We spotted this Whereis mapping vehicle in Sydney's CBD on Monday and instantly began to wonder whether Whereis was preparing a Google Street View-style service.

According to our sources, Whereis is currently preparing to update its Australia maps and possibly make an announcement. No doubt the vehicle we spotted is part of the former, but the prominent cameras on top of the vehicle did get us thinking.

On the Whereis vehicle there are five security-style cameras — three at the front and two at the back — in addition to what seems like a pod for the GPS antenna.

By way of comparison, rival Navteq's mapping vehicles feature six cameras in a clear Perspex bowl. These cameras capture geotagged images as the Navteq boys and girls drive around doing their mapping and note-taking thing, allowing them to verify or remove items they've coded into the company's mapping data.

Google's Street View trike, however, features 11 cameras.

Do you know what the Whereis mapping vehicles are up to? Is Whereis creating a Street View-style product or is it simply refreshing its maps? Let us know your thoughts or information in the comment section below.