Google could help tourism in Michigan.
DBusiness reports that Michigan attractions will now be more accessible to people using Street View in Google Maps.
It's part of a new partnership announced today by Pure Michigan and Google.
"As part of the Michigan community, we hope that making this Street View imagery available to people all over the world will encourage them to discover some of the state’s most beautiful and significant places, some of which are right in their backyards," Steve Silverman, Google Maps Street View program manager, said according to DBusiness.
The state's top attractions including Mackinac Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will now have 360 degree, fully navigable imagery, using Google Trekker technology, DBusiness reports.
The Pure Michigan site explains that the images are taken with a Street View Trekker. It describes it as a backpack system with a camera on top that is worn by an operator who walks through pedestrian walkways or trails on foot.
The state website says that "the imagery is captured automatically and stitched together to create the 360 degree panorama seen on Google Maps. More than 44,000 panoramic photos were taken by members and volunteers on the Pure Michigan team and the Department of Natural Resources who borrowed the Trekker and traveled for four weeks, capturing some of the most breathtaking scenes around Michigan."
Below is a video explaining the use of Google Trekker.
