The official blog for Google Maps
Introducing Google Maps Gallery: Unlocking the World’s Maps
February 27, 2014
If you’ve ever wondered which trails
Lewis & Clark
traveled for their famous expedition, or looked for maps of the
best schools
in your region, you may have found yourself scouring the web without much luck. The best results for your search may come from governments, nonprofits and businesses, but historically that information has been hard to find or inaccessible to the public. Well, now, with the new
Google Maps Gallery
, i
t’s easier for you to find maps like those all in one place.
Maps Gallery works like an interactive, digital atlas. You can explore
historic city plans
,
climate trends
,
housing affordability
,
shipwrecks
and
up-to-date evacuation routes
.
In addition to finding these maps through Maps Gallery, they
can be viewed in Google Earth and are discoverable through major search engines.
This
World Bank
map shows per capita internet usage by country over time
Travel back to Venice 1838 with the
David Rumsey Map Collection
(Use the slider to fade in the base map and see how things have changed)
The contrast between North Korea and South Korea could hardly be more stark on this
NASA
map
Today, you can browse the Gallery for maps from
National Geographic Society
,
World Bank Group
,
United States Geological Survey
,
Florida Emergency Management
and the
City of Edmonton
, and more organizations will be adding their maps over time. As the Gallery grows, it’ll be easier to find out where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going, giving us a new way to look at the world around us.
Posted by Jordan Breckenridge, Product Manager, Google Maps
Wandering in the footsteps of the polar bear with Google Maps
February 27, 2014
This guest post is from Krista Wright, the executive director of
Polar Bears International
. We’ve partnered with PBI to share a fascinating look at polar bears in the wild using Google Maps. -Ed.
In Inuit poetry, the polar bear is known as Pihoqahiak, the ever-wandering one. Some of the most majestic and elusive creatures in the world, polar bears travel hundreds of miles every year, wandering the tundra and Arctic sea ice in search of food and mates. Today, with the help of Street View, we’re celebrating
International Polar Bear Day
by sharing an
intimate look at polar bears
in their natural habitat.
The Street View Trekker, mounted on a Tundra Buggy, captures images of Churchill’s polar bears
We’ve joined forces with Google Maps to collect Street View imagery from a remote corner of Canada’s tundra:
Churchill, Manitoba
, home to one of the largest polar bear populations on the planet. With the help of outfitters
Frontiers North
, the Google Maps team mounted the Street View Trekker onto a specially designed “
Tundra Buggy
,” allowing us to travel across this fragile landscape without interfering with the polar bears or other native species. Through October and November we collected Street View imagery from the shores of Hudson’s Bay as the polar bears waited for the sea ice to freeze over.
One of Churchill, Manitoba’s Polar Bears on Street View
Modern cartography and polar bear conservation
There’s more to this effort than images of cuddly bears, though. PBI has been working in this region for more than 20 years, and we’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of warmer temperatures and
melting sea ice
on the polar bear’s environment. Understanding global warming, and its impact on polar bear populations, requires both global and regional benchmarks. Bringing Street View to Canada's tundra establishes a baseline record of imagery associated with specific geospatial data—information that’s critical if we’re to understand and communicate the impact of climate change on their sensitive ecosystem. As we work to safeguard their habitat, PBI can add Street View imagery to the essential tools we use to assess and respond to the biggest threat facing polar bears today.
Polar Bear International’s
Bear Tracker
We also use the Google Maps API to support our
Bear Tracker
, which illustrates the frozen odyssey these bears embark on every year. As winter approaches and the sea ice freezes over, polar bears head out onto Hudson Bay to hunt for seals. Bear Tracker uses of satellite monitors and an interactive Google Map to display their migration for a global audience.
Mapping the communities of Canada’s Arctic
Google’s trip north builds on work they’ve done in the Arctic communities of
Cambridge Bay
and
Iqaluit
. In the town of Churchill, the Google Maps team conducted a community
MapUp
, which let participants use
Map Maker
to edit and add to the Google Map. From the
Town Centre Complex
, which includes the local school, rink and movie theatre, to the
bear holding facility
used to keep polar bears who have wandered into town until their release can be planned, the citizens of the Churchill made sure Google Maps reflects the community that they know.
But building an accurate and comprehensive map of Canada’s north also means heading out of town to explore this country’s expansive tundra. And thanks to this collaboration with Google Maps, people around the world now have the opportunity to virtually experience Canada’s spectacular landscape—and maybe take a few moments to wander in the footsteps of the polar bear.
Krista Wright, Executive Director of Polar Bears International
Discover the Taj Mahal and other iconic Indian monuments on Street View
February 20, 2014
India’s Taj Mahal, with it’s majestic symmetry of white marble structures, is considered one of the top places to see during your lifetime. Starting today, anyone with an Internet connection can explore the Taj Mahal and 29 of India’s most iconic national monuments through Street View on
Google Maps
and the
Google Cultural Institute
.
The
Taj Mahal
, the crown jewel of India
These Indian heritage sites have historically been admired by those lucky enough to journey to and across India. With the new panoramic imagery live on Street View, people around the world can now visit these iconic monuments online.
Using the Street View Trekker, we’ve brought you images that let you virtually stroll through the vast grounds of
Humayun's Tomb
, admire the red sandstone walls of
Red Fort
, and explore the ancient temples at
Muvar Koil
.
Agra Fort, Agra, India
, one the capital forts from the Mughal Empire
Qutb Minar, Delhi, India
, home to the tallest brick minaret in India
We’ve worked with the Archaeological Survey of India to bring you this new way of experiencing India’s national treasures. Take a
behind-the-scenes
look the Taj Mahal, and experience this place in a whole new way through Google Maps.
In a country as rich with heritage as India, technology can change the way we learn about and understand the past. We hope the Street View imagery of these 30 iconic Indian monuments will help share and preserve these sites, their stories and more of India’s diverse heritage for generations to come.
Posted by Gautam Gandhi, Street View Program Manager
Monitoring the World's Forests with Global Forest Watch
February 20, 2014
By the time we find out about deforestation, it’s usually too late to take action.
Scientists have been studying forests for centuries, chronicling the vital importance of these ecosystems for human society. But most of us still lack timely and reliable information about where, when, and why forests are disappearing.
This is about to change with the launch of
Global Forest Watch
—an online forest monitoring system created by the World Resources Institute, Google and a group of more than 40 partners. Global Forest Watch uses technologies including
Google Earth Engine
and
Google Maps Engine
to map the world’s forests with satellite imagery, detect changes in forest cover in near-real-time, and make this information freely available to anyone with Internet access.
By accessing the most current and reliable information, everyone can learn what’s happening in forests around the world. Now that we have the ability to peer into forests, a number of telling stories are beginning to emerge.
Global forest loss far exceeds forest gain
Global forest loss far exceeds forest gain
Legend: Red = tree cover loss • Blue= Tree cover gain
According to data from the University of Maryland and Google, the world lost more than 500 million acres of forest between 2000 and 2012. That’s the equivalent of losing 50 soccer fields’ worth of forests every minute of every day for the past 13 years! By contrast, only 0.8 million km2 have regrown, been planted, or restored during the same period.
The United States’ most heavily forested region is made up of production forests
The United States’ most heavily forested region is made up of production forests
Legend: Pink = tree cover loss • Blue= Tree cover gain
The Southern United States is home to the nation’s most heavily forested region, making up 29 percent of the total U.S. forest land. Interestingly, the majority of this region is “production forests.” The mosaic of loss (pink) and gain (blue) in the above map shows how forests throughout this region are used as crops – grown and harvested in five-year cycles to produce timber or wood pulp for paper production.
This practice of “intensive forestry” is used all over the world to provide valuable commodities and bolster regional and national economies. WRI
analysis
suggests that if managers of production forests embrace a “
multiple ecosystem services strategy
”, they will be able to generate additional benefits such as biodiversity, carbon storage, and water filtration.
Forests are protected in Brazil’s indigenous territories
Forests are protected in Brazil’s indigenous territories
Legend: Pink = tree cover loss • Dark green= forest • Light green = Degraded land or pastures
The traditional territory of Brazil's Surui tribe is an island of green surrounded by lands that have been significantly degraded and deforested over the past 10+ years. Indigenous communities often rely on forests for their livelihoods and cultural heritage and therefore have a strong incentive to manage forests sustainably. However, many indigenous communities struggle to protect their lands against encroachment by illegal loggers, which may be seen in Global Forest Watch using annual data from the University of Maryland and Google, or monthly alerts from
Imazon
, a Brazilian NGO and GFW partner.
Make Your Own Forest Map
Previously, the data required to make these maps was difficult to obtain and interpret, and most people lacked the resources necessary to access, view, and analyze the the information. With Global Forest Watch, this data is now open to anyone with Internet access. We encourage you to visit Global Forest Watch and
make your own forest map
. There are many stories to tell about what is happening to forests around the world—and your stories can lead to action to protect these special and threatened places. What story will you tell?
For more information, check out
9 Maps That Explain the World's Forests
.
Posted by Crystal Davis, Director of Global Forest Watch, the World Resources Institute, and Dave Thau, Developer Advocate, Google Earth Engine
Updated on February 24, 2014 to include link to World Resources Institute blog post.
Expanding our Map Maker community in Southern and Eastern Europe
February 19, 2014
Maps are no longer static paper records, but living, breathing representations of our world. Places around us are constantly changing — while mountains don’t move, roads are rerouted, homes are built, shops open and close. And oftentimes the best way to keep Google Maps fresh and up to date is by allowing anyone, anywhere with an Internet connection to contribute to the map using their knowledge of the areas they know best. So we’re delighted that
Google Map Maker
is now available for budding cartographers to edit our maps of Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
With Map Maker, you can contribute your local expertise to make an even more comprehensive, useful and interesting map of Europe. Begin in your town or village and try adding the outlines or ‘footprints’ of local shops, restaurants and other businesses. Then help enrich the maps of national parks, or add leisure facilities and historic landmarks. If you enjoy the great outdoors, try adding campsites, beautiful beaches or your favorite cycling paths.
The map of Korcula, Croatia, birthplace of Marco Polo, before and after Map Maker edits
Whether you add a biking route through Tallinn or a landmark in Vilnius, each improvement to the map will help locals and tourists alike better understand the area and discover new things to do. Once approved, your contributions will appear on
Google Maps
,
Google Earth
and
Google Maps for mobile
.
To get started, visit our Google Map Maker
community forum
and see the
Help Center
for tips and tricks, or watch mapping in real-time with
Map Maker Pulse
. Happy mapping!
Posted by Nicole Drobeck, Map Maker Community Manager
Thank you, and welcome to the new Google Maps
February 19, 2014
Over the coming weeks, the
new Google Maps
will make its way onto desktops around the world. Many of you have been previewing it since its
debut last May
, and thanks to your helpful feedback we’re ready to make the new Maps even more widely available.
It’s now even easier to plan your next trip, check live traffic conditions, discover what’s happening around town, and learn about a new area—with
Pegman’s
help if needed. Here’s a quick refresher on what to expect in the new Google Maps:
Make smarter decisions
. Simply search for “coffee” in your neighborhood, and you’ll be able to see results and snippets right on the map. When you click on a cafe, the map will suggest related results that you may not have known about.
Get where you're going, faster.
Car? Bike? Train? Find the
most efficient route
for you, with your best options laid out on the map, including the time and distance for each route. And with the new
real-time traffic reports
and Street View previews, you’ll become a commuting ninja.
See the world from every angle
.
Rich imagery
takes you to notable landmarks, sends you flying above mountains in 3D, and gives you a sneak peek of businesses you plan to visit. The new “carousel” at the bottom of the map makes all this imagery easy to access, so you can explore the world with a click.
With any product redesign, there may be bumps along the road. We're hoping that you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map. As always, we want to
hear what you think
as we work to improve the new Maps over time.
Here’s to many more years of mapping together!
Posted by Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps
Forget Cupid, all you need is Google Maps this Valentine’s Day
February 12, 2014
Are you in a last minute scramble to plan a lovely evening for your Valentine? Hop to it! Reservations are going quick because according to
Zagat’s 2014 Valentine’s survey
, 42% of respondents will be hitting the town to celebrate the day of love. Whether you’re searching for a restaurant to take your date to, scouting for the perfect gift in a store nearby or looking up directions to a movie with friends, Google Maps has the ingredients to cook up a successful night.
Step one: we all gotta eat. If you’re still reading this post, chances are you’ve left dinner reservations -- how shall we say it? Up in the air. Here’s a hint: book Italian. Whether it’s pizza or pasta, Italian cuisine is the top pick for 2014 Valentine’s day meals, topping the survey chart at 28%. And to be sure the ambiance is just right, with Google Maps’ 360-degree virtual tours of venue interiors, you can scope out the perfect place to woo your date.
Delfina Restaurant in San Francisco
River Cafe in London, UK
Next up: a token of your love and affection. Whether you’re a guy or a gal, survey respondents agree that giving a gift is a must. No idea where to start? You can never go wrong with candy and flowers, whether it’s a lollipop bouquet or a dozen roses. Just fire up Google Maps on your phone and find the nearest one to your date destination, by tapping the search box to “explore nearby”.
Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC, USA
Aoyama Flower Market Ramura Iidabashi in Tokyo, Japan
Finally: don’t be late. Navigating to your destination has never been easier on the
new Google Maps
. Quickly get directions from your saved home location to the restaurant, including a stop at your date’s place displayed right on the map -- whether you’re taking public transit, a car or riding a tandem bike.
A parting tip: if you’re thinking of popping the question, consider waiting until after dessert. Apparently, 73% of Zagat survey respondents feel marriage proposals at restaurants are “cheesy”.
Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Posted by
Pegman
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