Guernsey gradually being mapped for Google Streetview

A small group of islanders are uploading 360 degree films to Google, some 13 years after the tech giant was stopped from filming in the island, due to privacy concerns.

Guernsey man Andre Quevatre began the project by filming his home parish, the Vale, last year.

A camera issue paused his efforts, but he's out filming again now:

"I've not recorded through the winter, but I think I'm up towards 800,000 views now. Very quickly people are latching on to the fact that they can see Guernsey in Streetview, so it's well worth doing."

Andre is joined in his efforts by islanders Andrew Bonham who's filming the main routes from north to west and Gavin Lanoe, who's walking, filming paths, like the seafront shared pedestrian and cycleway.

The large film files are uploaded to Google and, in time, Andre says AI is used to blur personal details like number plates and faces.

Andre says Guernsey benefits from the exposure:

"We've got a tourism industry here, we're a brilliant island, and why not showcase that to the world?"

Guernsey was supposed to get on Streetview back in 2011 but complaints based around personal privacy saw Google end its efforts after only a few weeks.