Google has expanded its popular mapping services by integrating historical Street View imagery directly into Google Earth. This new feature allows users to explore locations through both aerial and ground-level perspectives across different time periods, offering a dynamic way to witness environmental changes and urban development over the years.
The update coincides with Google Earth’s 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades since its launch in 2005. The platform rapidly gained traction, surpassing 100 million downloads in its first week. Over the past year alone, users conducted over 2 billion location searches on Google Earth, highlighting its enduring popularity.
Social media trends in recent years inspired this enhancement, as users turned to platforms like TikTok to share nostalgic journeys using older Street View imagery on Google Maps. Now, these time-travel explorations are even more accessible within Google Earth itself.
In addition to historical features, Google introduced AI-powered environmental insights for professional users in the U.S. These tools analyze data like urban tree canopy coverage and land surface temperatures. For instance, city planners in Austin, Texas, can identify neighborhoods needing more green spaces or pinpoint heat-intensive areas to improve urban cooling strategies.
