The Worlds Tallest Gets StreetView

New frontier: Google's new Trekker technology allowed them to be able to capture the images - it is held on using a backpack device. Pascal Malite, Street View program manager went outside on the window cleaning apparatus to capture the snaps.

Google Street View takes to the skies: Cameras map the stunning views from top of the world's tallest building: Google Street View has now reached the dizzying heights of the world's tallest building. A 360 degree camera shot has mapped the breathtaking sight from the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Described as a 'vertical city,'  the building is the world’s tallest manmade structure, towering over the Dubai skyline at 828 meters (2,717 ft).

How high? The Burj Khalifa compared to other tall buildings around the globe. Click to enlarge.

It takes in Dubai’s many landmarks, including the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, the world’s biggest mall, the Dubai Mall and the Meydan Racecourse and shows the remarkable growth of a city still on a fast track to developing as a business hub and tourist destination. 'This is the first time we’ve captured a skyscraper on Street View—making Google Maps even more comprehensive,' Google explained. 'The imagery was collected over three days using the Street View Trekker and Trolley, capturing high-resolution 360-degree panoramic imagery of several indoor and outdoor locations of the building.'

The Burj Khalifa, which stands 2,717 feet tall. Virtual tours of the 'Vertical City' include a visit to the highest occupied floor in the world -- the 163rd floor -- the highest swimming pool in the world at floor No. 76, and the world’s tallest observation deck, up 124 stories high. Click to enlarge.

80th floor: The 'Trecker' outside on a window cleaning gantry aka.. maintenance building units.

The 'Trecker' at the top of the spire.

You can also look down on Dubai from the 124th floor observation deck or peer off a window-washing unit on the 80th floor.

'In addition to the breathtaking views from the world’s tallest observation deck on the 124th floor, you can also see what it feels like to hang off one of the building’s maintenance units on the 80th floor, normally used for cleaning windows!' The Trekker was created a year ago by Google explained  Pascal Malite, Street View programme manager. 'It allows you to go to all the places you want to go where no other device will.'  Pascal used the window cleaning apparatus to capture the stunning images. 'It was amazing to be able to stand outside the building and see the beautiful Dubai,' she said.

Construction of the $1.5billion tower began in 2004, with its official opening in January 2010. Initially called the Burj Dubai, its name was changed to honour Abu Dhabi leader Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan after he bailed out indebted Dubai to the tune of $10billion. It boasts the world's first Armani hotel on the bottom floors, houses 900 Dubai residences, 37 floors of office space, a fine dining restaurant and an observation deck. It has the most stories and highest occupied floor of any building in the world, and ranks as the world's tallest structure. The building’s elevators, which reach the 160th floor at speeds of some 10 metres per second.'

Tom Cruise climbing the building in the latest Mission Impossible film. Click to enlarge.

Finally, to give users the same view Tom Cruise had in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the team used window cleaner baskets to hang from the outside of the building on the 80th floor. Buffeted by winds that usually gust up to 40 miles per hour, the Street View team captured stunning exterior views that bring home exactly how amazing the mapping tool can be for those looking for a little virtual adventure on the other side of the world. You can see some behind-the-scenes footage of the mapping expedition in the video above, and you can start exploring the Burj-Khalifa yourself on Google Maps.