> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.afi.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Senakw Vancouver - will it block your view?
- URL: https://blog.afi.io/blog/senakw-vancouver-will-it-block-your-view/
- Published: 2025-05-08T13:55:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-21T05:37:25.000Z
- Description: See the Senakw Project on a Photorealistic 3D Map. Discover the project's scale, potential sightline changes, and what it means for local residents.
- Author: Afian Anwar
- Tags: googlemaps

The [Senakw Project](https://senakw.com/?ref=blog.afi.io) is on a relatively small parcel of Squamish reserve land at the foot of the [Burrard Bridge](https://maps.app.goo.gl/C6qRjCUVfN2edYeL8?ref=blog.afi.io), across from downtown Vancouver. The Squamish Nation and [Westbank](https://westbankcorp.com/?ref=blog.afi.io) are building 6000 rental apartments (80% market rentals cross-subsidizing 20% non-market rentals), in the form of high-rises up to 60 storeys. The height and density of the project reflects the extreme shortage of housing in Vancouver, and thus sky-high market rents. Because it's [Squamish reserve land](https://www.squamish.net/about-our-nation/our-land/?ref=blog.afi.io), the city of Vancouver's extremely restrictive zoning laws don't apply. (Five minutes away at [1000 Cypress Street](https://morehousing.substack.com/p/senakw), there's an old two-storey, eight-unit rental apartment building from 1972\. Under the city of Vancouver's laws, it's illegal to replace it with a new building of the same size.)

[Senakw Vancouver on a Photorealistic 3D Map. Will it block your view?Using Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles to see if the Senakw Development in Vancouver will block your view.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/4d/c64da7e8-63a6-4cff-acdc-2782a6ebc377/content/images/icon/favicon-12.ico)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/4d/c64da7e8-63a6-4cff-acdc-2782a6ebc377/content/images/thumbnail/logo512-23.png)](https://senakw.afi.dev/?ref=blog.afi.io)

The interactive web app at [https://senakw.afi.dev/](https://senakw.afi.dev/?ref=blog.afi.io) lets you enter any Vancouver address to visualize how the [Senakw](https://senakw.com/?ref=blog.afi.io) development will appear from that location, allowing you to see firsthand if it will impact your view of the city skyline.

Part 1: [What is the Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles API](https://blog.afi.io/blog/what-is-the-google-photorealistic-3d-tiles-api/)?  
Part 2: [How to pan, zoom, and adjust tilt on Google Maps 3D](https://blog.afi.io/blog/how-to-pan-zoom-and-adjust-tilt-on-google-maps-3d/)  
Part 3: [Use Place Autocomplete to go anywhere on Google Maps 3D](https://blog.afi.io/blog/use-place-autocomplete-to-go-anywhere-on-google-maps-3d/)  
Part 4: [Add map markers, overlays and polylines to Google Maps 3D](https://blog.afi.io/blog/add-map-markers-overlays-and-polylines-to-google-maps-3d/)  
Part 5: [Add a 3D polygon to a Google Photorealistic 3D Map ](https://blog.afi.io/blog/add-a-3d-polygon-to-a-google-photorealistic-3d-map/)  
**Part 6: Senakw Vancouver - will it block your view?** **(this article)**

### How did we build the Senakw Vancouver web app?

We used [Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/tile/3d-tiles?ref=blog.afi.io) for the three dimensional base map and added the building envelopes manually, using publicly available data from the [City of Vancouver Senakw Development website](https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/senakw-development.aspx?ref=blog.afi.io) and various online publications.

![Senakw Vancouver building footprints available online](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/4d/c64da7e8-63a6-4cff-acdc-2782a6ebc377/content/images/2025/05/image-5.png)

Senakw Vancouver building footprints available online

The view finder that lets you enter an address and get the view from your selected location uses [Google Place Autocomplete](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/web-service/place-autocomplete?ref=blog.afi.io) to retrieve the latitude and longitude of your selected location. Using these coordinates, we can:

1. Calculate the haversine distance from the address to the Senakw Development (49.273605, -123.142647). This is how far away your are, also known as *range*.

```
/*** utils/maputils.js ***/
export function calculateDistance(point1, point2, unit = "meters") {
  const { lat: lat1, lon: lon1 } = point1;
  const { lat: lat2, lon: lon2 } = point2;

  const lat1Rad = GeoConverter.toRadians(lat1);
  const lat2Rad = GeoConverter.toRadians(lat2);
  const deltaLat = GeoConverter.toRadians(lat2 - lat1);
  const deltaLon = GeoConverter.toRadians(lon2 - lon1);

  const a =
    Math.sin(deltaLat / 2) * Math.sin(deltaLat / 2) +
    Math.cos(lat1Rad) *
      Math.cos(lat2Rad) *
      Math.sin(deltaLon / 2) *
      Math.sin(deltaLon / 2);

  const centralAngle = 2 * Math.atan2(Math.sqrt(a), Math.sqrt(1 - a));
  const radius =
    unit === "kilometers"
      ? GEO_CONSTANTS.EARTH_RADIUS.KILOMETERS
      : GEO_CONSTANTS.EARTH_RADIUS.METERS;

  return radius * centralAngle;
} 
```

1. Compute the *heading* (measured in degrees clockwise, from North) between the selected address and Senakw. This is your viewing angle.

```
/*** utils/maputils.js ***/
export function calculateHeading(point1, point2) {
  const { lat: lat1, lon: lon1 } = point1;
  const { lat: lat2, lon: lon2 } = point2;

  const lat1Rad = GeoConverter.toRadians(lat1);
  const lat2Rad = GeoConverter.toRadians(lat2);
  const deltaLonRad = GeoConverter.toRadians(lon2 - lon1);

  const y = Math.sin(deltaLonRad) * Math.cos(lat2Rad);
  const x =
    Math.cos(lat1Rad) * Math.sin(lat2Rad) -
    Math.sin(lat1Rad) * Math.cos(lat2Rad) * Math.cos(deltaLonRad);

  const angleRad = Math.atan2(y, x);
  const heading = (GeoConverter.toDegrees(angleRad) + 360) % 360;

  return Math.round(heading);
}

```

Once we get the heading and range, it's really easy to use the Photorealistic 3D Tiles API's `flyCameraTo()` function to plant our camera at the correct spot `range` meters away from Senakw, facing `heading` degrees due North.

```
/*** components/Map3D.jsx ***/
map3D.flyCameraTo({
  endCamera: {
    center: {
      lat: senakw.lat,
      lng: senakw.lng,
      altitude: 100,
    },
    range: calculateDistanceInMeters(lat, lng, senakw.lat, senakw.lng),
    tilt: 90,
    heading: calculateHeading(lat, lng, senakw.lat, senakw.lng),
  },
  durationMillis: 5000,
});
```

If you'd like to know more or work together with me on similar projects, please [get in touch](https://www.afi.io/blog/author/afiananwar/?ref=blog.afi.io). 

This concludes our tutorial series on the Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles API. Throughout this journey, we've explored how to set up a foundational 3D scene, control camera movements, navigate between locations, and incorporate map markers, polylines, and polygons into a Google Photorealistic 3D Map. With these skills, you’re well-equipped to start building thoughtful, web based 3D mapping applications. Happy mapping!

Part 1: [What is the Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles API?](https://blog.afi.io/blog/what-is-the-google-photorealistic-3d-tiles-api/)  
Part 2: [How to pan, zoom, and adjust tilt on Google Maps 3D](https://blog.afi.io/blog/how-to-pan-zoom-and-adjust-tilt-on-google-maps-3d/)  
Part 3: [Use Place Autocomplete to go anywhere on Google Maps 3D](https://blog.afi.io/blog/use-place-autocomplete-to-go-anywhere-on-google-maps-3d/)  
Part 4: [Add map markers, overlays and polylines to Google Maps 3D](https://blog.afi.io/blog/add-map-markers-overlays-and-polylines-to-google-maps-3d/)  
Part 5: [Add a 3D polygon to a Google Photorealistic 3D map](https://blog.afi.io/blog/add-a-3d-polygon-to-a-google-photorealistic-3d-map/)  
Part 6: [Senakw Vancouver on a Photorealistic 3D Map. Will it block your view?](https://blog.afi.io/blog/senakw-vancouver-will-it-block-your-view/)

**This article was written by** [**Afi Labs**](https://afi.io/?ref=blog.afi.io)**, a** [**Google Maps Premier Partner**](https://www.afi.io/?ref=blog.afi.io) **and reseller. We build route optimization, navigation, and fleet tracking software on Google Maps, and offer volume pricing on GMP licensing.** [**Talk to an engineer**](https://www.afi.io/contact%5Fus?ref=blog.afi.io) **or** [**follow Afian on LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/afian-anwar/?ref=blog.afi.io)**.**