Screenshot of the town of Ísafjörður, Iceland in Google Map Maker |
|
| URL | www.google.com/mapmaker |
|---|---|
| Type of site | web mapping |
| Registration | Yes |
| Available language(s) | English |
| Owner | |
| Created by | |
| Launched | June 2008 |
| Current status | active |
Google Map Maker (stylized Google map maker) is a service launched by Google in June 2008,[1] designed to expand the breadth of the service currently offered by Google Maps. In some countries mapping data is unavailable, and so to combat this problem Google has decided to open up Google Maps to a collaborative community effort in certain territories. The project is similar to OpenStreetMap (OSM), but unlike OSM which provides its map data under a Creative Commons license, Google obtains "... a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display, distribute, and create derivative works of the User Submission".[2]
The ultimate goal of the project is to acquire sufficient high-quality mapping data to be published and used on the existing Google Maps service. Some contributions have begun to appear on Google Maps, however the changes made in Map Maker are not immediately reflected on Google Maps.
Contents |
Users are able to draw features directly onto a map where the borders have already been drawn, and can add features such as roads, railways, rivers and so on. In addition, users can add specific buildings and services onto the map such as local businesses and services. At first glance the site appears identical to Google Maps, and the three views (map, satellite and hybrid) are available which allow users to view the map data, a satellite image of the region or a combination of both.
Using the find or browse tools, contributors are able to add to and edit existing features on the map. Three kinds of drawing tools are available: placemark (a single point of interest on the map), line (for drawing roads, railways, rivers, and the like) and polygon (for defining boundaries and borders, adding parks, lakes and other large features). The approach encouraged by users and by Google is to trace features such as roads from the existing satellite imagery. This approach is stifled in areas with poor satellite imagery, and can hinder the creation of map data in those areas.
In an attempt to ensure high quality data, new users’ contributions are moderated by more experienced users or reviewers at Google. This system is also designed to prevent vandalism and inaccuracies. As users make more successful contributions, their edits are less closely monitored and may be published on the map straight away. Certain larger features may take a long time to appear on the map as they are waiting to be rendered by the server.
Contributors can assign areas of the map as their ‘neighbourhood’, that is an area they know well enough to make detailed contributions to. Users can also moderate the contributions of others within their neighbourhood. An individual’s neighbourhood is not visible to other users.[3]
Mapmaker pulse is a page on mapmaker that show all of the latest user edits live as and when it happens. It comes with a basic pause/play feature for users to view edits as and when they happen.[4]
Mapmaker has a user community[5] with over 25000 people which share and collaborate on improving the maps of places. The announcement of the latest features and discussions of various issues of the product happens here. The updates are also shared by Mapmaker on the verified twitter page[6]. The Google LatLong blog[7] is the official blog of mapmaker.
Currently the service is enabled for the following territories, although users can contribute regardless of their geographic location:[8]
Map editing has not been enabled for all countries that have insufficient map data. Not all of the regions listed above have high-resolution satellite imagery, making accurate mapping difficult.