The article discusses the development of thematic mapping in terms of creating virtual panoramas, as an element of a modern digital thematic map. The features of mapping using virtual panoramas are described, the advantages and disadvantages of this method of displaying geospace are given. Based on the experimental work, the authors propose a general technological scheme for creating a thematic map with elements of a virtual panoramic tour. All technological stages are considered in detail: the creation of a digital cartographic basis, planning of field work, photography, image processing, for-mation of panoramic images, creation of a panoramic tour and its publication. The use of various shooting equipment (smartphone, camera with standard and fisheye lens, specialized camera for pano-ramic shooting) is analyzed in terms of the speed, quality and cost of post-processing images. Frag-ments of virtual tours created in the course of the study are shown.

The article discusses modern approaches to the creation of virtual panoramas and the peculiarities of performing panoramic shooting using equipment of various classes within the framework of a scientific and practical student project. As a part of project-based learning, students used and then analyzed various hardware to create virtual panoramas in terms of the quality of the result, convenience, and speed of work. A generalized technological scheme is presented for creating a panoramic tour; recommendations for the most optimal implementation of individual stages are highlighted. Approbation was carried out on the example of creating a virtual panoramic tour of the memorial complex "Monument of Glory to the Siberian Warriors" and Glory Square (outdoor shooting) and the interiors of a number of organizations. Based on the panoramic images taken by the students, a virtual tour was formed and published in free access in the Internet.