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A Hawkes eye view in Google Earth
July 20, 2012
While some children spend their youth fascinated by model cars and legos, I was always more interested in aerial photography. For years I amassed a collection of books capturing this unique perspective of the world, and it was obvious from looking through my personal library that British aerial photographer
Jason Hawkes
was a huge influence and hero of mine. Last year, Jason came to the Google office in London to give a
Tech Talk
, and I was finally able to meet him in person. He mentioned being a big fan of
Google Earth
, using it to put together virtual flight plans for his trips.
After Jason’s visit, we decided to collaborate on an effort to bring geographic context to his work with Google Earth. By creating a
KML file
showcasing some of his most beautiful images, we were able to truly capture a “Hawkes eye view” of locations all around the world.
The English coastline, near Sittingbourne, Kent captured by Jason Hawkes
While Jason hails from the United Kingdom, his work spans the globe. Simply open the
KML
in Google Earth, and you’ll feel like you’ve taken a seat right next to him as he flies over the United Kingdom, New York, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Budapest and Minorca.
The Great Sphinx at Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada
Given the excitement around London this summer, we included a variety of photographs that bring the changing face of the city to life, from the addition of
The Shard
skyscraper to the massive redevelopment taking place in Stratford for the Olympic games.
The Shard and River Thames in London, England
The Olympic Park in London, England
When viewing the
KML
in Google Earth, make sure the “3D Buildings” layer is enabled in the left hand panel to enjoy a 3D experience of famous buildings. Happy flying!
Posted by Phil Verney, Program Manager, Google Earth and Maps
Go indoors at locations across the United Kingdom
July 3, 2012
Given the current British weather, we seem to be spending a lot more of the summer than we’d hoped indoors. The thing about being indoors is that people often get lost - I’m not talking about in your own home, of course, but when you’re out and about, in train stations, museums, department stores and shopping centres.
We’re happy to announce that today Google is launching
indoor maps for Android devices
in the UK. You’ll no longer need to feel clueless when you’re at the railway station, trying to figure out where to buy a coffee before you rush to catch your train from platform 11; nor will you feel embarrassed about asking for the lingerie section when you’re in the department store - because you’ll have all the answers in the palm of your hand.
Just open
Google Maps on your Android
mobile phone, zoom in to the location you’re in and the indoor floor plan magically appears. And for buildings where the information is available, we’ll even show you where you are on the map with a familiar blue dot if you’ve enabled the
My Location
feature. Next, search for the location you’d like to get to (Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station or Peter Jones in Sloane Square) and we’ll provide directions to help you get there - even if you’re on a completely different floor.
More than
40 venues in the UK
have worked with us to have their indoor floor plans appear on Google, ranging from train stations to art galleries, department stores to sporting venues. In fact, any building owner can
upload their maps
for future inclusion in Google Maps.
I know that I’ll definitely be using the indoor maps feature this summer to find my way around London as I start my work as a volunteer this summer. And no doubt I’ll also be using it in between my shifts, perhaps for a spot of retail therapy at Peter Jones or to check out the James Bond exhibition at the Barbican.
So whatever the weather, take time to explore the indoors this summer in the UK.
Posted by Razia Ahamed, Geo Indoor Partnerships Lead, UK
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