Google Street View is a handy feature integrated into Google Maps. It lets you see photos of travel routes. I find that it's really handy at times when I'm navigating in an unfamiliar area.
Google creates its massive photographic archive for Street View with 360º panoramic cameras that capture images of locations from multiple angles. So far, that archive extends to 230 nations around the world.
Google uses cars, trikes, backpacks, and even scuba gear to travel over all types of terrain. To get over the brutal Liwa Desert in the United Arab Emirates, Google mounted one of its panoramic cameras on the back of a camel. Google selected this method "to collect authentic imagery and minimize our disruption of this fragile environment." You can see photos from this effort here.
-via io9