How Google slurps in Street View data -- not just from streets

The Street View snowmobile is used to map ski areas. Google had to adapt the technology to keep hard drives warm enough. Google showed the Street View technology at its Google I/O 2013 developer show in San Francisco.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

SAN FRANCISCO -- By now Street View is a routine part of online mapping. But people might not be so familiar with how Google actually gets the data for its 360-degree panoramic views of the world.

Street View imagery launched in 2007 with photos taken by cameras perched on cars. That's still the mainstay of the project, but there's much more to it now, and Google was showing off its methods at its Google I/O 2013 developer show here this week.

How Google gets all that Street View data (photos)

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Exhibits included not just a car, but also a snowmobile, tricycle, backpack, trolley, and self-propelled underwater camera system. The underwater and backpack systems are controlled byAndroid devices.