Question

I have a system where users put some coordinates (latitude/longitude), I need to check if specified coordinates are in the sea or not. Is there any service that could give me the answer. Or is it possible to do this using google maps.

Answer 1

You can use the Google Maps Geocode API.

If your address is in land, the result_type of the response will be something like “administrative_area”. if you are in the sea, the response will be “natural_feature”.

Here are two examples:

• The first is the 0,0 point, in the middle the the Atlantic Ocean: http://maps.google.com/maps/api/geocode/xml?address=0,0&sensor=false
• The second is located at 20.012065,-6.82251, in the middle of the Saharan desert: http://maps.google.com/maps/api/geocode/xml?address=20.012065,-6.82251&sensor=false

Edit: Some more examples in response to comments:

• This point is located in the sea claimed by UK, within the 12 miles limit. It shows as “natural_feature”: http://maps.google.com/maps/api/geocode/xml?address=50.801541,0.424519&sensor=false
• This point is located in the Lake Superior, in the Thunder Bay. It shows as “natural_feature”: http://maps.google.com/maps/api/geocode/xml?address=48.23565,-86.981506&sensor=false