360 video, also called panoramic, immersive or spherical video, records the scene around the camera instead of only the direction the lens is facing. When viewed in a compatible player, the user can look left, right, up or down while the video plays.
How 360 video is created
Most 360 cameras use multiple lenses that capture overlapping views at the same time. Camera software stitches those views into an equirectangular image or video that can be displayed inside an interactive spherical viewer.
Why 360 documentation is useful
- Capture more context during one site visit
- Let remote teams look around the scene instead of relying on a single camera direction
- Document buildings, rooms, corridors, roads and rights-of-way
- Create a repeatable visual record for future comparison
360 video versus 360 photos
Video is useful when a team needs continuous movement through a route or space. Individual 360 photos are often easier to organize by location, date, room or feature and may provide more deliberate capture points. Many projects benefit from both.
Add spatial context
When imagery carries location metadata, it can be displayed on a map. In buildings, 360 documentation can also be organized around floors and floor plans. OcuMap supports both map-based and building-based contexts so the same media type can fit different physical environments.
Combine 360 imagery with other records
The strongest documentation set is rarely only panoramic imagery. OcuMap can keep 360 content alongside flat photos, MP4 video, PDFs, LAS/LAZ/E57 point clouds and DWG/RVT/FBX/OBJ/GLB design references.
Preserve and share the visual history
Historical documentation can be compared across dates, and selected project content can be delivered through a read-only Published Viewer. That turns a capture from a one-time walkthrough into part of a longer asset record.
Start documenting with OcuMap →
Practical checklist
- Start with the business or project question, not the tool.
- Identify which source is authoritative for location and dimensions.
- Keep capture date and spatial context with the record.
- Use measurement only within the accuracy limits of the source.
- Preserve originals for future reuse.
- Connect each resource to the relevant OcuMap project, solution or Platform page.
Related resources
Common questions
Is 360 video the same as a virtual tour?
Not necessarily. 360 video is a media format; a virtual tour is an experience built from one or more panoramic captures.
Does 360 media need GPS?
No. GPS is useful for map placement, but building documentation can also be organized by floor or floor plan.
Can 360 documentation be historical?
Yes. Repeat captures can become part of a location-based visual history.
