Google to bring ‘Street View’ to Limerick

Expect to see this black car with an overgrown, sophisticated roof-top camera driving down your estate in Limerick anytime soon as Google takes its Street Map view to Ireland.

Google’s Street View is a panoramic street level “photographic mapping system” which is available from Google Maps. The online map service shows a user vertical panoramic street level views and allows them to view regions and some complete cities at visual ground level.

Reports today from Google Europe say the feature will initially be rolled out in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick.

The Black Opel Astras will begin driving around these cities and their suburban areas from next week taking the pictures for the maps and it’s reported the process may take up to a year to complete.

With such detail being recorded, Google is well aware of Privacy issues which arise and are quick to defend there prying eyes,

"Pedestrians’ faces that appear in photographs are blurred before they are published on the internet, as are vehicle registration plates. However, useful information such as shopfronts, hotel names or bus numbers will not be obscured.

Anyone concerned that a photograph may contain inappropriate content can report this to Google. “We’ve implemented some clever technology to remove areas that might cause some privacy concerns,” said Ed Parsons, geospatial technologist with Google. “Individuals can have themselves, their families or their houses removed on request.”
Via Irish Times

So give them a wave when you see them. You’ll be captured in time for the world to see.