Every graduate, at least once in their life, has dreamt of working with internet giant Google. Thanks to the amazing work culture that Google offers, it attracts thousands of prospective employees. Google has many important assets and products like YouTube, Gmail, Google Assistant, among others. Google Maps is an essential app that every commuter needs and the navigation of the aforementioned application makes life only easier. Here are some interesting facts about Google Maps.
- Data: Google Maps has over 20 petabytes of data, which is equal to approximately 21 million gigabytes, or around 20,500 terabytes.
- Updating: Depending on data availability, aerial and satellite images are updated every two weeks.
- Privacy: Google employs automatic face and license plate blurring technology to protect people’s privacy in Street View, and users can even request additional blurring.
- Satellites: The satellite imagery for both Google Maps and Google Earth comes from a broad range of sources and third-party providers.
- Sensitive regions: Governments can petition satellite owners to blur certain sensitive geographical areas, as well.
- Navigation inside buildings: Google has worked with thousands of business owners in eight countries to bring Street View technology inside buildings.
- How many miles: The Street View team has taken tens of millions of images since the Street View project began in 2007, and they’ve driven more than 5 million unique miles of road.
- Camera: Google originally started with fewer camera lenses and lower quality imagery, but now the Street View camera systems have 15 lenses and can produce photos at about 65 megapixel resolution. When Street View was still in the experimental stage, the team packed several computers in the back of an SUV and placed cameras, lasers and a GPS device on the roof.
- Panoramic imagery: The 15 lenses in the Street View camera system take photos in various directions, and adjacent cameras on the car take overlapping pictures.
- In addition to the fleet of Street View cars, Google employs trikes, trolleys and snowmobiles in areas that an SUV can’t access.