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If Apple mount that on a bicycle or scooter, I would do this as a side gig.

A bicycle is a good idea, but aren't bicycles supposed to be ridden in the street? In that case, they're already using cars. In some places like hike/bike trails, that would certainly be a good option.

What kind of scooter? Moped or mobility scooter? A mobility scooter could certainly be driven on the sidewalk.

Or, better yet:
Drone with camera, that captures 10-bit HDR video (e.g. Mavic 2 Pro)

I can see drone imagery supplementing imagery from aircraft and cars/pedestrians, but not replacing it.

Regarding the posted images, it seems people are assuming the man is capturing data right then. It's possible he just parked his car and is enroute to a pedestrian-only place where he will then start capturing data.

I was just thinking. How can I get a job like that? And since it's Apple I'm sure it pays well. What would suck is having people come up to asking you questions.

I would be tempted to be the one asking him the questions. "How heavy is that gear?" "Are you capturing data right now?" "When can I see myself in Apple Maps?" "Have you completed all your rings yet?" :D
 
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That's gotta take a pretty dumb criminal to try. Yeah, let's steal equipment that has GPS and a cellular link back to Apple.
Not to mention a bunch of cameras running constantly, presumably 360 degrees.

Hey, maybe Apple can sell this as a personal safety device. The iSeeYouBehindMeCreep.
 
That's gotta take a pretty dumb criminal to try. Yeah, let's steal equipment that has GPS and a cellular link back to Apple.
Plenty of dumb criminals out there, just do a search.

Besides, many criminals are on drugs and are not thinking clearly to make rational decisions.
 
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This would seem like a fun job. I personally walk everywhere when time permits. If I’ve logged all the steps in my life it would be well over several million! I actually prefer walking then even riding my bike!
 
Apple’s Maps plans don’t seem scalable. It appears they are trying fairly hard. But at their current rate they’ll never cover 80% of even the US’ cities. Is this intended for use when I travel to large cities? Then when I return to my home city of 2 million I switch back to Google Maps so it knows addresses reliably and provides Street View?
 



Apple is expanding its street mapping efforts beyond vans outfitted with LIDAR equipment and now has employees collecting street level data on foot.

MacRumors reader Dante Cesa spotted a man wearing an Apple Maps backpack featuring a LIDAR rig, GPS, and multiple cameras, some of the same equipment that's previously been spotted on Apple's mapping vans.

applemapsbackpack1-800x1067.jpg

Apple has been collecting street-level data with its Apple Maps vans since 2015, but this is the first time we've seen someone collecting mapping data on foot.

Apple in iOS 12 introduced a revamped Maps app that's been rebuilt from the ground up using its own data, which the company has promised will bring better accuracy and more detail.

applemapsbackpack2-800x1067.jpg

The new Maps app offers up improvements to traffic, real-time road conditions, road systems, new construction, and changes in pedestrian walkways along with more detail and accuracy when it comes to displaying foliage like grass and trees, parking lots, building shapes, and more.

Data gathered on foot will likely be used to improve pedestrian directions in major cities like San Francisco.

Apple appears to be bolstering its mapping efforts following the launch of iOS 12. Along with the Apple Maps backpack man, Apple has also deployed new Subaru Impreza mapping vehicles that were spotted with new LIDAR equipment earlier this week in Los Angeles.

Article Link: Man Wearing Apple Maps Backpack Surveying San Francisco on Foot
Trust me, I'm from the future :)
 
Hope the AI is good at identifying and blurring out human poop.
Or that the poor guy with the backpack doesn't step on a pile o crap! That surely will give us a real street level view when he falls looking at his shoes! LOL
 
I don't know why Apple, Google and others don't equip USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc with LIDAR equipment on their trucks, planes and employees to get the most accurate maps. It could generate money besides improved usage.
Have you seen how some of those delivery people drive those vehicles? They'd never get anything usable from them.
 
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