A room in the basement of one of the hotels in Giżycko was small. Sat around a dozen enthusiasts who decided that August weekend spent on improving Google Maps.
– But what do you want to improve – I ask – after all, virtually everything is in place, road, buildings, what is missing?
– See how you compare the map with satellite images it can be seen that the road already runs differently, and this is a two-story building. Here at the top of the seat has a law firm, nor is it marked on maps. When I type the data, and then will be approved, people will be easier to move around the city, and navigation will be more effective.
I watched curiously as my caller spotted announced amendments to the map. Here dorysowywał the missing piece of the road, make up the names of monuments, described the school.
We all gathered in this small room came to Giżycka the entire Polish. That enthusiasts who amateurish improve Google Maps using Map Maker tool. It features have the latest satellite images Mazur and on the basis of a single weekend have carried in this region almost 6000 changes and added 300 points of interest.
Fig. Google
Google Map of each month, is used by over a billion people. They are available in more than 200 countries worldwide and is applied every day for over 10,000 changes (make them Map Makers, added new satellite images, new images of Street View or services such as Transit, which has recently been launched in Warsaw). Updating Map is never ending, and at this very responsible job. Because in the end of the map should be a reflection of the real world. And this around us is changing very quickly. Too fast to be able to complement it up to date using only the old methods.
World once
Even 10 years ago when we were driving on a journey to an unknown place, bought a paper map. It was more or less accurate, in a larger or smaller scale, covered only the selected area. In 2005, Google launched its maps, but in the beginning they were mapping paper maps, just in digital form. Google used the same cartographic and to complete the map, you had to wait for new data from specialized sources. And this led to delays, because the world is not idle – were built new roads, buildings, stadiums, shopping cart that one day was a pet store, next became a lounge car.
Google for years could only rely on data purchased mapping, but it was not enough. Therefore, in 2008, launched Google Map Maker – a service that allows anyone to annotate the map. How popular is this service can now see with their own eyes – here in real time can be seen draped patch .
– It started with a lighthouse in Hel, although the map of my life were “always”. About three years ago I noticed that Google Maps lighthouse Hel is in a completely different place than you see in the picture the air – I reported it as a problem to Google, because it was an option when registering. I received thanks. However, the entry on the maps further pointed to the other place. Then I started noticing a lot of different errors on maps, especially in my area. I am very annoyed, and the most that you can not improve yourself – draw a building or remove a piece of a non-existent street – tells me Jacek N. Koziol, now one of the most active people improve Google Maps in Poland – When in 2012 I read on the newspaper. en that Google runs the ability to edit and correct the maps in Poland, immediately sought out the lighthouse Hel and of course I had to immediately improve its location. Then I started to “clean up” the area of your home and after a few weeks, “got engaged” in earnest. I started writing on the forum, I created a page in the portal Polish MapMakerpedia and persuaded a few people to write articles. Seeing as quite simple and repetitive mistakes people are doing, I began to enjoy the possibility of reviewing their editing. My activity has been noticed by Google and the other map makers and so Google has chosen me and several other people on Experienced Regional Reviewers on the Polish territory.
World now
Fig. Google
Since 2008, much has changed. Not only in the world – as Google launched a number of services that enable today’s maps are much more functional. With Sophia Lin, product manager Map, met the Google campus in Mountain View. She told me more about how a product which takes care of.
– Currently when building maps often use the pictures – satellite, aircraft, but also those with Street View. It really allows us to make very important fix – for example, state that the road is the parent and which subordinate. All this is done under the project Ground Truth; This was a real breakthrough for us.
Ground Truth Project began in 2008 , but started in earnest in 2013. At that time, Google said that after all is not necessarily limited to cartographic sources can combine all the elements together. For over a year, so the maps are built by combining data from suppliers maps (eg., Tom Tom, and Poland, among others PPWK, Navigo), the satellite data, air, photographs from Street View, etc. All this was possible, because in 2012, Google has combined those of its services in one big organism and individual services can begin with you “talk.”
– In total, the use of extensible Map over a thousand sources – said Sophia Lin .
Example? I used Google, for example, based on data provided to him by the local governments. This information could be due to that the road is two-lane. But, in turn, from the data provided anonymously by Android phone users revealed that people in the region are moving only one lane. And that means that the local government were incomplete.
– In the days before the Ground Truth could use actually only one type of data – or only with Street View, or only available from suppliers map. Now we can combine all the information in one large, dynamically changing a whole – explained Lin.
In September of 2014 years Ground Truth Project was covered by a Polish .
What does this mean for us?
Fig. Google
Since September, our region maps are much more accurate. Google to Map Makers and easier to apply patches, and on the same maps appear to be more walking paths in parks, street names have been updated, added information about orders twist, and the maps themselves will be updated much faster. Because it works already with us or Street View, the data such as registered in the pictures numbers of buildings, may be added to the map .
Google admits that Polish maps would not have him as quickly and accurately correct, if not for the community and a Map Maker. This is also confirmed that Sophia Lin stressed the numerous and involved we are Map Makers.
– In the beginning, as I think everyone has improved mainly to its surroundings, then the other places that I know and where I once was. Now I find myself a place where I can see that the map is not the end of captures what you see on aerial or satellite and based on trying to improve the area concerned – says Jacek N. Koziol – Often when I use Google Navigation and notice that the map does not reflect the reality of the end – but now, after all builds and rebuilds roads – in the evening I sit down and introduce the necessary amendments, which already on the second day will be led navigation to other drivers properly.
When I asked the Googleplex Sophia Lin, which will continue to deal with a team dedicated to Maps. Because in the end it may seem, the product is almost finished.
– Oh, we still have plenty to do – she told me then – from the complete data of smaller towns and mountain trails even after mapping the interior. It’s all still in our plans.
Jacek Koziol adds that also Polish maps are still not perfect.
– There are still some places where there are no correct information about the mobility of pedestrians and bike – not all sidewalks and bike paths along the roads are described in the parameters of these roads on the maps – and this can improve everyone who has a Google account.
If you would like to improve the maps that are in your area, or you can use Map Maker ( You can find it here ). The whole is done in the browser and – as provides Jacek, is easy to use.
Fig. Google
– Improvement of the shape of the building or adding roads or paths can be done almost intuitively. It should, however, read the help, watch instructional videos, and most of all read the comments of reviewers, if you need to edit to improve – explains Koziol – usually more experienced mapmakers have a lot of patience for new and if you want to learn new and improve your mistakes, you can count for advice and support, also on the forum. To begin to improve Google maps, just click on the computer on the “Edit Map” at the bottom of the page. Use the maps on your phone, just shake it to immediately submit a review.
Maps are one of those Google products that are just really useful. If you have some free time, and your area requires amendments already know how to achieve it. All of Poland improves Google Maps? I have a few patches I applied.
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