# Pano Mapper

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Pano Mapper generates geolocated 360° panorama images from a 360° video and a GPX track. Its output can be sent to PanoCool Street View Publisher for Google Maps publishing or used to create a project in PanoCool Virtual Tour Studio.

## Links

- Product landing page: https://pano.cool/products/pano-mapper
- Pano Mapper tool: https://pano.cool/pano-mapper
- Tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4VLNESeCYA

## Overview

Pano Mapper takes a 360° MP4 video and its corresponding GPX file, then automatically extracts evenly spaced 360° JPEG images along the recorded route. The extracted images include GPS coordinates, heading, and navigation connections, ready to publish to Google Street View or use in a virtual tour.

## How to use Pano Mapper

1. **Upload files:** Drop or select a 360° video file in MP4 format and a GPX file. The tool validates the video aspect ratio; 2:1 equirectangular video is expected.
2. **Configure floors:** Choose a single-floor or multi-floor workflow. For a multi-floor recording, such as different levels of a building, use the timeline handles to define the time range for each floor.
3. **Generate images:** Set the spacing distance from 2 to 100 meters; the default is 5 meters. Select `Generate` to extract 360° JPEG images at evenly spaced points along the route. A progress bar shows extraction status.
4. **Review and edit:** Preview generated nodes on the map, where each floor has a distinct color, and in the 360° viewer. Add or remove individual nodes and preview the complete walk-through tour.
5. **Export:** Send the images to Street View Publisher or create a Virtual Tour Studio project.

## Key features

- **Map and video preview:** A two-column interface shows an interactive Google Map with the GPX route as a green polyline and a synchronized video player. A red dot on the map tracks the current video position in real time.
- **Multi-floor support:** Define multiple floors and their time ranges with a visual timeline and draggable handles. Each floor receives a unique map color.
- **Configurable spacing:** Set the distance between generated images from 2 to 100 meters. Pano Mapper estimates the total node count before generation.
- **Auto-generated connections:** Sequential connections are created within each floor. A cross-floor connection is added when the last node of one floor is within 20 meters of the first node of the next floor.
- **Manual node editing:** Add a node at the current video position or remove an existing node. Connections are rewired automatically when nodes are added or removed.
- **GPS-video synchronization offset:** Adjust an offset in seconds to align the GPX track with the video when they are not perfectly synchronized.
- **360° preview:** Select any generated node to inspect it in a 360° viewer. Open a complete walk-through preview with Street View-style navigation.
- **Export to Street View Publisher:** Send every generated image, together with its GPS data, connections, and floor level, to Street View Publisher for publishing to Google Maps.
- **Export to Virtual Tour Studio:** Create a virtual tour project with all generated images as scenes. The Street View Arrows add-on is configured automatically with GPS positions, connections, and floor levels, making the walk-through ready for immediate navigation. This export requires a paid plan.

## Input requirements

- **Video:** A 360° equirectangular MP4 video. A 2:1 aspect ratio is recommended.
- **GPX file:** A standard GPX file with `<trkpt>` track points containing latitude and longitude. Timestamps and elevation are optional but improve accuracy.

## Plans and login requirements

- Generating images and exporting them to Street View Publisher is free and does not require login.
- Exporting directly to Virtual Tour Studio requires the `Cool` or `Super Cool` plan.