Google’s Street View Brings Iconic Burj Khalifa to Google Maps

Burj Khalifa Special Collects Joins World Famous Landmarks Accessible to One Billion Users on Google Maps

Dubai 24th June – Dubai, UAE – Google announced today the launch of 360-degree street view imagery for the iconic Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world; dubbed the “Vertical City”. The launch marks the first skyscraper to join Google’s global Street View collections. It is also the first time the technology has been deployed in the Arab World.

In partnership with Emaar Properties, the developer of Burj Khalifa, Google is giving users unprecedented access inside Burj Khalifa with breathtaking views. Google used a trekker device, which had never been used at such high-altitudes, to capture dramatic 360 degree views from suspended building maintenance units.

By bringing the technology to remote and restricted places around the world, it allows a global audience the ability to marvel at urban masterpieces demonstrating the depths which Google will go in its ongoing quest to build the perfect, most comprehensive map.

The capture included many interior and exterior portions of Burj Khalifa including the surrounding grounds, the entrance from The Dubai Mall to “At the Top, Burj Khalifa,’ the world’s highest observation deck with an outdoor terrace on the 124th floor, as well as the residential and commercial entrances. The capture also takes users on a journey through the high-speed elevators, Sky Lobbies, Corporate Suites, and meeting room facilities, as well as breathtaking views from inside suspended building maintenance units giving users jaw-dropping views of the city and Burj Khalifa.

Mohammad Gawdat, Vice President, Google in MENA stated, “We are so proud that Google has selected Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa for its first skyscraper – the images are breathtaking and the Burj Khalifa is a beaming example of the vision and achievements of this nation.”

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said: “Burj Khalifa is the pride of the United Arab Emirates, and a true icon that underlines the strength of global collaborations to create new benchmarks in engineering, architecture and urban planning. Setting the course for Google’s Street View collections in the Arab world and being the first skyscraper to be featured is indeed a true honour. We commend Google for this remarkable initiative, which will enable people around the world to experience this fascinating architectural marvel that positions the world-class city of Dubai.”

Having brought Street View imagery to more than 3,000 cities across 50 countries since 2007, Google is committed to its ongoing effort to create a digital mirror of the real world and provide users with an immersive experience on the Web.

Burj Khalifa will now be among the world most famous landmarks such as Eiffel Tower and Big Ben; and natural wonders such as Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Antarctica and the Swiss Alps. Google Maps has more than one billion users per month and more than 20% of search queries on Google are related to location.

The world’s first Street View imagery capturing 360 degree panoramic images of the world’s tallest skyscraper is now available on Google Maps and can be viewed on www.google.ae/streetview.

Burj Khalifa Special Collects Capture Fact Sheet
What did we do?
● We took the Street View Trekker, our latest camera system in our Street View fleet, along with the Trolley, on its collection of 360 degree imagery to Burj Khalifa — the tallest building in the world.
● Bringing Street View to iconic places like Burj Khalifa allows us to share with a global online audience this urban masterpiece, and brings us closer to our ultimate goal of creating the world’s most comprehensive, accurate and usable map.
● This project is part of our ongoing effort to create a digital mirror of the real world and provide users with a realistic/immersive experience on the web.
● Our aim is to drive forward our narrative about improving the comprehensiveness of imagery in Google Maps; positioning Street View as a key differentiator for Google Maps in the mapping industry
● Reflect the “depths” to which Google will go in its ongoing quest to build the perfect, most comprehensive map – taking users to the top of the tallest building in the world to experience it like never before.

What is so unique about this?
● This is the first time Google has used street view technology for a skyscraper
● This the first time we have used street view technology in an Arab country
● This is the first time a user will be given unprecedented access and breathtaking views from the world’s tallest building using this technology.
● This is the first time we have taken the Trekker to this elevation

What did we capture?
● Downtown Dubai, around Burj Khalifa – Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard
● Waterfront Promenade of The Dubai Mall
● The Dubai Fountain
● The Residences entrance
● Residents Lounge and Sky Lobby on Level 43
● Sky Lobby on Level 76
● Sky Lobby on Level 123
● Entrance of The Corporate Suites
● Burj Level 153
● Entrance of At the Top, Burj Khalifa
● At the Top, Burj Khalifa, located on Level 124 of Burj Khalifa
● Window basket (BMU – Building Maintenance Unit) 80th Floor Exterior Views
● Outdoor terrace on 160th floor
● Tour from 160th floor to the Spire with terraces.

How did we capture it?
Over three days, we used several types of equipment for this special capture which included:
● Trolley: Used for capturing imagery in indoors locations.
● Tripod: Used for capturing imagery in indoor/outdoor locations where the use of other equipment is not applicable.
● Trekker: Used for capturing imagery in outdoors locations walking and through the BMUs (Building Maintenance Units) – Window Basket

Facts about Burj Khalifa
● World’s tallest manmade structure standing at 828 (2,716.5 ft) meters in height.
● At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa, the world’s highest restaurant on Level 122.
● 57 elevators with a moving speed of 22 mph.
● 24,348 window panels with nearly 1.3 million square feet of glass.
● World’s highest swimming pool on the 76th floor.
● With over 200 levels no other building in the world has more storeys.
● The curtain wall area of Burj Khalifa is equivalent to 17 football fields.
● Burj Khalifa’s elevators are amongst the fastest in the world with a speed of up to 10
metres per second.
● The tip of the spire can be seen 95 kms away.
● Burj Khalifa occupies a floor area of 3,331,100 square feet.

About Google Street View
Google Maps with Street View lets you explore places around the world through 360-degree street-level imagery. You can explore world landmarks, view natural wonders, navigate a trip and sometimes even go inside museums or other points of interest.

The Street View camera is a technology taking 360 degrees photos (every few meters; no video). It also has motion sensors to track its position, a hard drive to store data, a small computer running the system, and lasers (depending on the devices used) to capture 3D data to determine distances within the Street View imagery.

After collection the imagery is stitched together to create the 360° panoramic images that allows you to move around and explore locations as if you were there. Apart of publishing this imagery on Google Maps we also use the imagery to improve our maps and make them more accurate, comprehensive and up to date.

About Google Inc.
Google is a global technology leader focused on improving the ways people connect with information. Google’s innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top Internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. Google is a trademark of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

For information about Google in the Middle East, please visit our Official Google Arabia Blog: http://google-arabia.blogspot.com/
Visit our Google+ Page and join our circles. www.google.com/+GoogleArabia

About Emaar Properties PJSC
Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in key emerging markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. In addition to building residential and commercial properties, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls & retail, hospitality & leisure and financial services sectors. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are some of Emaar’s trophy developments.

Apart from an ongoing 1 million sq ft expansion to The Dubai Mall, Emaar is also redefining the cultural scene of the city with Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District in Downtown Dubai, to feature the city’s first opera house and several design galleries.

The company is also partnering in implementing Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), a new city within Dubai, announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Emaar has joined hands with Meraas Holding, a leading Dubai-based development company, to develop the master-planned community Dubai Hills Estate, the first phase of MBR City. Envisaged as the premium lifestyle community, it will be set on prime land, spanning over 11 million sq metres (2,700 acres). The mixed use development with a series of unique neighbourhoods set around an 18-hole championship golf course, will also feature will also feature an iconic commercial centre, and low-rise and mid-rise residences, hotels and serviced hotel apartments.

Emaar has launched a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Dawahi Development, a next-generation developer of ‘value housing’ projects within full-service community developments. Dawahi Development will develop ‘value homes’ at attractive price points in key emerging markets across the Middle East & North Africa region, while also creating robust employment and business opportunities for the local population.

In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing King Abdullah Economic City, the region’s largest private sector-led project in Saudi Arabia, featuring a Sea Port, Central Business District, Industrial Zone, Educational Zone, Residential Communities and Resort District. www.emaar.com