Google recently introduced an exciting feature called AerialView API that generates drone-like videos for specific locations.
Overview
As a CTO, I explored this tool's potential for products like TenantCloud and Rentler, and the initial results exceeded expectations. Currently available only for US addresses, with expansion to other regions planned.
Getting Started
To activate the API, enable AerialView in Google's console. The interface is user-friendly for retrieving processed videos or creating new ones.
Create a new video:
curl -X POST -d '{
"address": "POSTAL_ADDRESS"
}' \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
"https://aerialview.googleapis.com/v1beta/videos:renderVideo?key=YOUR_API_KEY"
Retrieve existing video by address:
curl -X GET "https://aerialview.googleapis.com/v1beta/videos?key=YOUR_API_KEY&address=POSTAL_ADDRESS"
Retrieve by video ID:
curl -X GET "https://aerialview.googleapis.com/v1beta/videos?key=YOUR_API_KEY&videoId=VIDEO_ID"
Video generation typically takes several hours.
Features
The API generates videos in:
- Two formats: landscape and portrait (mobile/desktop optimized)
- Three quality levels: high, medium, low
- Streaming formats: Dash or HLS
Pricing
Google charges only for getVideo API requests — not for video generation itself.
Results
Test video generated in approximately 30-40 minutes:
- Landscape: https://youtu.be/WpsH1AEXG8A
- Portrait: https://youtube.com/shorts/aGQk3ZUjQRU
Conclusion
AerialView API is a powerful tool delivering excellent results, with significant potential for advertising platforms where location identification is critical.