Google Maps Goes Off-Roading

Sarah Laskow reveals what may be the greatest job in the world at the moment - those lucky Google employees who are helping to map areas of the world only accessible on foot.

1 minute read

June 13, 2012, 10:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

Imagine getting paid to hike and ski in some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. If that sounds good to you, and you don't mind wearing 40-pounds of photographic equipment, you may want to apply for the job of the guy in the video below. As Brian McClendon, VP of engineering for Google Maps, wrote on the company's blog last week in announcing Street View Trekker, the latest step in advancing the company's effort to build a comprehensive map of the entire globe, "There's a whole wilderness out there that is only accessible by foot."

"Trekker solves that problem by enabling us to photograph beautiful places such as the Grand Canyon so anyone can explore them. All the equipment fits in this one backpack, and we've already taken it out on the slopes."

FULL STORY: Google is making a Street View for hiking trails

Tuesday, June 12, 2012 in Grist

Technology World Google Street View Street View Trekker

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