Google updates: Google Updates Maps with New Dataset

Google has announced the launch of a new dataset for Google Maps, which opens up a lot more scenery. Now Google is able to afford better imagery as well as maps for things like parks, college campuses, plus hiking trails.

Google has been working with a large number of "authoritative information sources" to create the new dataset. The company says that such organization that generate the data do the best job of keeping it accurate and up-to-date. Google software engineer Andrew Lookingbill explains on the Google Lat Long Blog:

For instance, in the US there are a number of broadly accessible geospatial datasets created by the government for the Census, land surveying as well as transportation. These datasets supply information on the whole thing from road networks and water bodies to toll roads and bridges. By integrating this information, and working with focused data sources like the USDA Forest Service's Forest Boundaries also the US Geological Survey's National Hydrography Dataset, we have been capable to expand as well as improve features in our maps like parks along with water bodies.

Satellite, aerial as well as Street View imagery also helped. With overhead imagery, we might zoom in on roadway details to figure out particulars like the size of the road. Our Street View imagery, which you recognize as a tool to help you explore new places, turns out to be incredibly helpful to understand road restrictions and confirm street data by understanding street signs.

The most excellent part about this new dataset is that Google has been able to append a lot of new, complete information to Google Maps - information that helps public better explore and get around the real world. For instance, college students will be pleased to see maps of various campuses; and cyclists will now locate many more trails and paths to explore. In a little while Google has planned to provide you with biking directions to take advantage of this new data. Of course, in the true Google spirit of "launch and iterate," So they plan to work with more data sources to add new features in the map.

Google has also added a new tool to allow users to report problems with maps. There is a "report a problem" link resting on the bottom right of Google Maps. You can also find it by right-clicking on the map itself and the reported problems will be confirmed with the other users’ users, data sources, and imagery, and will be edited within a month if confirmed, according to Google. You can also surrender your email address, and Google will put in the picture to you about the changes they made.

According to Google, around 2009 15,000 miles of roadway are built in the US every year. That is just a single example of how Maps can keep on changing. This represents the significance of keeping datasets up-to-date. It is got to be a colossal task, but in the curiosity of accuracy, it is a good thing Google has the cooperation of organizations as well as users.