Google Street View trike taking pictures on a wine farm

Google SA is sending out its Street View cars and tricycles again, with plans to photograph more of the country’s streets for the popular service. It even has plans to map out the Western Cape winelands.

TechCentral has learnt that Google is expanding its existing Street View coverage by sending out its fleet of specially kitted-out cars.

In the winelands (click for larger image)

The cities and towns that will get expanded coverage are Durban, Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg, Vanderbijlpark, Uitenhage, Kimberley, Springs, Alberton and Paarl. Photographing has already commenced, according to Google.

Mapped cities will be updated on the Street View website as they become available.

“We’re working hard to map as many streets as we can, adding more locations and bringing customers an even more comprehensive service,” the company says in response to questions from TechCentral.

“We tend to focus on the urban areas first, and then make our way to other locations,” the company says. “We then head to rural areas so they, too, can be added to the map.”

Though Google has no immediate plans to offer in-building Street View images in SA, as it is doing in Japan, Australia and the US, it has decided to photograph more of the winelands of the Western Cape.

Nineteen wineries have been identified, including Vergelegen, Thelema Mountain Vineyards and Villiera. The new Street View images will allow Google users to view wine estates, vineyards, historic buildings and gardens, it says.  — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral

• Subscribe to our free daily newsletter
• Follow us on Twitter or on Facebook