Google uses South Florida to launch Waterway View for its maps

Mar 2, 2018 by Triton Staff

The Marine Industries Association of South Florida has partnered with the region’s certified Google Street View content provider to map the Intracoastal Waterway and the network of rivers, inlets and commercial canals throughout South Florida, as well as the region’s many waterfront and land-based businesses serving boaters.

Waterway View and its companion mobile app will be fully interfaced with Google Maps programming, giving boaters immediate access to information as they cruise, according to an MIASF press release.

“There is no better region than South Florida to launch this exciting new platform for boaters,” said Phil Purcell, CEO/president of MIASF, which owns the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Waterway View imaging began in February and will continue into May until the entire ICW is captured, from the northern Palm Beach County line south to Key Largo, according to MIASF.

Each section captured will be published to Google Maps starting in early March, and the free Waterway View mobile app will be available from Google Play, Apple App Store, and the MIASF website in June. A web-based version of the mobile app will be available to the public beginning in March and continually updated as more content is added.

“This will be a very useful platform for experienced boaters, newcomers, and tourists looking to access the many locations available to them by water,” said Google Virtual Reality partner Jim Hilker.

Mapping boats are being provided by Boat Owners Warehouse and MarineMax.

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