best for its shareholders. While rolling out Google 3d Europe might be warm fuzzies, it's not necessarily the most exploitable market. Moreover, if you're going to test out an infrastructure heavy technology, why not do it in your home city (San Fran for Google)
This comes down to money. Google thinks this will make them more money than rolling out more features to Europe.... that's why.
Tantrum (Score:3, Funny)
I want it.
I want it.
I want it.
NOW.
Right on! (Score:2)
Re:Well (Score:2)
Laser range finders are used in many robots, and the people working on them do not wear protective eyegear. I don't believe they are hazardous to eyes. For one thing, the laser is scanning extremely fast, a bit like a CRT gun, in order to get a 2D "map" of distance measurments.
Re:Well (Score:2, Funny)
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
Re:Well (Score:2, Insightful)
To be fair to them, they have expanded the features that they have eg Google Maps (including low-res satelite images) was expanded to the UK and I dare say will be expanded to other countries in time.
If you're desperate to know when they plan to support your country then why not ask them http://www.google.com/support/maps/bin/request.py/ [google.com] ? You never know, they might be good enough to tell you... ;-)
Re:Well (Score:2)
Maybe when they move out of beta?
Re:Well (Score:2)
Re:Well (Score:2, Insightful)
I love the rest of the world and international types... but you gotta remember that every company thinks of their country and locale first... Then they move on to the rest of the world.
Now if google ever comes out and says: "We arn't doing europe because we think they are poopoo" THEN you can complain and I will join in with you.
... Profit (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't credit corporations with having deep rooted feelings of patriotism, you will be disappointed if you do. Every company (that is not being mismanaged) thinks about the most profitable market first so that it can bring the only people it truly cares about, the shareholders, managers and key employees, a good profit/reward. Google is launching this service in the US because they did their math and concluded it's the biggest and most profitable market.
Re:... Profit (Score:3, Interesting)
Some would consider this good risk management; start w/ some very hard cases and see if you can handle it.
Re:... Profit (Score:2)
Re:... Profit (Score:3, Insightful)
They may not stay there... but they always look there first.
In this case google saw a large city not too far away and most likely said 'Hey... this will be a cheap guinea pig that won't require much hassle... let's start here'
I have yet to see a business from say Michigan say... "Hey! We are starting out a new i
Re:Well (Score:2)
Go into your local game shop and pick up a copy of The Getaway for PS2 for a 3D map of London. =]
Re:Well (Score:2)
Or (Score:2)
DAMM Fiat and Peugeot for not selling their cars in the US. They are just evil! See how dumb it sounds?
I mean really if some company in Sweden was going to do the same thing and started in Stockholm no one would be bitching.
1. It is Google's home town so it makes sense to start there.
2. The US is the largest "in money" single market in the world and Google is a US company. It only makes sense that the US gets service from Google first. It would be like complaining
Well.. as usual, the Europeans got there first (Score:2)
http://www.gta-geo.com/eng/home_e.html [gta-geo.com]
Geoinformatik GmbH has modelled the whole of Coburg (about 50km).
Blinking Germans, when are they going to get round to doing Australia. There are other places in the world outside Europe you know!
Re:Well.. as usual, the Europeans got there first (Score:2)
Re:Well (Score:2)
Re:Well (Score:2)
It'd be far too impractical to use facilities, staff, and equipment located around your headquarters.
~D
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:4, Interesting)
It makes navigation a lot easier, settings of a city a lot familiar and an advancement in technology.
I mean, you wouldn't expect us to still be playing 2d games, do you? We perceive things in 3d and can relate a lot more easily to real-world landmarks than abstract notions - a realistic 3d map of a city would mean that it is more life-like.
At the very least, it is cool technology and it is progress.
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
Yes, but then you will get lost in the virtual city just as easily as in the real one, one of the benefits of a maps it that it abstracts the physical place - so you can see the forest from behind the trees...
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
You can integrate it with a 2D map so you can go from one to another, make buildings invisible, or have it highlight routes. All of which would make it much easier to find your way.
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
When you are driving or walking somewhere you do not look around you and see a 2D map or the same thing you see looking at a map, you have to look for road names, count the number of junctions you have gone past etc etc. If you could see actual images of the key direction changes on your route and of the place you are going to it would make things an awful lot easier.
For
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:2)
Re:What is the practical application for this? (Score:5, Insightful)
And a belt to strap down that jerking knee of yours.
Jesus Christ on a crutch - why is it everything in the US now has to be defined in terms of its potential utility to terrorism? Other countries have been putting up with terrorism for years (often with the US's implicit or explicit approval) without reigning in basic human rights like privacy and freedom, but the second you have a large-scale foreign terrorist action on the US mainland suddenly the FBI can unilaterally read your mail and harsh language is banned in case it's used by Teh Terr0ri5ts!!!!
Even after 9/11, you're still hundreds of thousands of times more likely to die in a car crash than from terrorist action. Why aren't you worrying about the implications of allowing anyone to buy a car without a background check, fingerprinting, surgically-embedded RFID tag and rectal swab on file?
Re:Patent your house brick arrangement (Score:2)
Re:Patent your house brick arrangement (Score:5, Insightful)
What, you consider un-personally-attributable images merely of your building to be a privacy violation?
Dude, I hate to break it to you, but your privacy is being violated hundreds of times a day - they're called passers-by. You might want to spend some time on the corner of your lot with paper head-bags and a persuasive smile.
"There will be a great deal of abuse here. Imagine some girl gives out her phone number, or some guy finds it in a phone book."
Ignoring the sheer difficulty of doing reverse-lookups from phone number to address (which is made intentionally hard, for this very reason)...
"They find the address, they map it out. They even know what bushes to hide behind. Neat, tech helping pervs."
Right, and they can't do this with... oh, I dunno... a paper map? Or by, you know, walking past the house once or twice?
"I can see the mafia use this technology too. What to kill someone? How about a little research first. Lets see what roads lead to his house and away."
Right, 'cause the Mafia are always bumping off people left, right and centre round where I live. How about you?
And face it, any hitman or criminal who plans his crimes without first thoroughly casing the joint in real life first is a fucking retard.
And someone that fucking stupid is going to be caught pretty soon anyway when they realise sniper rifles don't flush.
You know, it's just occurred that you might be trolling - congrats if so, I utterly fell for it.
You were trolling, right?
Re:Patent your house brick arrangement (Score:2, Informative)
Sheer difficulty? If you type a listed land-line number into Google, it will display the name and address associated with that number.
Re:ENOUGH with Google already! (Score:2)
Re:copyright... (Score:2)
I suppose. But it would be really, really NICE if they donated a lower res version to FlightGear.org! Imagine the hours of happy flying.
Re:copyright... (Score:3, Insightful)
I would think that this new google thing would be allowed, but then again, google is a for-profit endeavor, so...
Re:copyright... (Score:2)
So what happens if you *are* taking a photo of a copyrighted object in a public space? The police arrests you?
Re:copyright... (Score:5, Funny)
I've scanned Slashdot. No one has any examples of prior art. You are in like Flyn!
Re:Terms of use (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:This remind me of The Matrix (Score:2)
(Aren't all Red Dwarf episodes way cool?)
Re:Google- too ambitiuous for their own good (Score:2)