To encode a point on Earth you can apply geographic information to QR Codes.
Using the geo URI scheme using the Google streetview format will allow you to visualize buildings and locations from the point of view of a user standing at this place.
QR Code reader might then open an appropriate viewer, the Google Streetview application or could open the Google Streetview web site in the device’s web browser.
The parameters for this QR code format are described in the Google Maps Parameter List.
What’s inside the Google Streetview format?
The begin characters (‘google.streetview:’) tells the decoding software the type of the embedded data.
Then you can specify the geographic and viewport information you want to include.
streetview = “google.streetview:” “cbll=” geo-location [ “&cbp=1,” yaw “,,” pitch “,” zoom] [ “&mz=” map-zoom ] [ “&panoid=” panorama-id ]
The property cbll(latitude,longitude) is required while cbp(Street View window) and mz(map zoom) are optional.
The parameters are as follows:
| streetview Parameter | Description and syntax |
|---|---|
| geo-location | Syntax: geo-location = latitude “,” longitude
where |
| yaw | panorama center-of-view in degrees clockwise from North, ranged between [0:359]. Note: the two commas after this parameter are required due to backward compatibility. |
| pitch |
panorama center-of-view in degrees between [-90:90].
-90 means looking straight up. |
| zoom |
panorama zoom ranged between[1:??].
1.0 means normal zoom Note: |
| map-zoom |
map zoom of the map location associated with this panorama.
It corresponds to the z parameter in the geo-URI scheme. |
| panorama-id | The ID of the current nearby panorama object. These IDs are used in the little arrows you can click on in Street View to move you to the next object or property |
NOTE: According to Mapki Description we have to set “layer=c” to see street view.
The resulting Streetview object can look like:
-
geo:40.79,-73.9535
geo:40.79,-73.9535,7
geo:40.79,-73.9535?z=17
geo:40.79,-73.9535?q=restaurant
geo:0,0?q=restaurant+New+York
geo:40.79,-73.9535?q=restaurant&z=13
Testing with Google Maps App on Android resulted in:
- If you specify a query with a location, geo-location is superseded.
- If you specify any query, zoom level is superseded.
- Combining geo-location and zoom level set gives a piece of a map.
- If you specify a query with a location, be aware of specifying a unique location. Results are rated according to current user position.