From detecting oil leaks to AI tricks: What’s up Google’s sleeve?

In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, innovative collaborations and advancements are reshaping our understanding and interaction with the world around us.

Two recent developments by Google stand out in this regard: the utilisation of satellite technology to track oil and methane gas leaks and the introduction of 'Immersive View' on Google Maps.

Both initiatives, though distinct in their objectives and applications, underscore the fusion of cutting-edge technology with environmental consciousness and enhanced user experiences.

So what is up tech giant Google's sleeve this time?

Sharing oil and gas methane leaks spotted from space

Google and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) on Wednesday unveiled a partnership to expose sources of climate-warming emissions from oil and gas operations that will be detected from space by a new satellite, reports Reuters.

MethaneSAT will launch next month, one of several satellites that are being deployed to monitor methane emissions across the globe to pinpoint major sources of the invisible but potent greenhouse gas. It is a partnership led by the EDF, the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University, among others.

Data from the satellite will be available later this year, and Google Cloud will provide the computing capabilities to process the information.

Google also said it will create a map of oil and gas infrastructure, using artificial intelligence to identify components like oil tanks. MethaneSAT's data on emissions will then be overlayed with Google Map to assist in understanding which types of oil and gas equipment tend to leak most.

The information will be available through Google Earth Engine, a geospatial analysis platform, later this year. Earth Engine is free to researchers, nonprofits and the news media.

"We think this information is incredibly valuable for energy companies, researchers and the public sector to anticipate and mitigate methane emissions in components that are generally most susceptible," Yael Maguire, vice president of geo sustainability at Google, said on a call with reporters.

The launch comes as governments are cracking down on the short-lived greenhouse gas source and over 50 major state-owned and independent oil and gas operators ranging from ExxonMobil to Saudi Aramco have pledged at the COP28 climate summit to reduce their methane leaks to near zero by the end of this decade.

The US is among the biggest methane-emitting countries, and has proposed mandatory measures to stem leaks from oil and gas operations.

A new rule by the US Environmental Protection Agency would allow the public to report large methane leaks to federal regulators if they have access to methane detection technology.

'Immersive View' on Google Maps

Immersive View in Maps is a mixture of regular navigation and Street View, with a few clever laptop stuff thrown in. This offers you a top-down view of your direction, but there may be a number of computer paintings going on in the heritage.

In an exclusive interview with CNET, Google engineer Daniel Filip shed light on how it works.

Google uses specific cameras on motors, planes, and backpacks to take photos for Street View. They then combine these photos with records from aerial cameras to make 3-D models of places.

You might have visible Google Maps cars using around cities taking images. They use those photos to make Street View. Over time, Google made their Digicam system smaller and lighter, so now they are able to map locations that motors cannot reach. But planes are also essential for getting the 3-D data utilised in Immersive View.

The cameras underneath the planes are distinct from the ones on cars. They have four lenses going through each differently, which creates a unique impact called parallax. Computers then flip those pics into 3D fashions of the ground and buildings, with details like symptoms and sidewalks. These planes additionally take images for Google Earth.

The Immersive View for routes does not just show still pics. It additionally has animations of what site visitors would possibly appear like at one-of-a-kind times of the day, and even shows such things as birds flying or people walking, as though it's taking place properly then. It also shows weather statistics, so you can plan your experience better.