DriveBySurveyor - how to use this web app


The DriveBySurveyor web app was designed primarily to help property surveyors in the UK insurance industry familiarise themselves with the location and external character of commercial buildings, as part of desktop preparations for their site visits.

A key feature of this web app is that the Google Maps imagery and Google Street View panoramas can be navigated simultaneously. If you click on the map or drag the map marker, the Street View panorama will change to match the map. If you navigate using the Street View controls the map position will follow along.

This page notes some of the particulars of this web app, but assumes you are familiar with the standard functions of Google Maps and Street View. Remember that some photography may be a few years old.


Find the Location

One way to find a location is to enter either a place or geographical coordinates in the Search box:


The Search box has three settings: tick 'place' if you want to enter a postcode or address, 'lat/lng' if you want to enter a latitude or longitude, or 'e/n' if you want to enter an easting and northing.

Latitude and longitude should be in decimal format with a comma, for example: 51.513341, -0.087978
Easting and northing should also be in decimal format with a comma, for example: 532774.9, 181112.2

If you want to know more about these coordinate systems, please see these links: WGS84 and OSGB36.


Mark the Location

Once you have found the location you want, mark it by either clicking on the map or dragging the red map marker to the best position:


The Street View panorama will change to show the closest available street-level photograph for that position.


Adjust Street View

Use the Street View controls to get the best street-level images of the building or site you are interested in. You can change the viewing position by either clicking along the street or moving the map marker.

Street View images are not available in all locations. However Street View now covers 95% of UK roads. If you see the message 'Street View coverage not found at this location', try ticking the 'show Street View coverage' box. This will highlight the map to show Street View areas in blue: