[Scan-DC] Google deploying planes over cities for 3D maps

[Blair Thompson]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/06/google-maps-idUSL1E8H6DRE20120606?feedType=RSS&feedName=marketsNews&rpc=43

By Alexei Oreskovic
SAN FRANCISCO, June 6 | Wed Jun 6, 2012 2:44pm EDT 

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6 (Reuters) - Google Inc is deploying a fleet of small, camera-equipped airplanes above several cities, the Internet search company's latest step in its ambitious and sometimes controversial plan to create a photo-based map of the world.

Google plans to release the first three-dimensional maps for several cities by the end of the year, the company said at a news conference at its San Francisco offices on Wednesday.

Google declined to name the cities, but it showed a demonstration of a 3D map of San Francisco, in which a user can navigate around an aerial view of the city.
....

Google's head of engineering for its maps product, Brian McClendon, said the company was using a fleet of airplanes owned and operated by contractors and flying exclusively for Google.

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