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How technology can help us become more sustainable
April 14, 2016
We want to create technology that helps millions of others
understand our changing world
and live more sustainably—whether it’s connecting people with public transit routes, or using the data that powers Google Earth to help you see if your roof is good for solar panels. In honor of Earth Day this month, we’ve gathered together some of the ways Google can help you reduce your everyday emissions and learn more about preserving our world.
Monitoring forests and wildlife
Google Earth satellite technology gives scientists and environmentalists a way to measure and visualize changes of the world on both land and water. This technology can have great impact on monitoring endangered animal populations around the world. For example, with the help of
Global Forest Watch
, powered by
Google Earth Engine
, scientists at the University of Minnesota are suggesting that
wild tiger populations may rebound by 2022
, due to the efforts to restore tiger habitats in key regions.
Anyone can now view tiger conservation areas (in orange and yellow above) using Global Forest Watch.
Going solar
Looking to generate clean energy savings with solar power on your home? Check out
Project Sunroof
, a solar calculator that estimates the impact and potential savings of installing solar on the roof of your home. Taking Google Earth imagery and overlaying annual sun exposure and weather patterns, Sunroof is able to assess viable roof space for solar panel installation, estimate the value of solar and savings based on local energy costs, and connect you with providers of solar panels in your area.
As of this week, Sunroof expanded to 42 states across the U.S. (from
10 states in December
), which makes imagery and data available for a solar analysis to 43 million rooftops. We’re also working with organizations like Sierra Club and their
Ready for 100 campaign
to help analyze the solar potential of cities across the U.S.
Project Sunroof shows you the solar potential of your home and city, allowing you to realize its renewable potential. The image on the right shows how much sunshine Denver, CO residents can capture with solar.
Measuring air pollutants
For the past few years,
Google Earth Outreach
and the
Environmental Defense Fund
(EDF) have been working together to map methane leaks from natural gas pipelines under our streets. Since methane is a very potent greenhouse gas (GHG), even small leaks can add up to big emissions that can hurt our climate. By attaching methane analyzers to select Street View cars, we’ve driven more than 7,500 miles and have
mapped 4,200+ leaks in 10 cities
. What we found ranges from an average of one leak per mile (in Boston) to one leak every 200 miles (in Indianapolis), demonstrating the effectiveness of techniques like using plastic piping instead of steel for pipeline construction. We hope utilities can use this data to prioritize the replacement of gas mains and service lines (like New Jersey’s
PSE&G announced
last fall). We’re also partnering with
Aclima
to measure
many more pollutants
with Street View cars in California communities through this year.
Anyone can explore the maps at
www.edf.org/methanemaps
.
Technology is crucial to increasing energy efficiency, raising climate change awareness, and sustainability efforts. To learn more about what you can do to help, take a moment to explore our
Google Earth Outreach
site, where these tools and more are described in depth.
Posted by Rebecca Moore, Engineering Director, Google Earth, Earth Engine & Outreach
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX9a5SLSX3ezGE51LHllNhPvF_16wLkbkFhT0G8w3gJjL_Rgc_sQrNNh-KuFNjvFs-mgLyEcXzbNrsoGpnDI95AGBcx_1lUCJUh_5CvEpTjddjxGyJkKOQyI4RAwenvrptjni/s1600/1032+lupine.png
Rebecca Moore
Engineering Director
Google Earth, Earth Engine & Outreach
Reach new heights with Street View of Mont Blanc in Google Maps
January 21, 2016
Declared the “monarch of mountains” by Lord Byron, the
Mont Blanc massif
is shrouded in mystery, rolling clouds and imposing snowfields. One of Europe’s highest peaks, the wild terrain of the famed mountain range is reserved for ardent mountaineers and intrepid explorers. Starting today in Google Maps, you can get an up-close, 360-degree look at the breathtaking beauty of Mont Blanc. Following last year’s first-ever vertical imagery collection of El Capitan in California’s
Yosemite National Park
, we partnered with world-renowned alpine photographers, skiers, mountaineers, climbers, and runners to collect Street View of Western Europe’s highest peak.
By working with legendary adventurers, the Street View team was able to capture the spirit of the massif in a way few witness firsthand. Run on the summit with
Kilian Jornet
—he holds the speed record for ascending and descending Mont Blanc in just 4 hours 57 minutes! Ice climb up a serac with record-setting alpine climber
Ueli Steck
, or go knee deep in powder alongside 14-time ski mountaineering champion
Laetitia Roux and famed guide Patrick Gabarrou
.
Ueli Steck ice climbing on Mont Blanc
You can also join French climbing legend
Catherine Destivelle
on the imposing yet beautiful
Aiguille du Midi
, the 3842-meter peak near the Mont Blanc. Or, crouch below innovative filmmaker and free skier
Candide Thovex as he soars through the air
or has fun as only he can—by
taking his skis from the snow to the grass
.
Catherine Destivelle ascending near the Aiguille du Midi
Renan Ozturk
, acclaimed cinematographer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, alpine photographer
Jonathan Griffith
, and
Sender Films
joined Google on Mont Blanc as part of the team.
If reaching the top is what you care about, elite guide
Korra Pesce
joined the troupe by carrying the Street View Trekker up and down the
Goûter Route
of Mont Blanc. Click through the Street View to get his first-person perspective of each step to the summit.
Climb the entire Goûter Route of the Mont Blanc massif
Unfortunately, Mont Blanc’s glaciers are receding due to climate change. You can
learn more
about how the rising temperatures are directly affecting the mountain from legendary guide Patrick Gabarrou, who describes the the glacial melt on the
Mer de Glace
. So this Street View imagery also serves as a digital record of Mont Blanc as it appears today, so future outdoor enthusiasts and scientists can look back at this time capsule to see how the mountain has changed.
Kilian Jornet on the summit of Mont Blanc
Whether you choose to run up the Mont Blanc with Kilian Jornet or ski down with Laetitia Roux, we hope you enjoy reaching new heights in Europe’s
beautiful and endangered mountain range
.
Posted by Sandy Russell, Project Lead, Mont Blanc Street View
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Sandy Russell
Project Lead
Mont Blanc Street View
Walk the ruins of Peru’s most historic site: Machu Picchu
December 4, 2015
Take a
train ride through the Andes
, above the sacred valley and atop the mist of the mountains, to the most historic site of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
and one of the
New 7 Wonders of the World
, is one of the most famous, mythical and spiritual sites in the world. Now for the first time, in partnership with the
Peruvian Ministry of Culture
, people across the globe can go on a journey to
Machu Picchu
directly in Google Maps, uncovering its temples, terraces and plazas that have remained intact since the 15th century. People can also explore rare Inca artifacts and expert insights on the
Google Cultural Institute
.
Gazing at the
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
more than 2,400 meters above sea level, the site below is a lasting tribute to the power of the Inca Empire. It’s still unclear how the structure composed of behemoth stones was so precisely built without the use of mortar or modern day machinery, but its walls, terraces and stairways weave effortlessly into the mountainside and natural landscape.
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Peru
Standing in the
Templo Principal
, you can imagine how many people have stood at this central gathering place before you. Located at the highest position of the city, this site holds great spiritual meaning to the people of the Citadel. And touring the vast
Plaza Principal
allows you to virtually walk one of the most sacred ceremonial grounds on the site, which once hosted social and religious celebrations for the Inca.
Plaza Principal of Machu Picchu
Within the long and narrow compounds, called kanchas, you can also explore the
Observatorio Astronómico (Intiwatana)
,
Templo del Sol
, and
Templo de las Tres Ventanas
—sites dedicated to
Inti
, the Inca Sun god—or marvel at the architectural complexity of structures like the
Grupo de las Tres Puertas
, whose doors lead to the main square.
Grupo de las Tres Puertas, Machu Picchu, Peru
After virtually touring these sacred and ceremonial spaces, discover more
Wonders of Machu Picchu
on the Google Cultural Institute. You can explore more than 130 Inca artifacts online thanks to the
Museo Macchupicchu at Casa Concha
. In three new online exhibits, the museum's curators share their expert insights on the Inca's daily life and rituals—which are still a subject of great mystery and fascination over 500 years later. Highlights include a perfectly preserved
pair of plates decorated with butterflies
, and an
ingenious device
of strings and cords used for record keeping and accounting. See these rare objects in the context of the museum by taking a
virtual tour
.
Inca accounting device
Whether you visit Machu Picchu via a
train
or hike up the
Inca Trail
, we’d be honored to be your virtual guide through this sacred space. And while in the area, enjoy exploring still more archaeological treasures from this ancient civilization at the
Museo Machupicchu at Casa Concha
, which holds the
largest collection of Inca artifacts in the world
.
Machu Picchu, a true wonder of the world, is now just a
click away
.
Posted by Daniel Filip, Google Maps Tech Lead
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScHZzQOVPBSuoBj8OtY8JyJ9ayDKGI3vpsGZMKfQ08eLo5Qijs5YWzvLd_OoEEhKLIYohYM1VBJzrJAgH7nS_fDM4DCKRkw2JBpAAHST1AnzWyShMZnYm6JYgC2a2vZN1WXxR/s1600/historic+sanctuary.png
Daniel Filip
Tech Lead
Google Maps
Discover Jordan’s past and present in Google Maps
November 23, 2015
Starting today you can explore more than 30 historical sites throughout Jordan in Google Street View. To tell you more, read today’s guest blog post, by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan.
-Ed.
What a great day for Jordan and Jordanians! Thanks to Google Street View, we can now share the rich, proud and varied history of our country with anyone who has an Internet connection. With more than 30 historical sites available to explore virtually, people all over the world now have a window into our beautiful Kingdom in the heart of the Middle East.
Throughout the ages, ancient civilizations have left their footprints in Jordan. Reminders of the Silk Road which linked the regions of the world in commerce. Ancient cities, such as the Romans’ Jerash and the Nabateans’ Petra. Significant religious sites, like Mount Nebo and the River Jordan. And, to this day, we continue to discover such footprints.
With Google Street View, would-be visitors, or those just curious to learn more about our ancient lands, can explore Jordan’s unique historical heritage online. That’s one of the reasons I love this technology. Not only does it connect millions of people from all corners of the world, it provides a lens on the past. And when we understand more about each other’s stories and cultures and histories, we realize that we are more alike than we are different. That’s why we must preserve these treasures for future generations. They’re a doorway to our shared narrative.
To this day, after too many trips to count, Jordan’s ancient archeological site, the Rose-Red city of Petra, still fills me with awe. Concealed in majestic mountain gorges, visitors can wander through
the entire city of Petra
, imagining what life was like in the thriving trading center and capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Carved by hand into vibrant red, white and pink sandstone cliffs, it has, miraculously, survived earthquakes to withstand the test of time. Film buffs might recognize it from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Harrison Ford and Sean Connery joined forces in their quest to find the Holy Grail. Now, you can step back in time and take a narrated tour of this hidden gem, exploring the tombs, sites and amphitheater that span an area the size of lower Manhattan.
The Treasury in Petra
is estimated to be more than 2,000 years old
Jerash is the second most visited site outside Petra. It’s considered one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture outside Italy. With one click, you can stroll through its ruins,
walk its streets
, sing in its
theaters
and contemplate life in its baths and temples. Before you leave, remember to send a message through the city’s ancient whispering columns!
Jerash Roman South Theater
can fit more than 3000 people
Colonnaded Street
- Jerash, Jordan
Mount Nebo
, located 10 km west of the Roman Byzantine town of Madaba, is one of the most revered holy sites in Jordan. While you’re close to Madaba, step into its historic church to view the Madaba Mosaic Map, the oldest known geographic floor mosaic in art history.
The Madaba Mosaic Map
, created in 6th century AD, originally contained more than 2 million tesserae!
The
Madaba Mosaic Map
in church of Saint George - Madaba, Jordan
What could be more relaxing than a float in the world’s saltiest waters? A visit to the
Dead Sea
, the lowest point on earth, is known to be a very therapeutic experience, thanks to its oxygen-rich water and mineral-mud.
Dead Sea Panorama
- Dead Sea, Jordan
While you’re exploring, don’t be surprised if you find a medieval castle right in the middle of the desert. We’ve got many—from crusader castles like
Al Karak
, to
Ajlun Castle
built by Saladin, to Umayyad desert castles
Qasr Amra
and
Qasr Al Kharana
.
Qasr Kharana
- Jordan
Jordan remains a haven of peace and moderation in the Middle East. So, please, come and visit us. Meet and talk with our warm and hospitable people. Taste our cuisine. Learn some Arabic. Relax in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea and the Ma'in Springs. Marvel at the rich colors of Wadi Rum, the spectacular desert backdrop to "The Martian." Walk in the footsteps of our forebears. There’s so much to see and experience.
There’s something for everyone in Jordan. And I couldn’t be happier that now, thanks to Google Maps, we can share our rich cultural heritage with the world. Visit
g.co/Jordanhighlights
to start your tour. As we say to all our visitors: ahlan wa sahlan. Hello and welcome.
Posted by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
QUOTE GOES HERE
Get ahead this Thanksgiving with Google Maps
November 17, 2015
It’s that time of year again. Next week, tens of millions of us will hit the roads, consume millions of pounds of turkey, and then spend billions on Black Friday deals. Google Maps looked at Thanksgiving trends from the last three years to uncover the most useful information to make your holiday plans go a little bit easier. Whether you’re traveling, doing some last-minute grocery shopping, or Black Friday deal-dashing, here’s our day-by-day guide to braving the holiday crowds.
Tuesday:
No travel day leading up to the holiday is going to be a breeze, but if you can, start driving Tuesday rather than Wednesday. Yes, it’s still the second-worst travel day of the week, but according to Google Maps searches, for the last three years Wednesday has been the worst travel day—with the exceptions of Boston (Tuesday), and Honolulu, Providence and San Francisco (all Saturday).
Wednesday:
Americans are pretty predictable when it comes to the holidays: for the third year in a row, “ham shop” was the #1 trending destination search on Google Maps the day before Thanksgiving. Whether you’re running out to a ham shop, pie shop (#2), or liquor store (#3), make sure you don’t head all the way there just to find it closed. This year Google Maps and Google Search have added
holiday hours
, so when you search for a business, you’ll see its updated holiday schedule.
Thanksgiving Day:
Maybe folks were put off by the trauma of last year’s burnt turkey? Nationwide, “buffet restaurants” were the #1 trending Google Maps term on Thanksgiving Day. But locally, folks were heading in other directions. In Houston, “doughnut shops” were trending on Thanksgiving. It was “bars” in Chicago— maybe people needed a break from their families. And Miami residents were interested in looking their holiday best—”beauty salons” were among the trending searches by the South Beach crowd.
Black Friday:
The top Black Friday Google Maps trends nationwide were predictably of the “electronics store” and “outlet mall” variety—with “Christmas tree farms” not far behind as people looked ahead. Digging into local trends, however, things get more surprising. New Yorkers were on the hunt for tattoo shops, among other things, Angelenos for hookah bars, and people in Detroit spent their Black Friday on the lookout for hamburgers. Whether you’re in the market for a Christmas tree tat or shopping deals, here’s a tip: use the
Explore
feature on Google Maps to discover the stores, restaurants and local entertainment around you.
The weekend:
Traffic patterns show that you’re better off driving home from a long weekend on Sunday rather than Saturday—traffic can be up to 40% worse on Saturday. And Google Maps will be with you all the way home, helping you check out
gas prices and add detours
to your route, without having to exit out of navigation.
Posted by Pierre Petronin, Google Maps
Walk alongside the elephants of the Samburu National Reserve in Street View
September 15, 2015
Today for the first time, we’re releasing
Street View imagery of Kenya
—including the Samburu National Reserve, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust—in partnership with
Save the Elephants
and with the support of the
Samburu County Government
. We'll let Save the Elephants' David Daballen take it from here
. -Ed.
It’s a wild life at the
Save the Elephants research camp
in Samburu, in the heart of northern Kenya’s wilderness. For the last 15 years at Save the Elephants, I’ve spent my days among the elephants, working alongside my fellow Samburu people to study and protect them. Research shows that 100,000 elephants across Africa were killed for their ivory between 2010-2012, but thanks to our work in the
Samburu National Reserve
their numbers are now slowly increasing. Today, a visit to Samburu is a chance not only to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, but also discover a uniquely beautiful landscape where people’s lives are interwoven with the landscape’s wildlife. It’s my honour to invite you on a journey to my homeland with
Street View in Google Maps
.
Every time I drive into the Reserve, I can see the trust on the elephants’ faces and feel a warm welcome. When I’m out and about, I never know which of my fellow citizens I’ll bump into next. It could be some of the
600+ elephants
I can recognize—like
the Hardwood family
—frolicking together,
a group of Samburu warriors
walking along the Ewaso Nyiro River,
a pride of lions
enjoying a bit of shade, or
a leopard
crossing the path. While you make your journey through Street View, you may be surprised what awaits.
Hardwood family of elephants, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
South of Samburu, up into the hills of Kenya, the
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
awaits exploration. In this greener landscape, you can cross the open savannah, where animals like zebras and rhinoceroses live protected from poachers and hunters. Every day, the
Lewa radio command center
plots the movements of elephants (and other GPS-collared wildlife) onto Google Earth to help rangers determine where elephants are and when they might be in danger. If an elephant’s GPS collar sends an alert to indicate the elephant has stopped moving, a team of rangers and tracking dogs will investigate. Save the Elephants was one of the first organizations to use this technology, having collared 266 elephants across Africa since 1998.
Elephants and zebras graze in the open plains of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Visiting the
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
, you can see the devastating effect of poaching and other causes of elephant deaths in Kenya. Founded in 1977, the Trust provides lifesaving assistance to wild animals in need, including orphaned elephants and rhinos. At their Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi, elephant caretakers stand in for an elephant’s lost family, providing 24/7 care and specially formulated milk. As the orphans grow, they are gradually reintegrated back into the wild, where they are protected by the charity’s Anti-Poaching and Aerial Surveillance Teams. To date, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has hand-raised more than 180 orphaned infant elephants, including little
Sokotei
, who I helped to rescue in Samburu after his mother died of natural causes when he was six months old. He’s just one elephant amid thousands that have been lost across the continent, but when you're up against a challenge of this scale, every elephant counts.
Orphaned elephants play in the mud at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya
I hope this glimpse into life in Samburu has inspired you to learn more about elephants’ plight and how you can help. Samburu is my home and is full of life. To ensure it remains that way, please consider supporting the research of
Save the Elephants
, making a donation to the anti-poaching efforts of
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
, or fostering an orphaned elephant at the
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
. After exploring in Street View, come and see us here in Kenya in person—we’d love to have you!
Posted by David Daballen, Head of Field Operations at Save the Elephants
Google Earth turns 10 today
June 29, 2015
When Google Earth was
first introduced
10 years ago, it immediately stole my heart. Beyond the freedom to fly anywhere in the world, I was captivated by the ability to paint and visualize geographic data on this incredible global canvas.
Drawn to datasets backed by
real
human
stories
, I started making my own maps with
KML
a few weeks after Earth’s release in 2005. For my master’s degree, I used Google Earth to build a
virtual representation
of a high-tech biological
research reserve
.
Vint Cerf
saw my work, which eventually led to a job on the
Google Earth Outreach
team, turning my passion for telling stories with maps into a career.
2005 was the beginning of Google Earth’s evolution, as well. In August of that year,
Hurricane Katrina
showed us how useful mapping tools like Earth could be for
crisis response efforts
. Rescue workers compared before and after Satellite imagery in Google Earth to better locate where people were stranded. And in the years after, with more than 2 billion downloads by people in nearly every country in the world, Earth has enabled people to discover
new coral reefs
, journey to the
Moon
and into
deep space
, find
long-lost parents
,
clear landmines
and
much more
.
Google Earth images of Gulfport, Mississippi's shoreline before and after Hurricane Katrina
The ability to empower groups as diverse as
school children
and
NASA scientists
to learn more about the world is what I love about Google Earth. It has the potential to make the planet a far more connected place, if you take the time to explore, discover and share what you learn. So to celebrate how far Google Earth has come and our leap into the next 10 years, we’ve created a few new ways to help you better see places from around (and above) the world.
Voyager
The world is a big place, and it can be hard to know where to begin your virtual journey. Now you can jump straight to the newest and most interesting imagery around the globe with a new layer, Voyager, available in desktop versions of Google Earth.
Different imagery types in Voyager are shown by color
In this first edition of
Voyager
, you’ll find five sections to explore:
Street View:
highlights from Street View, including the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon
Earth View:
striking landscapes around the globe as seen from space (more below)
3D cities:
a showcase of cities and towns available in photorealistic 3D (
don’t forget to tilt!
)
Satellite imagery updates:
a map of our most recently published satellite imagery
Highlight tour:
with thousands of
Voyager
locations to choose from, take a quick tour of a few to whet your appetite
The Kemgon Gompa—available in the Street View layer—is a Buddhist monastery in Lukla, Nepal
Earth View
Looking at our planet from above is not only a reminder of how interdependent our human and natural ecosystems are—it also lays bare the Earth’s staggering and often surreal beauty.
The Hammar Marshes of Iran are an uncharacteristic yet beautiful wetland feature in the otherwise arid climate
Earth View is library of some of the most striking and enigmatic landscapes available in Google Earth. It started as a 20 percent project last year by a few Googlers who enjoyed scouring satellite imagery for these gems. These images soon made their way onto Android phones, Chromecast and Chromebooks as a distinctive kind of wallpaper.
Islands surrounding Cuba seen in the Earth View
Chrome Extension
For Earth's 10th birthday, we're expanding the Earth View collection to 1,500 landscapes from every continent and ocean and making it accessible to even more people. The new imagery is available with an updated version of our
Chrome extension
and a new
web gallery
. Download high-resolution wallpapers for your mobile and desktop devices, or better yet, print them up for your walls!
The coastline near Ningaloo, Australia in the new Earth View
web gallery
Thank you for the last 10 years exploring your world with Google Earth. We hope
Voyager
and
Earth View
will unlock a new perspective on our planet. We look forward to seeing what the next decade brings!
Posted by Sean Askay, Engineering Manager, Google Earth
Vertical Street View of the world’s most iconic rock wall: Yosemite’s El Capitan
June 24, 2015
Today we’re launching our first-ever vertical Street View collection, giving you the opportunity to
climb 3,000 feet up the world’s most famous rock wall: Yosemite’s El Capitan
. To bring you this new imagery, we partnered with legendary climbers Lynn Hill, Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell. Read more about the project from Tommy Caldwell, who completed the world’s hardest climb in Yosemite in January of 2015.
-Ed.
“That is awesome. I definitely have to be a part of that.”
Maybe it was the sheer exhaustion from being in the middle of a
19-day climb of the Dawn Wall
, but when the guys at Google Maps and
Yosemite National Park
asked if I wanted to help them with their
first-ever vertical Street View collection of El Capitan in Yosemite
, I didn’t hesitate. Yosemite has been such an important part of my life that telling the story of El Capitan through Street View was right up my alley—especially when it meant working with the Google engineers to figure out some absurd challenges.
Climbing is all about flirting with the impossible and pushing the boundaries of what you think you can be done. Capturing
Street View imagery 3,000 feet up El Capitan
proved to be an extension of that, especially when you take a camera meant for the inside of a restaurant and mount it thousands of feet up the world’s most iconic rock wall.
Brett Lowell and Corey Rich capturing Street View of
Alex Honnold on the King Swing
Doing anything thousands of feet high on a sheer granite face is complicated, but everyone up there had spent years of their lives on a rope and knew exactly what they were doing. After some testing, we used
our tried-and-true climbing gear
like
cams
and ropes to make sure the camera wouldn’t fall to the ground in the middle of our Street View collection.
Once we figured out how to keep the camera on El Cap, we created two sets of vertical Street View. First, we collected Street View of legendary Yosemite climbers—and my good friends—
Lynn Hill
and
Alex Honnold
in iconic spots up the sheer vertical face.
Lynn Hill, Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell camp out 1,140 feet up El Capitan
Lynn Hill’s ascent of El Capitan changed the paradigm of climbing, and she had an extraordinary effect on my climbing career. I’ll never forget when she became the first person, man or woman, to free-climb (using only her hands and feet)
“The Nose”
back in 1993. Now, you can see her navigate these epic moves— like climbing sideways on tiny holds of the
Jardine Traverse
, inventing a “Houdini” maneuver on the
Changing Corners
and traversing under the
Great Roof
.
Lynn’s epic ascent up El Cap is now in Street View
Any story of El Capitan had to include my good friend Alex Honnold. He holds the speed record for climbing the Nose at 2 hours and 23 minutes - most people take 3-5 days. His unwavering confidence in himself is contagious; when I’m with him, I feel like the mountain has shrunk to half its size. As you make your way around Yosemite in Street View, you’ll see Alex doing what he does best: chimneying up the “
Texas Flake,
” racing up the
bolt ladder
, or getting dinner ready in the
solar-powered van
he calls home.
Just a normal day on on the Texas Flake for Alex Honnold
You’ll also see a glimpse of
yours truly on the Dawn Wall
. I spent some of my rest days during my January climb of the Dawn Wall testing out the Street View technology the Google team had sent me that month. El Cap is an intimidating environment for experimentation, but years of setting ropes proved pretty helpful in figuring out
how to get the equipment rigged and ready to collect Street View
.
Tommy Caldwell climbing the sheer face of the Dawn Wall
Then, we really put Alex to work to collect the second set of Street View: the entire vertical route of “The Nose” on El Capitan. One of the few people that could do this efficiently and quickly, Alex took the camera and pretty much ran 3,000 feet up with photographer partner Brett Lowell. Now, anyone can get the beta (climbing speak for insider advice) before they
climb the entire route
.
Alex Honnold and Brett Lowell climbed 3,000 feet to get the entire route in Google Maps
Lynn, Alex and I also helped create
a new Yosemite Treks page
, where you can take a tour up El Cap and learn more about climbing, from what a “hand jam” is to why we wear such tiny shoes. And as a father, I’m excited kids will learn more about Yosemite when Google brings students to the park through NatureBridge later this year as a part of this project. Plus, its pretty awesome that students who can’t make it to Yosemite yet will be able to go on a virtual reality field trip to the Park with
Google Expeditions
.
Hear the legendary Lynn Hill explain describe the gear she uses as she starts up El Cap
Yosemite’s driven so much of my life that I’m excited to be able to share it with the world through my eyes. These 360-degree panoramic images are the closest thing I’ve ever witnessed to actually being thousands of feet up a vertical rock face—better than any video or photo. But my hope is that this new imagery will inspire you to get out there and see Yosemite for yourself… whether you travel up a rock wall or just down the trail.
Tommy Caldwell, Lynn Hill, and Alex Honnold hanging out in Yosemite
Posted by Tommy Caldwell
Walk in the footsteps of South Africa’s freedom fighters
April 22, 2015
On April 27, 1994, Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa in the country’s first democratic, post-Apartheid election. Known now as “
Freedom Day
,” that date has become a symbol of hope in South Africa and around the world. To commemorate this historic day, we’ve partnered with the
Robben Island Museum
and the
Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory
to bring the story of this UNESCO World Heritage Site online for the world to explore. The
Maps gallery
and
Cultural Institute online tour
allow people everywhere to see the island where Nelson Mandela and many of South Africa’s freedom fighters were imprisoned during their quest for equality.
As a symbol of South Africa’s struggle for freedom, Robben Island has become a destination for people to connect with Mandela and other freedom fighters. Standing in Mandela’s 8 x 7 foot
prison cell
, it's hard to believe someone could spend 18 years here. Exploring the
historical artifacts
on the
tour
, you can also see
photographs
of his cell during the time of his imprisonment. You can imagine Mandela sitting at the cramped desk, surrounded by books and papers, working towards a future of freedom for all.
Photograph of Mandela’s Cell c.1971
Robben Island was also where activist
Robert Sobukwe
was imprisoned, kept in solitary confinement for more than three years after taking a stand against the
Pass Law
, which required black citizens to carry an internal passport and severely limited their mobility. Exploring Sobukwe’s
home on Robben Island
, you can learn more about the man who didn’t let prison halt his attempts to make equality a reality. You can even view the pages of his
notebook
, which is still kept on his desk today.
Robert Sobukwe’s house of solitary confinement on Robben Island
In the new online
exhibitions
on the Cultural Institute platform, you can also listen to prisoners’ personal anecdotes about life at this infamous prison, including memories of where they were forced to
work
as well as how they studied and came together to create a unified vision for freedom in South Africa. You can see some personal items donated by former political prisoners, including a
football trophy
from the their FIFA-recognized league, hand-drawn
table tennis awards
, a
treasured trumpet
, and a
duplicate master key
fashioned by a prisoner from lead.
View of the Lime Quarry, the site of enforced prison labor at Robben Island
Once a symbol of the oppressive Apartheid regime,
Robben Island
is now a memorial and a reminder of the human spirit’s irrepressible search for freedom. We hope you’ll take a moment to step back in time to
explore and be inspired
by the island’s story of hope and humanity.
Posted by Luke McKend, Country Director for Google South Africa
Ho Ho Ho! Track Santa around the world with Google’s Santa Tracker
December 24, 2014
After 23 days of preparation, the elves are finally ready for Santa’s annual journey around the globe. They’ve taught each other how to say
"Santa Claus" in Swedish
, guided their friends through mazes
with code
, brushed up on
their geography
, and learned about
organizations making a difference worldwide
. It’s been a busy month, but Santa’s sleigh is now ready for lift-off!
The elves brushed up on coding fundamentals with blockly maze games
The elves decorated their trees with ornaments about organizations making a difference
Each stop on Santa’s journey offers more to explore—discover 360-degree imagery, Wikipedia snippets, geography facts, and updates on how far Santa’s current location is from yours (take note—Santa’s path is not a direct one!). Come back and visit
google.com/santatracker
throughout the night for more surprises, like sleigh selfies or a
latitude and longitude game
to deliver presents.
Follow Santa on any screen—desktop, phone, tablet, or TV
If you’re on the ho-ho-go, download the
Santa Tracker App for Android
to keep track of Santa on your phone or tablet. With the Android app, watch Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast, or on your wrist with Android Wear (especially handy when wrapping last-minute gifts). And, you can always search for Santa on
www.google.com
or on
Google Maps
, and get real-time location updates with Google Now in the Google App.
Santa’s available at the flick of the wrist with Android Wear
Santa’s got a long and exciting night ahead of him before heading back to the North Pole. Grab some eggnog, set out the cookies, and join Google Maps on
Google+
,
Facebook
and
Twitter
to
#tracksanta
!
Posted by Brendan Kenny, Reindeer Platform Engineer
Seven traffic tips to get you to the Thanksgiving table
November 18, 2014
Thanksgiving means gearing up for a turkey feast, Thanksgiving Day parades, local
Turkey Trots
and annual
football showdowns
. It also means braving some of the worst holiday traffic conditions of the year.
You’ve got enough on your plate this Thanksgiving without having to worry about traffic, too. So, Google Maps looked at Thanksgiving traffic conditions over the last two years for 21 cities across the U.S.
1
to find the most useful information to make your holiday trip a little easier.
Whether you’re traveling near or far, Google Maps’ traffic tips will help you navigate the roads like a pro, so you’ll be feasting on Turkey Day delights with friends and family in no time. Here are seven tips in pictures to guide you through the holiday:
1. Avoid traveling on Wednesday:
2. But if you must leave on Wednesday:
3. Good news for local travelers—Thanksgiving Day traffic is a breeze:
4. Travel back home on Sunday, not Saturday:
5. Expect to spend more time in traffic than average if you live in these three cities:
Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, D.C. saw the three biggest increases in traffic during Thanksgiving week.
6. Get these three items ahead of time:
Last-minute runs to the corner store can be unavoidable as you prep for the big day, but not all last minute trips are created equal.
7. Leave extra time for Christmas shopping:
Your biggest worry this Thanksgiving should be whether to go for the cranberry sauce or gravy. And with these traffic tips in hand, plus
real-time traffic info
provided by Google Maps on
Android
or
iOS
, you’ll be spending less time in traffic and more time with the people you care about this Thanksgiving. Now that’s something to be thankful for!
Posted by Aaron Nelson, Google Maps Product Manager
1
Google Maps looked at 21 cities across the U.S. from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving for both 2012 & 2013: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, D.C.
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