Google Maps expands street view and launches historical imagery on Google Earth

Google is rolling out new updates for Google Maps and Google Earth, aimed at enhancing user experience and offering deeper insights into the world’s changing landscapes.

These updates include expanded Street View coverage, sharper satellite imagery powered by artificial intelligence (AI), and a new historical imagery feature for Google Earth.

Street View Expansion

Google has now expanded Street View to nearly 80 countries, bringing virtual tours to new regions, including Bosnia, Namibia, Liechtenstein, and Paraguay.

The update also improves the Street View experience in other areas such as Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, and the Philippines.

Google Earth will soon rollout.

Google’s latest camera technology, unveiled in 2022, is key to this expansion.

The cameras, which can now be mounted on almost any vehicle, make it easier to capture 360-degree images in more remote or previously uncharted locations.

Historical Imagery on Google Earth

For Google Earth users, the company has introduced a “historical imagery” feature on its web version.

This feature allows users to explore 80 years of satellite and aerial imagery, providing a visual timeline of how cities and landscapes have changed over time.

Google Earth's

Some cities, like London, Berlin, and Paris, even offer photos dating back to the 1930s.

With this new feature, users can create their own timelapse videos or browse existing ones to track changes in urban and rural environments.

AI-Powered Enhancements

Both Google Maps and Google Earth will also benefit from AI-powered updates that enhance the quality of satellite imagery.

Google’s Cloud Score Plus AI technology, trained on millions of images, can now detect and remove clouds, haze, and fog while preserving important weather elements such as snow, ice, and mountain shadows.

This results in sharper and clearer global views, making it easier for users to see a more vibrant and accurate representation of Earth.

In addition to these updates, Google has rolled out several other improvements in recent months.

A major user interface update for Android introduced a sheet-based design, offering users more control over the information displayed on their screens.

Meanwhile, features like wildfire alerts, powered by satellite data and AI models, provide critical information on natural disasters, helping users stay safe during emergencies.

Overall, these new features aim to make Google Maps and Earth more immersive, informative, and user-friendly, allowing people to explore the world with greater depth and clarity.