SEMCOG
Southeast Michigan Council Of Governments

Coming soon: a 360-degree virtual tour of Southeast Michigan’s trail network

| bicycle and pedestrian travel, community and economic development, environment, regionalism

Katherine Grantham

Katherine Grantham

Katie Grantham works in SEMCOG’s Environment and Infrastructure group, primarily focusing on watershed planning and education, air quality and solid waste activities across the region.

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In an exciting new initiative, SEMCOG is partnering with communities, counties, watershed councils, and other regional planning partners to create a 360-degree image map for 680 miles of regional trails in Southeast Michigan.

With the help of Terrain360 (check out their website for examples of trail maps created elsewhere in the country), this project will yield high-resolution, panoramic, digital 360-degree image files of hiking and biking trails; trailheads and points of interest along trails; rivers and their banks; and river access points and boat/kayak launches.

This project will map water trails on Lake Huron, St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, Lake Erie, and Huron River as well as hiking and biking trails in all seven counties of Southeast Michigan. Most of the data collection will be completed by the end of the month.

river mapping

The photography crew captures water trail images along the Huron River earlier this week.

The comprehensive 360-degree mapping is similar to Google Street View, but for water and hiking and biking trails. The visual mapping will be integrated into Southeast Michigan ParkFinder, allowing lovers of the outdoors to preview regional assets in a virtual environment and prepare for their real-life adventures. It is also an economic development tool – these beautiful pictures are sure to lure some tourists Southeast Michigan’s way.

Check out some of the great media coverage the project has received so far:

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