Google Street View Trekker

Meet the Trekkers

Overview and Fact Sheet

In 2012, Google introduced the Street View Trekker, a wearable backpack with a camera system on top, and their newest Street View camera platform. The Trekker is worn by an operator and is walked through pedestrian walkways or trails on foot, automatically gathering images as it goes. That imagery is then stitched together to create the 360-degree panoramas you see today in Google Maps.

So far, the Trekker has traveled to some breathtaking natural wonders and world heritage sites, such as the Grand Canyon, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, the Galapagos Islands and even the historic pedestrian paths in Venice.

This is all part of Google Maps’ efforts to make the world’s diverse heritage and beauty accessible to everyone. To learn more about where the Trekker has travelled to so far click, here.

TREKKER TECH

• There are 15 lenses at the top of the mast, each pointed in a different direction that enables us to create a 360-degree panoramic view. As the operator walks, photos are taken every 2.5 seconds.

• The Trekker weighs approximately 40 lbs, and is the size of a large hiking backpack. It’s about 4 feet in height when set on the ground, and when worn, the camera system extends 2 feet above the operator’s shoulders.

• The Trekker battery can last around 6-8 hours on a full charge.

STREET VIEW METRICS

• There are more than one billion monthly active users of Google Maps services.
• Street View imagery is available in more than 76 countries, as well as parts of the Arctic and Antarctica (featuring penguins!).

STREET VIEW TREKKER GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS

Whether you want to explore faraway sites or some of your neighborhood’s most beautiful parks, Street View can let you virtually tour these places before you go. Here’s a rundown of a few global highlights:

• Wander the ancient Pyramids.
• Go white water rafting down the Colorado River.
• Tour the Canadian Arctic and polar bear capital of the world.
• Climb the peak of Mount Fuji.
• Ascend the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
• Stop by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the world’s most visited monument.