From AR navigation to business messages and comments, Google Maps is a true platform. Today’s latest update is focused on improving the visual quality and details of the standard layer – especially for nature – on Google Maps.
Original 08/18/20: The service today has three types of map: Standard, Satellite and Terrain. Google is now using a “new algorithmic color mapping technique” to translate its existing high definition satellite images into the base map. Behind the scenes, Google took advantage of computer vision to identify natural features – arid, icy, forested and mountainous regions – and then assign a color to them.
Exploring a place gives you an insight into its natural features – so you can easily distinguish arid and deserted beaches from lakes, rivers, oceans and blue ravines. You can quickly learn how lush and green a place with vegetation is, and even see if there are snow caps on mountain peaks.
For example, a densely covered forest will be dark green, but an “area of uneven shrubs” will appear lighter. To fully view and enjoy, zoom out from one location.
This process has been applied to all 220 countries and territories – more than 100 million square kilometers of land, with Google publicizing Maps as having the “most comprehensive views of natural resources in any major map application”.
In addition to natural resources, Google Maps will soon add “highly detailed street information that shows the precise shape and width of a road at scale”.
You can also see exactly where sidewalks, crosswalks and crosswalks are located – crucial information if you have accessibility needs, such as wheelchairs or prams.
This will appear in London, New York and San Francisco in the “next few months” and then expand to other cities.
Update 1/16/21: Google is releasing these more detailed maps widely. If you are not seeing pedestrian crossings and other granular aspects of the road, try alternating (via Android Police) Google accounts. In addition to the three cities announced at launch, downtown Tokyo is receiving the same treatment in mobile and web applications.
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