Westfield Arkadia has joined the ranks of venues photographed as part of Google Maps' Special Collects programme (Google Maps Special Collects). Thanks to the Street View service, it is now also possible to visit the centre virtually, allowing customers to get a better idea of its layout.
The photographs taken at Westfield Arkadia were made with a unique technology used by Google. The interiors were photographed using a Google Trolley equipped with, among other devices, a camera, a computer, a GPS device and a laser rangefinder. Thanks to the images, Westfield Arkadia has acquired much more visibility in Google Maps, while giving visitors a navigation tool to help plan their visit. Street View makes it easier to navigate around the facility and find the required shop in little time.
Street View is a popular feature of Google Maps. It allows specified locations to be displayed using 360 degrees panoramic images. It was launched in May 2007 and first featured five American cities. By the end of 2009 Google Maps were already able to show images from the most remote corners of the world. Initially, the images were taken by cameras mounted on cars, but over time other vehicles were introduced to the mapping process, such as bicycles, scooters, trolleys, and a special backpack worn by the operator..
In Poland, the Street View service has been available since 2012. A year later, the Google Maps Business Photographs programme was added to feature the interiors of restaurants or commercial facilities. Currently, the Special Collects programme has become an important part of Street View, affording a virtual gateway to the world.