239
How Are Networks Used in Geospatial Technology?
data somewhere in the map to see which company is producing the map data
you’re using. NAVTEQ, for instance, sends teams out in high-tech cars to collect data on the location and attributes of new roads, housing developments,
and other items for updates of maps (as well as photography equipment to
produce items like the Street View scenes).
Google Street View is a very cool application that
gives you a look at what the street network would
look like if you were driving or riding past. Open
your Web browser and go to Google Maps at http://
maps.google.com, and then enter a particular address. For example, type in the address of the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio (1100 Rock
and Roll Blvd., Cleveland, OH) and zoom in to the
map until you can see the distinctive building of
the Rock Hall and its surrounding streets. Above the
zoom slider on the left side of the map is an orange
icon that looks like a person (called the “pegman”).
Grab that with the mouse and place it on top of
the streets in front of the Rock Hall (E. 9th Street).
Streets that have been covered by Google Street
View will be highlighted in dark blue. Place the icon
on one of the available streets and the view will
shift to photography of that area (see Figure 8.10
for an example). Use the mouse to move the view
about for 360-degree imagery of the area. You’ll
also see some white lines and arrows superimposed
on the road—clicking on them will move you along
the street and you’ll see the imagery change. Move
around until you can get a good street-level view of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Examine some local areas near you—see if
Google Street View is available for roads near
where you live, work, or attend school. If the imagery is available, use Google Street View to take
a “virtual tour” of some of the main streets of your
town, or to examine street-level photographs of
nearby places.
Hands-on Application 8.5
Examining Google Street View
Open your Web browser and go to Google Maps at
http://maps.google.com, and then enter the address of the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., 20006). When you try to
move the Street View symbol to view the roads,
you’ll see that the streets immediately surrounding
the White House are unavailable to view in Street
View, presumably for security purposes. However,
most of the surrounding streets can be viewed using Street View, allowing you to look at the exteriors of shops, residences, and other government
buildings. Can the images being collected by Street
View pose a security risk, not just for government
areas, but private security of homes or businesses?
An article in the May 31, 2008, issue of the Star
Tribune (available online at http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/19416279.html) describes how
the community of North Oaks, Minnesota, demanded that Google remove the Street View images
obtained of the privately owned roads in the area,
citing laws against trespassing. Is Street View encroaching too far onto people’s private lives or not
(since you could just view or record the same things
by just driving down a street)?
What Kind of Issues Come with Google Street View?
Thinking Critically with Geospatial Technology 8.2
How Are Networks Used in Geospatial Technology?
data somewhere in the map to see which company is producing the map data
you’re using. NAVTEQ, for instance, sends teams out in high-tech cars to collect data on the location and attributes of new roads, housing developments,
and other items for updates of maps (as well as photography equipment to
produce items like the Street View scenes).
Google Street View is a very cool application that
gives you a look at what the street network would
look like if you were driving or riding past. Open
your Web browser and go to Google Maps at http://
maps.google.com, and then enter a particular address. For example, type in the address of the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio (1100 Rock
and Roll Blvd., Cleveland, OH) and zoom in to the
map until you can see the distinctive building of
the Rock Hall and its surrounding streets. Above the
zoom slider on the left side of the map is an orange
icon that looks like a person (called the “pegman”).
Grab that with the mouse and place it on top of
the streets in front of the Rock Hall (E. 9th Street).
Streets that have been covered by Google Street
View will be highlighted in dark blue. Place the icon
on one of the available streets and the view will
shift to photography of that area (see Figure 8.10
for an example). Use the mouse to move the view
about for 360-degree imagery of the area. You’ll
also see some white lines and arrows superimposed
on the road—clicking on them will move you along
the street and you’ll see the imagery change. Move
around until you can get a good street-level view of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Examine some local areas near you—see if
Google Street View is available for roads near
where you live, work, or attend school. If the imagery is available, use Google Street View to take
a “virtual tour” of some of the main streets of your
town, or to examine street-level photographs of
nearby places.
Hands-on Application 8.5
Examining Google Street View
Open your Web browser and go to Google Maps at
http://maps.google.com, and then enter the address of the White House (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., 20006). When you try to
move the Street View symbol to view the roads,
you’ll see that the streets immediately surrounding
the White House are unavailable to view in Street
View, presumably for security purposes. However,
most of the surrounding streets can be viewed using Street View, allowing you to look at the exteriors of shops, residences, and other government
buildings. Can the images being collected by Street
View pose a security risk, not just for government
areas, but private security of homes or businesses?
An article in the May 31, 2008, issue of the Star
Tribune (available online at http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/19416279.html) describes how
the community of North Oaks, Minnesota, demanded that Google remove the Street View images
obtained of the privately owned roads in the area,
citing laws against trespassing. Is Street View encroaching too far onto people’s private lives or not
(since you could just view or record the same things
by just driving down a street)?
What Kind of Issues Come with Google Street View?
Thinking Critically with Geospatial Technology 8.2