HIA becomes first airport in MENA region to feature on Google Street View

The Hamad International Airport (HIA) has become the first airport in the Middle East and North Africa region to be available on Google Street View, with Google launching 360-degree imagery of the airport.

The airport now joins global landmarks such as Big Ben and the Eiffel towers on Street View.

Street View is a feature of Google Maps that lets users explore places around the world like landmarks, natural wonders as well as culturally and historically significant sites.

Today, anyone with a smartphone can explore the airport's 23-foot Lamp Bear sculpture and other attractions in the 600,000 square-metre building.

Google used the Street View trolley, a push-cart outfitted with equipment to collect indoor imagery: a panoramic camera to collect 360-degree views, lasers to capture distances to walls, motion sensors to track the trolley's position, and a laptop to operate the system.

HIA is the latest indoor Street View experience in the region and joins other structures such as Dubai's Burj Khalifa and Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Courtesy: Qatar-tribune.com