Create Your Own Google Street Views with New Tool

A new tool from Google lets users upload their own Street Views via their Android phone or DSLR camera, further expanding the potential of the company’s mapping services.

Street Views allows Google Maps and Google Earth users to see 360-degree, panoramic street-level imagery of specific places. These images, which have been stitched together to create the 360-degree experience, are referred to as “photo spheres.” Now those same users can contribute their own imagery by sharing photo spheres they’ve taken themselves. Once the photo spheres are connected and published, Google Maps users can navigate between them.

Android phones come with the Photo Sphere mode, which creates 360-degree panoramas by stitching together photos taken from the same area. The Photo Sphere mode is available in the Camera app on Nexus devices running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Users also can create photo spheres manually with a DSLR and third party panorama software.

A screenshot showing a Street View created from a photo sphere. (Source: Google)

 “We are excited to see the different types of Street View experiences that everyone will contribute,” wrote Evan Rapoport, product manager of Google Maps & Photo Sphere on the company’s blog.

Google sees user-made Street Views expanding the use of the company’s mapping services. “For example, this feature can now enable environmental non-profits to document and promote the beautiful places they strive to protect. It also opens up a new tool for photographers to showcase diversity in a specific location – by times of day, weather conditions or cultural events – in a way that Street View currently doesn’t cover,” according to Rapoport.

In addition to sharing these Street Views with the public, users can embed the interactive viewer on their own website or use the Google Maps API to build applications.

“We hope this new feature will enable people to share and witness the beauty and breadth of our planet through Google Maps,” Rapoport continued. “Whether you’re photographing exotic islands or your favorite neighborhood hangout, mountain peaks or city streets, historic castles or your own business, we’re thrilled to see the places you love coming to life on Google Maps.”