Google Maps gets Street View imagery and 2 other important features
Google Maps features historical imagery, expanded Street View, and AI-enhanced satellite images to provide a more detailed and engaging experience for users.
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Google Maps has added three important new features to help users better know the world and see how it is changing. These updates include historical imagery in Google Earth, expanded Street View coverage, and clearer satellite images. With Historical Imagery, you can now see how places looked decades ago, while Street View now covers almost 80 countries, letting you explore new places virtually. Additionally, Better Satellite Images uses AI to remove clouds and haze, making maps clearer. These features make it easier to understand changes in the environment and explore places in more detail from anywhere.
The first feature is historical imagery on Google Earth, now available on both web and mobile. This update allows users to travel back in time, exploring satellite and aerial imagery that goes back 80 years. Now you can see how different regions, cities and landscapes have evolved over the decades. For example, Lake Oroville in California lost considerable water during a drought, but historical imagery allows users to see how rains gradually replenished it. Cities like San Francisco, London and Berlin also have decades-old imagery showing how urban landscapes have changed. Whether you’re curious about environmental changes or how urban areas have evolved, this new feature offers a fascinating glimpse into the past.
The second update is the expansion of Street View. Google has introduced new Street View imagery in about 80 countries, some of which are getting the feature for the first time. This huge update allows users to explore more areas virtually, including scenic spots like the medieval villages of Bosnia, the sandy mountains of Namibia and the rivers of Paraguay. Not only does it enhance virtual tourism, but it also allows users to explore urban streets in far-flung locations. With the new, lightweight camera that can be mounted on any car, Google aims to further expand Street View’s coverage in the future. Countries like Argentina, France, Japan, Mexico and South Africa are among those receiving the latest Street View update.
Finally, Google has improved the imagery quality on Google Earth and Maps through AI-powered technology. Using an AI model called Cloud Score+, Google can remove clouds, fog and haze from satellite images, providing clearer and more life-like views of the world. Additionally, important real-world elements such as snow, ice and mountain shadows are preserved, offering a more accurate depiction of landscapes. This AI-powered update ensures that users can enjoy sharp, high-quality imagery around the world.
These three updates deliver a more engaging and accurate experience on Google Maps, helping users visualize changes, explore new places, and enjoy clearer images of the world.