Google Wants You to Be Its Next Street View Trekker

If you work for a tourism board, a university, government agency or research organization, Google wants your help in fleshing out its Street View photo library.

The company announced on Thursday a pilot program that lets third-party organizations borrow its high-tech Street View Trekker equipment and contribute imagery to its mapping platform. This is a smart way for Google to expand its coverage while minimizing costs.

Google's Trekker backpack captures 360-degree photos of a variety of locations and landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon, Mt. Everest and the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts stadium. It can be navigated through narrow passages and inclines, bringing users to exotic places around the world without ever leaving their seats.