The World Wonders project also aims to capture user content, with photos from various sources, user-created YouTube videos, and even 3D models. The project is a partnership between Google, Unesco, the World Monuments Fund, Getty Images, Ourplace, and CyArk. The partners aim to digitally preserve an original 132 sites, and will work to add more as part of the company’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Steve Crossan, head of the Google Cultural Institute said, “Google is committed to preserving and promoting all types of culture online. The World Wonders Project brings to life many of the most significant historic sites on earth, making them accessible to an unprecedented global audience.”
Google used both the Street View cars and a special camera mounted on a three-wheel pedi-cab in order to capture these locations. the Trike is pedaled through pedestrian walkways and trails to capture images as it goes, with a more light-weight and portable version of the technology deployed in the cars.
In addition to bringing together the capabilities of partners, the project provided a means to also combine a number of Google products, including Panoramio (photo), YouTube (video), Google Earth, and SketchUp (models).
Visit the interactive global historical points of interest at http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/worldwonders
