Google Takes You Inside the World’s Tallest Building
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JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The Empire State Building and Willis Tower are well-known tourist attractions, but the Burj Khalifa — that 2,717-foot-tall skyscraper in Dubai — is still a big mystery to many. But Google is out to shed some light with an advanced Street View of the world’s tallest building.
The Internet giant has already posted several albums that highlight different aspects of the skyscraper. You’ll see tourists gathered around on the observation deck on the 124th floor and also catch a glimpse of some of the luxuries available to those who live in the apartments, such as the world’s most-elevated swimming pool on the 76th floor.
Of course, Google didn’t drive its conspicuous Street View cars to the top of the building. Instead, it relied on both the Trolley and the Trekker. The Trolley has been used to capture art museums across the globe, while the Trekker has snapped photos of natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon and the Galapagos Islands. Google documented the technology at work in a YouTube video.
The Burj Khalifa marks two significant firsts for Street View. Tarek Abdalla, Google’s head of marketing for the Middle East and North Africa, said on the site’s official blog, “This is the first time we’ve captured a skyscraper on Street View.” It also marks the first time that Google has used Street View in the Arab World.
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