A bike's-eye view of campus.

BICYCLES ARE A COMMON SIGHT around campus. But how about a bicycle cab with a mounted digital camera capturing the scenery?

In mid-June, a bicyclist with such a camera rode around the University of Pennsylvania shooting places for Google's Street View feature, which provides street-level views of map locations.

"We tried to choose areas that were iconic to the university," says Chris Bradie, associate vice president of business services at Penn. Shots of the Locust Walk, a student residence hall's interior, and a gar den were taken. Giving Google this special access, Bradie says, "allows folks at the site to [get] a different perspective of the campus."

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University personnel accompanied the rider on a pre-planned route for the two-day shoot, which was scheduled after commencement. A direct link to the Street View images on the university's website is planned.

Bradie notes the resulting imagery will enable prospective students and families of current international students to virtually visit the university and let alumni explore the campus in a different light.

Google spokesperson Elaine Filadelfo says the company heard of interest from consumers in gathering images of universities for Street View, so it partnered with campuses to make it happen. The images should be made public within a few months.

Response from higher ed participants has been enthusiastic, says Filadelfo. "We've gotten a lot of positive feedback from college students in particular about Street View, so we think they'll be excited about the chance of seeing their campus and [will] find the imagery useful."

Other universities Google has worked with so far on Street View include Penn State and the University of San Diego.