You're absolutely right. As we discussed, there's no definitive answer to how much it cost Google to capture Street View imagery. It's an ongoing project with multiple ongoing expenses.

Here's a breakdown of the key factors that contribute to the cost:

• Vehicle Fleet:Purchasing and maintaining specialized Street View cars with camera equipment.Fueling these vehicles as they travel vast distances to capture imagery.
• Manpower:While drivers are likely hired through temp agencies, there are still costs associated with:Salaries for drivers during capture missions.Potential post-processing costs for tasks like stitching panoramas and blurring faces for privacy.
• Technology:Development and maintenance of software for various aspects:Software running on the Street View cars to capture imagery.Data processing pipelines to handle the massive amount of captured data.User interface on Google Maps for displaying Street View panoramas.
• Deployment Strategy:The cost can vary depending on whether Google uses:Full-time employees for driving and data processing.Contractors with their own vehicles and drivers.A combination of both approaches.

Here's how we can approach estimating the cost (though it won't be a precise figure):

• Fleet Size: The number of Street View cars operating globally is likely high. Even a conservative estimate translates to substantial costs for vehicles and maintenance.
• Data Processing: The sheer volume of captured images requires significant resources for storage and processing, adding to the ongoing cost.

Considering these factors, it's safe to say capturing Street View imagery is a significant financial undertaking for Google. However, the benefits of maintaining a comprehensive and updated street-level view likely outweigh the cost. It provides a valuable service for users worldwide.