UK scientists use Google Street View photos to assess natural disasters damage

Researchers from the University of Southampton have been investigating how images created by the Google Street View cars can be used to compare with photos taken after earthquakes and other major events such as tsunamis to not only establish the extent of the damage but also help improve resistance against future disasters.

The study, published in the Institution of Civil Engineers' journal Civil Engineering, examined images taken before and after the 2011 Japan earthquake to assess the impact on buildings from the devastating Tohoku tsunami, which hit the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

Following normal field team investigations to assess damage and provide information to aid future design guidelines, Google Street View cars were sent around major cities and coastal areas, photographing streets over a six-month period starting four months after the tsunami.

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