A new unmanned vessel, launched with the help of Google, will map shorelines and raise awareness of the impacts of global sea level rise. The high-tech boat boasts innovative technologies from the boatbuilding and mapping fields. Since clean, powerful and efficient propulsion was a high priority, leading electric motor innovator, Torqeedo, was chosen to power the craft.
Originally designed to be worn by backpackers, Google’s proprietary Street View Trekker camera system was provided on loan to the San Francisco Bay keeper organization, allowing them to create stunning, bay-level maps. It plans on using the imagery collected—nearly 500 miles of coastline ranging from San Jose to Antioch, California—on its website and for educational purposes. It will help illustrate the threats posed by global sea level change to critical wetlands. www.torqeedo.com
