Naver announced on the 16th that it will officially launch the 'Street View 3D' service, which allows for a more three-dimensional exploration experience by checking building and business information in a three-dimensional format even on street view.
Naver Map's 'Street View 3D' is a service that implements a three-dimensional environment close to the level of verifying offline spatial perception with the naked eye. It offers a richer and more utilizable service experience through a smoothly connected panoramic view compared to existing 2D-based street views by incorporating various information into the street view.
This Street View 3D has been primarily applied to large commercial areas within Seoul. It is available for initial use in various regions of Seoul, including Gangnam, Mapo, Songpa, Yongsan, Yeongdeungpo, Jongno, and Junggu, as well as in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, with plans to gradually expand the target areas. Naver Map had tested the technology and stability by pilot applying Street View 3D in certain areas of Seoul, such as Gangnam and Bukchon in Jongno, in April. After enhancing features to improve user convenience, such as detailed location guidance, it has officially been unveiled through this Naver Map update.
Street View 3D is characterized by supporting a more three-dimensional exploration of locations and additional information, going beyond simply verifying images as in the previous version. In the new street view environment, users can select buildings and commercial areas displayed on the service screen to confirm detailed information.
Through Street View 3D, users can obtain three-dimensional information such as detailed business information, and it is expected to be utilized for various new business opportunities of Naver Maps in the future. In fact, Naver previously unveiled expected models utilizing Street View 3D during the conference DAN24 held at COEX last November. At this event, a version that allows for immediate checking of representative menu items and discount coupons from businesses on street view was presented, hinting at the direction for enhancing Naver Maps using Street View 3D.
This Street View 3D has added various features to assist user convenience. Noting that users had mainly checked entrances and parking lot entrances through street view, this information is separately marked and detailed guidance is provided. In the PC environment street view, when selecting a specific building, the highlight function, which illuminates it separately from surrounding objects, allows for more intuitive verification of that building. Additionally, it provides richer information in street view compared to the level that can be confirmed on the map, such as a list of shops located in the building.
Furthermore, the features include marking directional information based on signs and landmark data to gauge direction at intersections, 'following the path' which automatically plays the route as if moving along the road in street view, and linking detailed information guidance so that users can confirm additional information when selecting business information of interest, thus enabling a more detailed verification of offline location information.
Street View 3D has been advanced by incorporating various technologies from Naver Labs. A representative example is the use of the vehicle-based panoramic mapping system 'P1', optimized for three-dimensional information collection. Developed by Naver Labs' autonomous driving team, P1 quickly and densely collects various sensor data, including high-performance navigation sensors and LiDAR, and synchronizes it without errors. Subsequently, the collected data is processed using proprietary spatial intelligence technology, significantly enhancing the accuracy of spatial and object positioning compared to existing street views. Additionally, it has become possible to implement various information in three dimensions by adding depth information.
Choi Seung-rak, the leader overseeing Naver Map services, noted, 'The newly launched Street View 3D is an advanced service that provides map information closer to reality, with the potential for further diverse service expansion in the future.' He also mentioned, 'For instance, users will be able to check even more varied information that enhances convenience, such as popular menu items at specific shops, discount coupons, and real-time congestion levels, through Street View 3D, thus further transforming it into a more immersive map service.'