Google Data » Lat Long https://googledata.org Everything Google: News, Products, Services, Content, Culture Thu, 19 Mar 2015 12:00:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.7.5 Zoom with a view: Visit India’s stunning monuments online https://googledata.org/google-earth/zoom-with-a-view-visit-indias-stunning-monuments-online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zoom-with-a-view-visit-indias-stunning-monuments-online https://googledata.org/google-earth/zoom-with-a-view-visit-indias-stunning-monuments-online/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2015 08:33:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=acdbf94fd54b144ae750008bce729d8e (Cross-posted from the Google Asia Pacific Blog and Google India Blog)

Since last year, we’ve partnered with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other institutions to bring a comprehensive range of India’s heritage sites online, including national icons like the Taj Mahal, Safdarjung Tomb, and the Ellora Caves. Starting today, history lovers and online explorers alike can now find new panoramic views of 31 Indian archaeological sites and monuments on Google Maps and the Google Cultural Institute. Here’s a virtual walk through of some of these stunning monuments, made possible by Street View technology:

Begin your journey at the Gateway of India, a popular starting point for tourists who wish to explore bustling Mumbai, one of India's largest cities. Pan through the imagery for a closer look at the yellow basalt stone arch, covered with intricate Gujarati-influenced latticework.



From there, hop over to the Sun Temple at Konârk, one of India’s Seven Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a glimpse of the chariot-shaped temple and its elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and walls.



For a flavour of India’s royal legacy, visit the Mysore Palace next, one of the country’s grandest royal palaces. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the Palace hosts the Mysore Dasara, which celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2010 and attracts visitors from around the world.



Next, wander through the remains of ancient India’s highest seat of education - the Nalanda University. Learn more about the amazing discoveries uncovered during its excavation through the Archaeological Survey of India’s virtual exhibit, “Nalanda: from Mound to Monument", on the Google Cultural Institute.



Following that, roam through Karnataka’s largest temple complex: the Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, an impressive series of nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary. This World Heritage Site celebrates the Chalukya dynasty, narrating stories of their bravery and valour in the battlefield.



You can also head further down south to the state of Tamil Nadu for a look at Thanjavur Temple on Street View, a fine example of Tamil architecture created during India’s Chola dynasty. The temple, dedicated to Chola emperor Rajaraja, is entirely built out of granite.



That’s just a quick tour of some of the 31 sites we’ve brought onto Google Maps and the Google Cultural Institute today by working with the ASI, as well as the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Karnataka Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation. We hope exploring the new panoramic views of these important sites will help people in India and around the world discover, explore, and learn more about India’s rich heritage.

Posted by: Chetan Krishnaswamy, Country Head - Public Policy, Google India


]]> (Cross-posted from the Google Asia Pacific Blog and Google India Blog)

Since last year, we’ve partnered with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other institutions to bring a comprehensive range of India’s heritage sites online, including national icons like the Taj Mahal, Safdarjung Tomb, and the Ellora Caves. Starting today, history lovers and online explorers alike can now find new panoramic views of 31 Indian archaeological sites and monuments on Google Maps and the Google Cultural Institute. Here’s a virtual walk through of some of these stunning monuments, made possible by Street View technology:

Begin your journey at the Gateway of India, a popular starting point for tourists who wish to explore bustling Mumbai, one of India's largest cities. Pan through the imagery for a closer look at the yellow basalt stone arch, covered with intricate Gujarati-influenced latticework.



From there, hop over to the Sun Temple at Konârk, one of India’s Seven Wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a glimpse of the chariot-shaped temple and its elaborately carved stone wheels, pillars and walls.



For a flavour of India’s royal legacy, visit the Mysore Palace next, one of the country’s grandest royal palaces. Built in the Indo-Saracenic style, the Palace hosts the Mysore Dasara, which celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2010 and attracts visitors from around the world.



Next, wander through the remains of ancient India’s highest seat of education - the Nalanda University. Learn more about the amazing discoveries uncovered during its excavation through the Archaeological Survey of India’s virtual exhibit, “Nalanda: from Mound to Monument", on the Google Cultural Institute.



Following that, roam through Karnataka’s largest temple complex: the Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, an impressive series of nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary. This World Heritage Site celebrates the Chalukya dynasty, narrating stories of their bravery and valour in the battlefield.



You can also head further down south to the state of Tamil Nadu for a look at Thanjavur Temple on Street View, a fine example of Tamil architecture created during India’s Chola dynasty. The temple, dedicated to Chola emperor Rajaraja, is entirely built out of granite.



That’s just a quick tour of some of the 31 sites we’ve brought onto Google Maps and the Google Cultural Institute today by working with the ASI, as well as the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Karnataka Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation. We hope exploring the new panoramic views of these important sites will help people in India and around the world discover, explore, and learn more about India’s rich heritage.

Posted by: Chetan Krishnaswamy, Country Head - Public Policy, Google India


]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/zoom-with-a-view-visit-indias-stunning-monuments-online/feed/ 0 Mapping Brazilian islands, above ground and under the sea https://googledata.org/google-earth/mapping-brazilian-islands-above-ground-and-under-the-sea/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mapping-brazilian-islands-above-ground-and-under-the-sea https://googledata.org/google-earth/mapping-brazilian-islands-above-ground-and-under-the-sea/#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2015 07:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=833eca566502948771c1471d1cd95d91 Few people have set foot on the islands of Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas, but now you can visit them from the comfort of your couch. Google Maps’ latest Street View imagery takes you through both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, widely considered to be amongst Brazil’s most coveted destinations. This Street View journey not only takes you across golden beaches and around towering cliffs, but also deep into the ocean for Brazil’s first underwater Street View collection. With help from the Googler Trekker, a backpack equipped with a 15-lens camera, and our partners at Catlin Seaview Survey, these images offer an immersive picture of two areas Brazil is striving to preserve.

Our first stop is Fernando de Noronha, a group of islands known for their natural beauty and ecotourism, and a prized destination in Brazil. Tourists, only permitted on the island in limited groups due to conservation efforts, often seek out the archipelago’s stunning beaches.

A trip to Fernando de Noronha may begin with a stop at Cacimba do Padre. This beautiful beach is known worldwide for its incredible surfing and gorgeous sunsets.


If the sand isn’t for you, make your way toward Baía dos Porcos. This small stretch of land is known for its spectacular views of “Dois Irmãos,” two grand rock formations triumphantly rising from the ocean.


Our next stop is Atol das Rocas, an atoll in the South Atlantic ocean used exclusively for scientific research. A pivotal breeding area for various animals, Atol das Rocas is home to 30 species of tropical seabirds. While you won’t be able to come here as a tourist, virtual visits are highly encouraged!


Ready for a swim? Dive into the Atlantic Ocean from the top of Buraco do Inferno. Also known as "The Devil’s Hole," this huge rock formation is a popular diving spot in Fernando de Noronha. At certain points in the day, its blow hole releases air and water in an eruptive display.


Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas are also sanctuaries for animals and marine wildlife precious to the regions, including dolphins, turtles, and a variety of fish. Schools of fish often traverse volcanic rock beneath the ocean’s surface at Trinta Reis.


These dolphins, known as “spinner dolphins” due to their acrobatic modes of swimming, are making their way through shallow waters.


Alongside divers snapping pictures, you can swim with a large sea turtle moving with the ocean’s current.


To bring more island beaches to your living room, or continue your virtual scuba-dive, visit Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas on Street View, or check out our gallery of highlights!

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager ]]> Few people have set foot on the islands of Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas, but now you can visit them from the comfort of your couch. Google Maps’ latest Street View imagery takes you through both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, widely considered to be amongst Brazil’s most coveted destinations. This Street View journey not only takes you across golden beaches and around towering cliffs, but also deep into the ocean for Brazil’s first underwater Street View collection. With help from the Googler Trekker, a backpack equipped with a 15-lens camera, and our partners at Catlin Seaview Survey, these images offer an immersive picture of two areas Brazil is striving to preserve.

Our first stop is Fernando de Noronha, a group of islands known for their natural beauty and ecotourism, and a prized destination in Brazil. Tourists, only permitted on the island in limited groups due to conservation efforts, often seek out the archipelago’s stunning beaches.

A trip to Fernando de Noronha may begin with a stop at Cacimba do Padre. This beautiful beach is known worldwide for its incredible surfing and gorgeous sunsets.


If the sand isn’t for you, make your way toward Baía dos Porcos. This small stretch of land is known for its spectacular views of “Dois Irmãos,” two grand rock formations triumphantly rising from the ocean.


Our next stop is Atol das Rocas, an atoll in the South Atlantic ocean used exclusively for scientific research. A pivotal breeding area for various animals, Atol das Rocas is home to 30 species of tropical seabirds. While you won’t be able to come here as a tourist, virtual visits are highly encouraged!

Atol das Rocas

Ready for a swim? Dive into the Atlantic Ocean from the top of Buraco do Inferno. Also known as "The Devil’s Hole," this huge rock formation is a popular diving spot in Fernando de Noronha. At certain points in the day, its blow hole releases air and water in an eruptive display.


Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas are also sanctuaries for animals and marine wildlife precious to the regions, including dolphins, turtles, and a variety of fish. Schools of fish often traverse volcanic rock beneath the ocean’s surface at Trinta Reis.


These dolphins, known as “spinner dolphins” due to their acrobatic modes of swimming, are making their way through shallow waters.


Alongside divers snapping pictures, you can swim with a large sea turtle moving with the ocean’s current.


To bring more island beaches to your living room, or continue your virtual scuba-dive, visit Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas on Street View, or check out our gallery of highlights!

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/mapping-brazilian-islands-above-ground-and-under-the-sea/feed/ 0 Growing up in the shadow of Everest https://googledata.org/google-earth/growing-up-in-the-shadow-of-everest/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=growing-up-in-the-shadow-of-everest https://googledata.org/google-earth/growing-up-in-the-shadow-of-everest/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2015 07:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=1cb5ce626cf3ba0ed38f6190f9f48576
Apa Sherpa is a Sherpa mountaineer who holds the world record for reaching the summit of Mount Everest 21 times—more than any other person. In 2009, Apa founded the Apa Sherpa Foundation, a nonprofit that works to provide better educational and economic opportunities to the young people of the Khumbu region. In March 2014, Apa Sherpa, Google Earth Outreach, and the Nepalese nonprofit Story Cycle, embarked on a 10-day trek through the Khumbu region, supporting local people to enhance the digital representations of their communities on Google Maps. We hope the project will empower the Apa Sherpa Foundation, Story Cycle, other nonprofits, and Sherpa community members to tell their stories through Google Maps. -Ed.

I was born in 1960 in Thame, a small town in the Khumbu region of Nepal, which is home to Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak. Even though I grew up in the shadow of the mountain, I dreamt of being a doctor instead of a climber. That dream was never realized. When I was 12, my father passed away, and I had to find work to support my family. So I began carrying goods up the mountain as part of an expedition team. At 30, a dream that had never been mine came true: I summited Everest for the first time as a porter.
Apa Sherpa on the summit of Everest with a memorial to Sir Edmund Hillary who passed away in 2008. Photo credit: Apa Sherpa Foundation
Our region is famous for being home to Everest, but it’s also the home of the Sherpa community and has been for centuries. The region has much more to offer than just the mountain. So last year, I guided the Google Maps team through my home region to collect Street View imagery that improves the map of our community. Now you can find Thame on the map and explore other communities nestled at the base of Everest, like Khumjung and Phortse.


Partnering with Google Maps allowed us to get important local landmarks on the map and share a richer view of Khumbu with the world, including local monasteries, lodges, schools and more, with some yaks along the way! My hope is that when people see this imagery online, they’ll have a deeper understanding of the region and the Sherpa people that live there.

Map of Thame, Apa Sherpa’s hometown, before the Google Mapping project [above] and added locations [below]
When people ask what it feels like to reach the top of Mount Everest, I say “heaven.” But I haven’t summited the mountain 21 times because I love climbing. I earned this world record in pursuit of a greater goal: to provide a good education and a better, safer life for my kids. My hope is that my children and future generations have many choices for employment outside of mountaineering. Through the Apa Sherpa Foundation, I now work to improve educational access by funding the Lower Secondary School in my hometown to give children other options for their future, so they can pursue their dreams to be doctors—or anything else they want to be, like mine, so many years ago.



Your online trip to my home awaits you on Google Maps. And if you ever get the chance to visit the Khumbu region in person, come stay at the Everest Summiteer Lodge that I built with my own hands. We’ll be ready to welcome you.
Namaste,
Apa Sherpa ]]>
Apa Sherpa is a Sherpa mountaineer who holds the world record for reaching the summit of Mount Everest 21 times—more than any other person. In 2009, Apa founded the Apa Sherpa Foundation, a nonprofit that works to provide better educational and economic opportunities to the young people of the Khumbu region. In March 2014, Apa Sherpa, Google Earth Outreach, and the Nepalese nonprofit Story Cycle, embarked on a 10-day trek through the Khumbu region, supporting local people to enhance the digital representations of their communities on Google Maps. We hope the project will empower the Apa Sherpa Foundation, Story Cycle, other nonprofits, and Sherpa community members to tell their stories through Google Maps. -Ed.

I was born in 1960 in Thame, a small town in the Khumbu region of Nepal, which is home to Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak. Even though I grew up in the shadow of the mountain, I dreamt of being a doctor instead of a climber. That dream was never realized. When I was 12, my father passed away, and I had to find work to support my family. So I began carrying goods up the mountain as part of an expedition team. At 30, a dream that had never been mine came true: I summited Everest for the first time as a porter.
Apa Sherpa on the summit of Everest with a memorial to Sir Edmund Hillary who passed away in 2008. Photo credit: Apa Sherpa Foundation
Our region is famous for being home to Everest, but it’s also the home of the Sherpa community and has been for centuries. The region has much more to offer than just the mountain. So last year, I guided the Google Maps team through my home region to collect Street View imagery that improves the map of our community. Now you can find Thame on the map and explore other communities nestled at the base of Everest, like Khumjung and Phortse.


Partnering with Google Maps allowed us to get important local landmarks on the map and share a richer view of Khumbu with the world, including local monasteries, lodges, schools and more, with some yaks along the way! My hope is that when people see this imagery online, they’ll have a deeper understanding of the region and the Sherpa people that live there.

Map of Thame, Apa Sherpa’s hometown, before the Google Mapping project [above] and added locations [below]
When people ask what it feels like to reach the top of Mount Everest, I say “heaven.” But I haven’t summited the mountain 21 times because I love climbing. I earned this world record in pursuit of a greater goal: to provide a good education and a better, safer life for my kids. My hope is that my children and future generations have many choices for employment outside of mountaineering. Through the Apa Sherpa Foundation, I now work to improve educational access by funding the Lower Secondary School in my hometown to give children other options for their future, so they can pursue their dreams to be doctors—or anything else they want to be, like mine, so many years ago.



Your online trip to my home awaits you on Google Maps. And if you ever get the chance to visit the Khumbu region in person, come stay at the Everest Summiteer Lodge that I built with my own hands. We’ll be ready to welcome you.
Namaste,
Apa Sherpa ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/growing-up-in-the-shadow-of-everest/feed/ 0 Goin’ to the chapel this Valentine’s weekend https://googledata.org/google-maps/goin-to-the-chapel-this-valentines-weekend/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=goin-to-the-chapel-this-valentines-weekend https://googledata.org/google-maps/goin-to-the-chapel-this-valentines-weekend/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2015 19:15:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=29982521c9480ffebe07293103dc2706
Thanks to the ease and low cost of acquiring a marriage license, Las Vegas is considered the Marriage Capital of the World. For many, Vegas weddings are a chance to be spontaneous and embrace the unexpected. This Valentine’s Day, we hope you’ll say yes… and visit the chapels that make Las Vegas famous with Street View in Google Maps.

From the regal Classico Chapel in Caesars Palace to the more simple Las Vegas Love Chapel, there’s a variety of places to say “I do.” You can take a seat at the locations of some of the world’s most remembered (for better or for worse) Vegas weddings. Want to know why Jon Bon Jovi and Jay Leno picked Graceland Wedding Chapel for one of the biggest days in their lives? Take a look:


If your dream wedding involves walking down the aisle in a silk tuxedo to the tune of “Burning Love,” stop by Planet Hollywood (formerly the Aladdin) and relive the eight minutes it took for Elvis Presley and Priscilla to get married there. The original hotel is gone, but you can say your virtual vows at Planet Hollywood’s chapel. (And let’s not forget that in Vegas, Elvis can marry you—to your loved one, of course.)


Whether you're ready to take the marital plunge, walk down memory aisle, or just pique your curiosity, this collection is a fun celebration of romance—Vegas style.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]>
Thanks to the ease and low cost of acquiring a marriage license, Las Vegas is considered the Marriage Capital of the World. For many, Vegas weddings are a chance to be spontaneous and embrace the unexpected. This Valentine’s Day, we hope you’ll say yes… and visit the chapels that make Las Vegas famous with Street View in Google Maps.

From the regal Classico Chapel in Caesars Palace to the more simple Las Vegas Love Chapel, there’s a variety of places to say “I do.” You can take a seat at the locations of some of the world’s most remembered (for better or for worse) Vegas weddings. Want to know why Jon Bon Jovi and Jay Leno picked Graceland Wedding Chapel for one of the biggest days in their lives? Take a look:


If your dream wedding involves walking down the aisle in a silk tuxedo to the tune of “Burning Love,” stop by Planet Hollywood (formerly the Aladdin) and relive the eight minutes it took for Elvis Presley and Priscilla to get married there. The original hotel is gone, but you can say your virtual vows at Planet Hollywood’s chapel. (And let’s not forget that in Vegas, Elvis can marry you—to your loved one, of course.)


Whether you're ready to take the marital plunge, walk down memory aisle, or just pique your curiosity, this collection is a fun celebration of romance—Vegas style.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/goin-to-the-chapel-this-valentines-weekend/feed/ 0 Today we turn 10! https://googledata.org/google-maps/today-we-turn-10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=today-we-turn-10 https://googledata.org/google-maps/today-we-turn-10/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2015 17:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=fdc6c43c14ced819e141b7dcdffed97e For 10 years Google Maps has made it easier to navigate and explore your world. If you hopped in your DeLorean for a trip back to before 2005, you’d remember the days when we were all dependent on paper maps, print-outs, post-its and sometimes even a compass for directions! Getting from point A to B is something we do all day, every day—from finding the fastest way to get to work, to dropping the kids off on a carpool route, to meeting friends for drinks at a new spot—so it should be as easy as possible. That’s why we created Google Maps and why we’ve spent the last 10 years figuring out better ways for you to get around.


Through projects like Ground Truth and passionate communities like Map Maker, we strive to provide you with the most comprehensive, accurate and useful maps. And with Google Maps for mobile, you no longer have to worry about getting lost or deciding where to go next when you’re on the move.


As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we hope you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map—together. A planet-size thank you to everyone who has navigated, explored and contributed to the map with us over the past decade.

Time for cake!
The Google Maps Team

]]> For 10 years Google Maps has made it easier to navigate and explore your world. If you hopped in your DeLorean for a trip back to before 2005, you’d remember the days when we were all dependent on paper maps, print-outs, post-its and sometimes even a compass for directions! Getting from point A to B is something we do all day, every day—from finding the fastest way to get to work, to dropping the kids off on a carpool route, to meeting friends for drinks at a new spot—so it should be as easy as possible. That’s why we created Google Maps and why we’ve spent the last 10 years figuring out better ways for you to get around.


Through projects like Ground Truth and passionate communities like Map Maker, we strive to provide you with the most comprehensive, accurate and useful maps. And with Google Maps for mobile, you no longer have to worry about getting lost or deciding where to go next when you’re on the move.


As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we hope you're as excited as we are to navigate uncharted territory in pursuit of the perfect map—together. A planet-size thank you to everyone who has navigated, explored and contributed to the map with us over the past decade.

Time for cake!
The Google Maps Team

]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/today-we-turn-10/feed/ 0 Google Earth Pro is now free https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-earth-pro-is-now-free/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-earth-pro-is-now-free https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-earth-pro-is-now-free/#comments Fri, 30 Jan 2015 18:31:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=2fbe3cecf0d53c32eb347f4bd836e1fa Over the last 10 years, businesses, scientists and hobbyists from all over the world have been using Google Earth Pro for everything from planning hikes to placing solar panels on rooftops. Google Earth Pro has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights around the world.

Starting today, even more people will be able to access Google Earth Pro: we're making it available for free. To see what Earth Pro can do for you—or to just have fun flying around the world—grab a free key and download Earth Pro today. If you're an existing user, your key will continue to work with no changes required.

Plan in 3D using Google Earth Pro

Whether you're planning a new office building or a trip to the mountains, check out Google Earth Pro and see how easy it is to visualize your world.

Posted by Stafford Marquardt, Product Manager, Google Earth Pro
]]> Over the last 10 years, businesses, scientists and hobbyists from all over the world have been using Google Earth Pro for everything from planning hikes to placing solar panels on rooftops. Google Earth Pro has all the easy-to-use features and detailed imagery of Google Earth, along with advanced tools that help you measure 3D buildings, print high-resolution images for presentations or reports, and record HD movies of your virtual flights around the world.

Starting today, even more people will be able to access Google Earth Pro: we're making it available for free. To see what Earth Pro can do for you—or to just have fun flying around the world—grab a free key and download Earth Pro today. If you're an existing user, your key will continue to work with no changes required.

Plan in 3D using Google Earth Pro

Whether you're planning a new office building or a trip to the mountains, check out Google Earth Pro and see how easy it is to visualize your world.

Posted by Stafford Marquardt, Product Manager, Google Earth Pro
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-earth-pro-is-now-free/feed/ 0 The aurora borealis lights up Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-aurora-borealis-lights-up-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-aurora-borealis-lights-up-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-aurora-borealis-lights-up-google-maps/#comments Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b6e15c325c5f0a25b0df1d80c868a79f Nature’s greatest light show has come to Google Maps for the first time. Starting today, armchair arctic explorers, science lovers and curious observers will be able to explore the Northern Lights in Finland right from Google Maps.


Also known as the aurora borealis (after Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the Greek name for north wind), these dazzling lights are the effect of charged particles interacting with one another in earth’s atmosphere. These light displays have long been a source of wonder for poets and travelers gazing up at the otherworldly colors in stark contrast with the austere, arctic terrain. However, they can only be seen in person at certain latitudes and times of year, making this breathtaking sight a rare experience for most of us.

To see more views of the Northern Lights, explore the Google Maps gallery. Click across the frozen lake in Finland where these shots were captured, and take in the awe-inspiring views above.

 Posted by Magdalena Filak, Google Maps Street View Associate Program Manager]]> Nature’s greatest light show has come to Google Maps for the first time. Starting today, armchair arctic explorers, science lovers and curious observers will be able to explore the Northern Lights in Finland right from Google Maps.


Also known as the aurora borealis (after Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the Greek name for north wind), these dazzling lights are the effect of charged particles interacting with one another in earth’s atmosphere. These light displays have long been a source of wonder for poets and travelers gazing up at the otherworldly colors in stark contrast with the austere, arctic terrain. However, they can only be seen in person at certain latitudes and times of year, making this breathtaking sight a rare experience for most of us.

To see more views of the Northern Lights, explore the Google Maps gallery. Click across the frozen lake in Finland where these shots were captured, and take in the awe-inspiring views above.

 Posted by Magdalena Filak, Google Maps Street View Associate Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-aurora-borealis-lights-up-google-maps/feed/ 0 Ho Ho Ho! Track Santa around the world with Google’s Santa Tracker https://googledata.org/google-earth/ho-ho-ho-track-santa-around-the-world-with-googles-santa-tracker-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ho-ho-ho-track-santa-around-the-world-with-googles-santa-tracker-2 https://googledata.org/google-earth/ho-ho-ho-track-santa-around-the-world-with-googles-santa-tracker-2/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d39e44d8b2e4cdfde31ce93e6b02c23c After 23 days of preparation, the elves are finally ready for Santa’s annual journey around the globe. They’ve taught each other how to say "Santa Claus" in Swedish, guided their friends through mazes with code, brushed up on their geography, and learned about organizations making a difference worldwide. It’s been a busy month, but Santa’s sleigh is now ready for lift-off!
The elves brushed up on coding fundamentals with blockly maze games

The elves decorated their trees with ornaments about organizations making a difference

Each stop on Santa’s journey offers more to explore—discover 360-degree imagery, Wikipedia snippets, geography facts, and updates on how far Santa’s current location is from yours (take note—Santa’s path is not a direct one!). Come back and visit google.com/santatracker throughout the night for more surprises, like sleigh selfies or a latitude and longitude game to deliver presents.
Follow Santa on any screen—desktop, phone, tablet, or TV

If you’re on the ho-ho-go, download the Santa Tracker App for Android to keep track of Santa on your phone or tablet. With the Android app, watch Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast, or on your wrist with Android Wear (especially handy when wrapping last-minute gifts). And, you can always search for Santa on www.google.com or on Google Maps, and get real-time location updates with Google Now in the Google App.

Santa’s available at the flick of the wrist with Android Wear

Santa’s got a long and exciting night ahead of him before heading back to the North Pole. Grab some eggnog, set out the cookies, and join Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter to #tracksanta!

Posted by Brendan Kenny, Reindeer Platform Engineer]]> After 23 days of preparation, the elves are finally ready for Santa’s annual journey around the globe. They’ve taught each other how to say "Santa Claus" in Swedish, guided their friends through mazes with code, brushed up on their geography, and learned about organizations making a difference worldwide. It’s been a busy month, but Santa’s sleigh is now ready for lift-off!
The elves brushed up on coding fundamentals with blockly maze games

The elves decorated their trees with ornaments about organizations making a difference

Each stop on Santa’s journey offers more to explore—discover 360-degree imagery, Wikipedia snippets, geography facts, and updates on how far Santa’s current location is from yours (take note—Santa’s path is not a direct one!). Come back and visit google.com/santatracker throughout the night for more surprises, like sleigh selfies or a latitude and longitude game to deliver presents.
Follow Santa on any screen—desktop, phone, tablet, or TV

If you’re on the ho-ho-go, download the Santa Tracker App for Android to keep track of Santa on your phone or tablet. With the Android app, watch Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast, or on your wrist with Android Wear (especially handy when wrapping last-minute gifts). And, you can always search for Santa on www.google.com or on Google Maps, and get real-time location updates with Google Now in the Google App.

Santa’s available at the flick of the wrist with Android Wear

Santa’s got a long and exciting night ahead of him before heading back to the North Pole. Grab some eggnog, set out the cookies, and join Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter to #tracksanta!

Posted by Brendan Kenny, Reindeer Platform Engineer]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/ho-ho-ho-track-santa-around-the-world-with-googles-santa-tracker-2/feed/ 0 Do some holiday (window) shopping with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/do-some-holiday-window-shopping-with-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=do-some-holiday-window-shopping-with-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/do-some-holiday-window-shopping-with-google-maps/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=745942a3a6486f277386f2530c4bb0e4 So much of the fun of holiday shopping is seeing the lavish, seasonal displays in the windows of shops and department stores as you pass by. Starting today, with Google Maps Business View, you can see decked out displays in New York and London—without braving the cold weather, lugging bags around or fighting for sidewalk space with fellow shoppers. Now grab your virtual reindeer because we’re off to our holiday window tour!

Stopping by Saks Fifth Avenue is a must for any holiday window shopper. Gazing at the dreamy Once Upon a Time in NYC, you can imagine being Cinderella in a magical carriage. Note: Prince Charming and glass slipper sold separately.


Cruising by Macy’s in Herald Square, a Miracle on 34th Street awaits. Peering through the glass, you can see Santa and his elves hard at work. After all, we’re only a week away from their big night!


Rounding out our NYC tour, Bloomingdale’s is getting the New Year’s Eve party started early. There’s no place to ring in 2015 like in the bright lights of the big city.


Holiday shopping in London may be blustery and cold, but the lovely, inviting window displays are sure to warm the heart. Stopping first at Selfridges, you can go on a themed journey from fairytale to fable, all finished with rhymes...even their windows have labels!


Looking into the gilded window displays at Liberty London, you might believe that all that glitters is gold after all. Look closer to see the plethora of presents tempting you inside to the promises of holiday joy behind the glass.


And finally, if you’re doing some last minute shopping, you can prepare for a trip by taking a look inside the stores in Google Maps. Business View, provides virtual tours of thousands of retail shops around the world, whether you’re headed to Old Navy in San Francisco or Benetton in Russia. Just look for the “See Inside” marker on Maps, Search and Google+, which lets you virtually explore your holiday shopping destination.

Walking in a winter wonderland has never been so easy (and warm!).

Posted by Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Product Manager, Google Maps Business View]]> So much of the fun of holiday shopping is seeing the lavish, seasonal displays in the windows of shops and department stores as you pass by. Starting today, with Google Maps Business View, you can see decked out displays in New York and London—without braving the cold weather, lugging bags around or fighting for sidewalk space with fellow shoppers. Now grab your virtual reindeer because we’re off to our holiday window tour!

Stopping by Saks Fifth Avenue is a must for any holiday window shopper. Gazing at the dreamy Once Upon a Time in NYC, you can imagine being Cinderella in a magical carriage. Note: Prince Charming and glass slipper sold separately.


Cruising by Macy’s in Herald Square, a Miracle on 34th Street awaits. Peering through the glass, you can see Santa and his elves hard at work. After all, we’re only a week away from their big night!


Rounding out our NYC tour, Bloomingdale’s is getting the New Year’s Eve party started early. There’s no place to ring in 2015 like in the bright lights of the big city.


Holiday shopping in London may be blustery and cold, but the lovely, inviting window displays are sure to warm the heart. Stopping first at Selfridges, you can go on a themed journey from fairytale to fable, all finished with rhymes...even their windows have labels!


Looking into the gilded window displays at Liberty London, you might believe that all that glitters is gold after all. Look closer to see the plethora of presents tempting you inside to the promises of holiday joy behind the glass.


And finally, if you’re doing some last minute shopping, you can prepare for a trip by taking a look inside the stores in Google Maps. Business View, provides virtual tours of thousands of retail shops around the world, whether you’re headed to Old Navy in San Francisco or Benetton in Russia. Just look for the “See Inside” marker on Maps, Search and Google+, which lets you virtually explore your holiday shopping destination.

Walking in a winter wonderland has never been so easy (and warm!).

Posted by Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Product Manager, Google Maps Business View]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/do-some-holiday-window-shopping-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 “See inside” with Google Maps Business View https://googledata.org/google-earth/see-inside-with-google-maps-business-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=see-inside-with-google-maps-business-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/see-inside-with-google-maps-business-view/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2014 05:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=71710ca7dccf628ea8324e7b233e2559 Here’s a Google Maps insider tip: Street View isn’t just for streets—it goes indoors, too! With Google Maps Business View, you can preview 360-degree virtual tours of restaurants, hotels, shops in more than 30 countries around the world. And this just in: we’ve got something special for fans of The Colbert Report.

The series concludes tomorrow, but you can still feel like you’re in the audience (or relive the good ol’ days) with a brand-new virtual tour of the studio. And the show has created an interactive experience with the Business View imagery that lets you explore and remember some of your favorite moments from the show. And for those who want to tour more entertainment and news studios, check out our Views gallery.


Business View may also be your best new travel companion. Whether you’re traveling to see your family for the holidays or planning a romantic getaway for the new year, you probably want to make sure the ambiance of the hotel is right for the occasion. With Business View, you can see inside thousands of hotels around the world on Google, including hundreds of Best Western and Hilton hotel locations (pool included!).


In addition to finding the right spot to lay your head, you can turn to Business View to find the perfect restaurant for a meal out with friends, or get a sense of whether a tourist destination is worth the trip. Check out the decor and vibe of dazzling restaurants like Riad Nejma in Paris, Alux Restaurant Bar in Playa del Carmen, and REN in Tokyo.


To access Business View on your desktop, mobile or tablet, look for the “See Inside” marker on Maps, Search and Google+, which will take you into the virtual tour of your destination. You might be surprised what you find inside.

Posted by Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Product Manager, Google Maps Business View]]> Here’s a Google Maps insider tip: Street View isn’t just for streets—it goes indoors, too! With Google Maps Business View, you can preview 360-degree virtual tours of restaurants, hotels, shops in more than 30 countries around the world. And this just in: we’ve got something special for fans of The Colbert Report.

The series concludes tomorrow, but you can still feel like you’re in the audience (or relive the good ol’ days) with a brand-new virtual tour of the studio. And the show has created an interactive experience with the Business View imagery that lets you explore and remember some of your favorite moments from the show. And for those who want to tour more entertainment and news studios, check out our Views gallery.


Business View may also be your best new travel companion. Whether you’re traveling to see your family for the holidays or planning a romantic getaway for the new year, you probably want to make sure the ambiance of the hotel is right for the occasion. With Business View, you can see inside thousands of hotels around the world on Google, including hundreds of Best Western and Hilton hotel locations (pool included!).


In addition to finding the right spot to lay your head, you can turn to Business View to find the perfect restaurant for a meal out with friends, or get a sense of whether a tourist destination is worth the trip. Check out the decor and vibe of dazzling restaurants like Riad Nejma in Paris, Alux Restaurant Bar in Playa del Carmen, and REN in Tokyo.


To access Business View on your desktop, mobile or tablet, look for the “See Inside” marker on Maps, Search and Google+, which will take you into the virtual tour of your destination. You might be surprised what you find inside.

Posted by Soufi Esmaeilzadeh, Product Manager, Google Maps Business View]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/see-inside-with-google-maps-business-view/feed/ 0 Map this way—Google My Maps now in Drive https://googledata.org/google-earth/map-this-way-google-my-maps-now-in-drive/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=map-this-way-google-my-maps-now-in-drive https://googledata.org/google-earth/map-this-way-google-my-maps-now-in-drive/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=21d51d00efaba58f95332a263203d946 Whether you’re planning an epic road trip with friends or mapping out your favorite runs for a ski vacation, it’s easy with Google My Maps, our custom map creation tool. Starting today, you can access My Maps right from Google Drive, so it’s even easier to create, access and share your custom maps.

Creating a custom map is just as easy as opening up a new Google Doc. Just select “New,” then “More,” then “Google My Maps” to tap into your inner cartographer.

Create a new custom map right from Google Drive

Over the next week, all the maps you’ve created will also be accessible in Google Drive, so you can easily organize, manage and share them. Create folders such as “Travel,” “Hiking” and “Holidays,” and search through them to find your favorite custom maps—which might be as varied as Fourth of July Trip, Half Marathon, or SantaCon.


Magic City Half Marathon & 5K

In addition to accessing your Google My Maps in Drive, you can now add more layers and points of interest to your map, import bigger spreadsheets and include more details in each info box. Whether you’re mapping out the best surf spots down under or campgrounds in California, you can add all your favorite areas with more details across even more layers.



Whatever your needs for the holiday season, the new year and beyond, Google My Maps—now accessible in Google Drive—makes planning that much easier.

Posted by Dylan Lorimer, Product Manager, Google My Maps
]]> Whether you’re planning an epic road trip with friends or mapping out your favorite runs for a ski vacation, it’s easy with Google My Maps, our custom map creation tool. Starting today, you can access My Maps right from Google Drive, so it’s even easier to create, access and share your custom maps.

Creating a custom map is just as easy as opening up a new Google Doc. Just select “New,” then “More,” then “Google My Maps” to tap into your inner cartographer.

Create a new custom map right from Google Drive

Over the next week, all the maps you’ve created will also be accessible in Google Drive, so you can easily organize, manage and share them. Create folders such as “Travel,” “Hiking” and “Holidays,” and search through them to find your favorite custom maps—which might be as varied as Fourth of July Trip, Half Marathon, or SantaCon.


Magic City Half Marathon & 5K

In addition to accessing your Google My Maps in Drive, you can now add more layers and points of interest to your map, import bigger spreadsheets and include more details in each info box. Whether you’re mapping out the best surf spots down under or campgrounds in California, you can add all your favorite areas with more details across even more layers.



Whatever your needs for the holiday season, the new year and beyond, Google My Maps—now accessible in Google Drive—makes planning that much easier.

Posted by Dylan Lorimer, Product Manager, Google My Maps
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/map-this-way-google-my-maps-now-in-drive/feed/ 0 Drive by Dubai with Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/drive-by-dubai-with-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=drive-by-dubai-with-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/drive-by-dubai-with-street-view/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2014 01:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=a8767ee871885b4b03375d4dd72a8711 Dubai is home to the world’s tallest tower, largest mall and the planet’s only seven-star hotel. With all these modern wonders, it’s no surprise that Dubai hosted 10 million global visitors last year—and aims to hit a record-breaking 20 million visitors in 2020. Starting today, it can add virtual visitors to that list, as Dubai becomes the first city in an Arab country to be added to Street View in Google Maps.

Start your tour with a drive on Sheikh Zayed Road, the longest road in the Emirates that runs in parallel to the coastline. Peer up at the city’s iconic skyscrapers and high-rise towers that, in some cases, reach more than 1,000 feet into the clouds. On one side, you can see the city’s elevated and driverless metro system.


Along Financial Road, pass Dubai Mall, home to thousands of shops. But with an average of 75 million visitors every year, the mall is more than just a retail space. Inside is a 10 million-liter aquarium -- one of the largest suspended tanks in the world -- and a facing it there is a flock of famous dancing fountains.


Most of Dubai’s buildings were constructed in the last decade, but if you’re curious to go back to where it all began, visit Deira. Here, the great-grandfathers of present-day merchants set up shop, creating one of the region’s biggest markets and establishing a major link in the time’s global trade routes.


Finally, no visit of Dubai is complete without touring the Dubai Creek. Known for its fusion of past and present cultures, and its trading connections with countries around and beyond the Arabian Gulf, along its banks you can see merchant dhows docked and bazaars bustling with silks and spices.


It’s hard to believe that a city not much larger than 4,000 square kilometers has become such a hub of modern culture with more than 200 nationalities mingling daily, as well as a center for trade and tourism in just four short decades. We hope that you’ll be inspired to explore its wonders in person, but until then, they’re just a click away.

Posted by Mohamad Mourad, Regional Director for Google, Middle East and North Africa]]> Dubai is home to the world’s tallest tower, largest mall and the planet’s only seven-star hotel. With all these modern wonders, it’s no surprise that Dubai hosted 10 million global visitors last year—and aims to hit a record-breaking 20 million visitors in 2020. Starting today, it can add virtual visitors to that list, as Dubai becomes the first city in an Arab country to be added to Street View in Google Maps.

Start your tour with a drive on Sheikh Zayed Road, the longest road in the Emirates that runs in parallel to the coastline. Peer up at the city’s iconic skyscrapers and high-rise towers that, in some cases, reach more than 1,000 feet into the clouds. On one side, you can see the city’s elevated and driverless metro system.


Along Financial Road, pass Dubai Mall, home to thousands of shops. But with an average of 75 million visitors every year, the mall is more than just a retail space. Inside is a 10 million-liter aquarium -- one of the largest suspended tanks in the world -- and a facing it there is a flock of famous dancing fountains.


Most of Dubai’s buildings were constructed in the last decade, but if you’re curious to go back to where it all began, visit Deira. Here, the great-grandfathers of present-day merchants set up shop, creating one of the region’s biggest markets and establishing a major link in the time’s global trade routes.


Finally, no visit of Dubai is complete without touring the Dubai Creek. Known for its fusion of past and present cultures, and its trading connections with countries around and beyond the Arabian Gulf, along its banks you can see merchant dhows docked and bazaars bustling with silks and spices.


It’s hard to believe that a city not much larger than 4,000 square kilometers has become such a hub of modern culture with more than 200 nationalities mingling daily, as well as a center for trade and tourism in just four short decades. We hope that you’ll be inspired to explore its wonders in person, but until then, they’re just a click away.

Posted by Mohamad Mourad, Regional Director for Google, Middle East and North Africa]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/drive-by-dubai-with-street-view/feed/ 0 Viva La Espana: 50 new Street View sights in Spain https://googledata.org/google-earth/viva-la-espana-50-new-street-view-sights-in-spain/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=viva-la-espana-50-new-street-view-sights-in-spain https://googledata.org/google-earth/viva-la-espana-50-new-street-view-sights-in-spain/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=179e5219b74f4d8afefafb65459cd273 The Iberian Peninsula has a rich and varied artistic, architectural and cultural legacy. Roman remains, Al-Andalus, Gothic splendor and 19th century Catalan modernism are just a few examples of what you might see travelling around Spain’s cities and countryside. And starting today, people all over the world will be able to explore 50 new iconic locations in Spain with Street View on Google Maps.

Peruse architectural details of the Alhambra and Generalife, walk around the Tower of Hercules (a Roman Empire-era lighthouse), and gaze up at the vast arched ceiling of the crypt at the Church of Sagrada Familia.



In addition to these famed sights, you can also discover lesser-known treasures. Visit the desertlike world of the Bardenas Reales natural park in southeast Navarre, Neoclassic architecture at the Congress of Deputies and colorful stained-glass windows in the Cathedral of León. Or make a trip to the small medieval town of Albarracín, a walled lordship that has stood for centuries.



This 360-degree imagery was collected by our Trekker, a backpack equipped with Street View technology that allows the wearer to capture imagery while walking. To capture details of the fine art and architecture inside these magnificent sites, we enlisted the help of the Trolley. And for more sprawling locations, the trusty Trike captured imagery while its rider pedaled.

If this collection piques your interest to see these locations in person, you’re in good company. In fact, according to the survey on the Impact of Online Content on European Tourism, more than half of EU travelers consult Internet sites and social media in order to get information about trips. But even if you’re not planning un vacación anytime soon, the wonders of Spain are now just a click away.

Published by Amita Khattri, Street View Program Manager]]> The Iberian Peninsula has a rich and varied artistic, architectural and cultural legacy. Roman remains, Al-Andalus, Gothic splendor and 19th century Catalan modernism are just a few examples of what you might see travelling around Spain’s cities and countryside. And starting today, people all over the world will be able to explore 50 new iconic locations in Spain with Street View on Google Maps.

Peruse architectural details of the Alhambra and Generalife, walk around the Tower of Hercules (a Roman Empire-era lighthouse), and gaze up at the vast arched ceiling of the crypt at the Church of Sagrada Familia.



In addition to these famed sights, you can also discover lesser-known treasures. Visit the desertlike world of the Bardenas Reales natural park in southeast Navarre, Neoclassic architecture at the Congress of Deputies and colorful stained-glass windows in the Cathedral of León. Or make a trip to the small medieval town of Albarracín, a walled lordship that has stood for centuries.



This 360-degree imagery was collected by our Trekker, a backpack equipped with Street View technology that allows the wearer to capture imagery while walking. To capture details of the fine art and architecture inside these magnificent sites, we enlisted the help of the Trolley. And for more sprawling locations, the trusty Trike captured imagery while its rider pedaled.

If this collection piques your interest to see these locations in person, you’re in good company. In fact, according to the survey on the Impact of Online Content on European Tourism, more than half of EU travelers consult Internet sites and social media in order to get information about trips. But even if you’re not planning un vacación anytime soon, the wonders of Spain are now just a click away.

Published by Amita Khattri, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/viva-la-espana-50-new-street-view-sights-in-spain/feed/ 0 A moment of zen: 100 incredible satellite images of planet Earth https://googledata.org/google-earth/a-moment-of-zen-100-incredible-satellite-images-of-planet-earth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-moment-of-zen-100-incredible-satellite-images-of-planet-earth https://googledata.org/google-earth/a-moment-of-zen-100-incredible-satellite-images-of-planet-earth/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2014 15:38:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=341345b0780c10d03d8e3df7e1951663
Thanksgiving weekend was a busy one for many Americans. Traveling, shopping, cooking, and visits with friends and family can be a bit hectic. For a mental break, we invite you to visit Earth View, a collection of 100 beautiful images from around the world, all taken from Google Maps’ satellite imagery. Landscapes from every continent are included, even Antarctica.
While you’re browsing, you can visit the location in Google Maps or download a high-res wallpaper formatted for your computer, smartphone or tablet. For Chrome desktop users, we’ve also released a Chrome extension that lets you see even more imagery. We hope you enjoy this virtual vacation… no actual travel required. Relax with a hot beverage, keep exploring, and if you find a particularly beautiful spot not on our site, please share it with us in the comments.
Posted by Aaron Koblin, Data Arts Team
]]>
Thanksgiving weekend was a busy one for many Americans. Traveling, shopping, cooking, and visits with friends and family can be a bit hectic. For a mental break, we invite you to visit Earth View, a collection of 100 beautiful images from around the world, all taken from Google Maps’ satellite imagery. Landscapes from every continent are included, even Antarctica.
While you’re browsing, you can visit the location in Google Maps or download a high-res wallpaper formatted for your computer, smartphone or tablet. For Chrome desktop users, we’ve also released a Chrome extension that lets you see even more imagery. We hope you enjoy this virtual vacation… no actual travel required. Relax with a hot beverage, keep exploring, and if you find a particularly beautiful spot not on our site, please share it with us in the comments.
Posted by Aaron Koblin, Data Arts Team
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/a-moment-of-zen-100-incredible-satellite-images-of-planet-earth/feed/ 0 Race with Rudolph and skydive with Santa in the countdown to December 24 https://googledata.org/google-earth/race-with-rudolph-and-skydive-with-santa-in-the-countdown-to-december-24-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=race-with-rudolph-and-skydive-with-santa-in-the-countdown-to-december-24-2 https://googledata.org/google-earth/race-with-rudolph-and-skydive-with-santa-in-the-countdown-to-december-24-2/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2014 18:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f3c5736dbb587bedef4e6b880050533a December may mean snow days in Denver, Colo. or beach days in Sydney, Australia, but in Santa’s Village, it means the countdown to Santa’s big night. Starting today, the elves are back on the clock in the North Pole—and throughout the month of December, you can join the elves as they unlock a new project or game each day in preparation for Santa’s annual journey around the world.
The elves have a busy month ahead of them—the reindeers need training and the presents need packing. They’re studying up on Santa’s upcoming stops with candy cane cartography, holiday tradition tests, and even jolly JavaScript courses.
Throughout the holiday celebration, our own developer elves here at Google have also been hard at work getting the sleigh tracking algorithm ready for prime time. They’ve been adding finishing touches to the Santa Tracker App for Android so Santa’s just a tap away on phones, tablets, and TVs. The developer elves have been busy, so check out the chrome extension and keep a watch out for Santa surprises throughout the month.
Whether you’re wearing snow goggles or sunnies this December, come back to
www.google.com/santatracker each day to join in on present parachute practice and reindeer races, or to send a call to friends from Santa. There’s only 23 days to go, so follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter in the countdown #tracksanta!

Mappy holidays!

Posted by Sandy Russell, Santa Launch Strategist]]> December may mean snow days in Denver, Colo. or beach days in Sydney, Australia, but in Santa’s Village, it means the countdown to Santa’s big night. Starting today, the elves are back on the clock in the North Pole—and throughout the month of December, you can join the elves as they unlock a new project or game each day in preparation for Santa’s annual journey around the world.
The elves have a busy month ahead of them—the reindeers need training and the presents need packing. They’re studying up on Santa’s upcoming stops with candy cane cartography, holiday tradition tests, and even jolly JavaScript courses.
Throughout the holiday celebration, our own developer elves here at Google have also been hard at work getting the sleigh tracking algorithm ready for prime time. They’ve been adding finishing touches to the Santa Tracker App for Android so Santa’s just a tap away on phones, tablets, and TVs. The developer elves have been busy, so check out the chrome extension and keep a watch out for Santa surprises throughout the month.
Whether you’re wearing snow goggles or sunnies this December, come back to
www.google.com/santatracker each day to join in on present parachute practice and reindeer races, or to send a call to friends from Santa. There’s only 23 days to go, so follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter in the countdown #tracksanta!

Mappy holidays!

Posted by Sandy Russell, Santa Launch Strategist]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/race-with-rudolph-and-skydive-with-santa-in-the-countdown-to-december-24-2/feed/ 0 Is your goose cooked on Turkey Day? Never fear, Google Maps is here! https://googledata.org/google-earth/is-your-goose-cooked-on-turkey-day-never-fear-google-maps-is-here/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-your-goose-cooked-on-turkey-day-never-fear-google-maps-is-here https://googledata.org/google-earth/is-your-goose-cooked-on-turkey-day-never-fear-google-maps-is-here/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7a36cb2889974950c2bd810022ed86e3 Thanksgiving dinner is the meal we look forward to all year. And chances are...all of your family and friends agree! So if you’re hosting and not exactly a whiz in the kitchen, making the meal can be daunting. Good news: if you burn that Thanksgiving turkey, all is not lost. Here’s a go-to guide to keep your family festive (and fed).

Our friends over at Zagat.com have made it easy to find top-rated restaurants for Thanksgiving. With city spotlights in Austin, Denver, NYC and San Francisco (to name a few!), you can check out top-notch Thanksgiving dinner options -- whether you want a traditional Thanksgiving meal or would rather try tacos or sushi.

If your family is a fan of Italian, Zagat recommends Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria in NYC. You can make sure the ambiance is right with the Google Maps “See Inside” feature and check out the info card to see diners' ratings and reviews as well as the Zagat summary. Once you decide where you want to go, Google Maps’ turn-by-turn directions will get you there as quickly as possible.


If you’re up for a feast, EDGE Restaurant and Bar in Denver has what you need. Zagat recommends the three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, veal sausage-and-sage stuffing and an herb-rubbed beef tenderloin with sweet potato gratin and porcini mushrooms. Check out the gorgeous dining room to get you in the mood!



Or if you have a sweet tooth, skip straight to dessert in San Francisco. Just in time for Thanksgiving, one of Zagat’s top ice cream shops is creating sugary confections that are sure to please you and your family. Save yourself the time (and stress!) of baking and pick up some pies and sweet treats at Ice Cream Bar on Cole Street.


Whatever--and wherever--you decide to feed yourself, Google Maps and Zagat wish you a Happy Turkey (or sushi or pasta) Day!

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Turkey Traveler]]> Thanksgiving dinner is the meal we look forward to all year. And chances are...all of your family and friends agree! So if you’re hosting and not exactly a whiz in the kitchen, making the meal can be daunting. Good news: if you burn that Thanksgiving turkey, all is not lost. Here’s a go-to guide to keep your family festive (and fed).

Our friends over at Zagat.com have made it easy to find top-rated restaurants for Thanksgiving. With city spotlights in Austin, Denver, NYC and San Francisco (to name a few!), you can check out top-notch Thanksgiving dinner options -- whether you want a traditional Thanksgiving meal or would rather try tacos or sushi.

If your family is a fan of Italian, Zagat recommends Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria in NYC. You can make sure the ambiance is right with the Google Maps “See Inside” feature and check out the info card to see diners' ratings and reviews as well as the Zagat summary. Once you decide where you want to go, Google Maps’ turn-by-turn directions will get you there as quickly as possible.


If you’re up for a feast, EDGE Restaurant and Bar in Denver has what you need. Zagat recommends the three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, veal sausage-and-sage stuffing and an herb-rubbed beef tenderloin with sweet potato gratin and porcini mushrooms. Check out the gorgeous dining room to get you in the mood!



Or if you have a sweet tooth, skip straight to dessert in San Francisco. Just in time for Thanksgiving, one of Zagat’s top ice cream shops is creating sugary confections that are sure to please you and your family. Save yourself the time (and stress!) of baking and pick up some pies and sweet treats at Ice Cream Bar on Cole Street.


Whatever--and wherever--you decide to feed yourself, Google Maps and Zagat wish you a Happy Turkey (or sushi or pasta) Day!

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Turkey Traveler]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/is-your-goose-cooked-on-turkey-day-never-fear-google-maps-is-here/feed/ 0 7 traffic tips to get you to the Thanksgiving table https://googledata.org/google-earth/7-traffic-tips-to-get-you-to-the-thanksgiving-table/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=7-traffic-tips-to-get-you-to-the-thanksgiving-table https://googledata.org/google-earth/7-traffic-tips-to-get-you-to-the-thanksgiving-table/#comments Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=50055fc9ff030775fdeab02652faf9c4 Thanksgiving means gearing up for a turkey feast, Thanksgiving Day parades, local Turkey Trots and annual football showdowns. It also means braving some of the worst holiday traffic conditions of the year.

You’ve got enough on your plate this Thanksgiving without having to worry about traffic, too. So, Google Maps looked at Thanksgiving traffic conditions over the last two years for 21 cities across the U.S.1 to find the most useful information to make your holiday trip a little easier.

Whether you’re traveling near or far, Google Maps’ traffic tips will help you navigate the roads like a pro, so you’ll be feasting on Turkey Day delights with friends and family in no time. Here are seven tips in pictures to guide you through the holiday:

1. Avoid traveling on Wednesday:


2. But if you must leave on Wednesday:


3. Good news for local travelers — Thanksgiving Day traffic is a breeze:


4. Travel back home on Sunday, not Saturday:


5. Expect to spend more time in traffic than average if you live in these three cities: Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, D.C. saw the three biggest increases in traffic during Thanksgiving week.


6. Get these three items ahead of time: Last-minute runs to the corner store can be unavoidable as you prep for the big day, but not all last minute trips are created equal.


7. Leave extra time for Christmas shopping:

Your biggest worry this Thanksgiving should be whether to go for the cranberry sauce or gravy. And with these traffic tips in hand, plus real-time traffic info provided by Google Maps on Android or iOS, you’ll be spending less time in traffic and more time with the people you care about this Thanksgiving. Now that’s something to be thankful for!

Posted by Aaron Nelson, Google Maps Product Manager


1 Google Maps looked at 21 cities across the U.S. from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving for both 2012 & 2013: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, D.C.

]]> Thanksgiving means gearing up for a turkey feast, Thanksgiving Day parades, local Turkey Trots and annual football showdowns. It also means braving some of the worst holiday traffic conditions of the year.

You’ve got enough on your plate this Thanksgiving without having to worry about traffic, too. So, Google Maps looked at Thanksgiving traffic conditions over the last two years for 21 cities across the U.S.1 to find the most useful information to make your holiday trip a little easier.

Whether you’re traveling near or far, Google Maps’ traffic tips will help you navigate the roads like a pro, so you’ll be feasting on Turkey Day delights with friends and family in no time. Here are seven tips in pictures to guide you through the holiday:

1. Avoid traveling on Wednesday:


2. But if you must leave on Wednesday:


3. Good news for local travelers — Thanksgiving Day traffic is a breeze:


4. Travel back home on Sunday, not Saturday:


5. Expect to spend more time in traffic than average if you live in these three cities: Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, D.C. saw the three biggest increases in traffic during Thanksgiving week.


6. Get these three items ahead of time: Last-minute runs to the corner store can be unavoidable as you prep for the big day, but not all last minute trips are created equal.


7. Leave extra time for Christmas shopping:

Your biggest worry this Thanksgiving should be whether to go for the cranberry sauce or gravy. And with these traffic tips in hand, plus real-time traffic info provided by Google Maps on Android or iOS, you’ll be spending less time in traffic and more time with the people you care about this Thanksgiving. Now that’s something to be thankful for!

Posted by Aaron Nelson, Google Maps Product Manager


1 Google Maps looked at 21 cities across the U.S. from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving for both 2012 & 2013: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, D.C.

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/7-traffic-tips-to-get-you-to-the-thanksgiving-table/feed/ 0 Explore U.S. landmarks in honor of Veterans Day https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-u-s-landmarks-in-honor-of-veterans-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=explore-u-s-landmarks-in-honor-of-veterans-day https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-u-s-landmarks-in-honor-of-veterans-day/#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=e3b4cf7a7da0652f3ba7362871b5c7d6 In 1919, after the World War I armistice, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 a day dedicated to honor and remember the servicemen of the armed forces:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

Today, whether you recognize Veterans Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, you can now celebrate servicemen and women by touring some significant U.S. historical places in Street View in Google Maps.

Visit West Point Cemetery and explore the historic burial ground of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Overlooking the Hudson River, some of the cemetery’s tombs date back to the American Revolutionary War. To walk further back in time, travel to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, the site of the infamous 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.


On the Gulf Coast of Texas, stand on the runway of the USS Lexington, nicknamed "The Blue Ghost," an Essex-class aircraft carrier built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the Battleship North Carolina, the most highly decorated American battleship of World War II.


You can also explore historical collections of U.S. leaders and military personnel, like the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, the West Point Museum and the Museum of the Confederacy. Here explore photos, uniforms and tokens from past events throughout American history.


This U.S. Highlights gallery is our small way of thanking veterans for their service. We hope you’ll take a few minutes today to honor and and recognize servicemen and women both past and present.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> In 1919, after the World War I armistice, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 a day dedicated to honor and remember the servicemen of the armed forces:

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

Today, whether you recognize Veterans Day, Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, you can now celebrate servicemen and women by touring some significant U.S. historical places in Street View in Google Maps.

Visit West Point Cemetery and explore the historic burial ground of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Overlooking the Hudson River, some of the cemetery’s tombs date back to the American Revolutionary War. To walk further back in time, travel to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, the site of the infamous 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.


On the Gulf Coast of Texas, stand on the runway of the USS Lexington, nicknamed "The Blue Ghost," an Essex-class aircraft carrier built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the Battleship North Carolina, the most highly decorated American battleship of World War II.


You can also explore historical collections of U.S. leaders and military personnel, like the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, the West Point Museum and the Museum of the Confederacy. Here explore photos, uniforms and tokens from past events throughout American history.


This U.S. Highlights gallery is our small way of thanking veterans for their service. We hope you’ll take a few minutes today to honor and and recognize servicemen and women both past and present.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-u-s-landmarks-in-honor-of-veterans-day/feed/ 0 Google Maps: Your best accessory this season https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-maps-your-best-accessory-this-season/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=google-maps-your-best-accessory-this-season https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-maps-your-best-accessory-this-season/#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2014 17:14:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=40f661fac02c3648a1f223cb2ca75e5a Bold colors and textures are in—and Google Maps is on trend, with a slick new style to make traveling with Maps even easier. Over the next few days, when you open up Google Maps on your Android or iPhone, you’ll be greeted by bright colors and a fresh new design. This new look is all about creating surfaces and shadows that echo the real world; with Google Maps’ new material feel, layers and buttons come to life so you know just where to touch to get directions, recommendations and imagery.
Getting around with Google Maps is even easier with the new design 

By tapping on a place’s info sheet at the bottom of your screen, you’ll send an info layer gliding up to the top, showing you photos, reviews, and more. And for the adventurous souls looking for a new place to dine or visit, you’ll see more to Explore at the bottom of your map.
Fluid transitions guide you through Google Maps

There’s more to this app than good looks—we also make it easier for you to get on with your day. Need to make a last-minute dinner reservation? You can now reserve a table right from the Google Maps app for restaurants found on OpenTable (U.S. only).
Make a restaurant reservation from Google Maps

On a cool winter day, a chilly walk or train ride may not always be the most appealing choice. Travelers deciding whether they should take an Uber or brave the frosty winds can now see estimates for Uber’s pickup time and price for their route in walking and transit directions in Google Maps. This option will appear if you have the Uber app installed, where available.
Wait time and price estimates for Google Maps’ Uber card

For Google Maps, giving you useful options and information is always in vogue. So as you’re traveling this holiday season, don’t forget to open up your Maps app for all the navigation help we have to offer—now with a fun new look.

Posted by Evelyn Kim, Google Maps UX Designer]]> Bold colors and textures are in—and Google Maps is on trend, with a slick new style to make traveling with Maps even easier. Over the next few days, when you open up Google Maps on your Android or iPhone, you’ll be greeted by bright colors and a fresh new design. This new look is all about creating surfaces and shadows that echo the real world; with Google Maps’ new material feel, layers and buttons come to life so you know just where to touch to get directions, recommendations and imagery.
Getting around with Google Maps is even easier with the new design 

By tapping on a place’s info sheet at the bottom of your screen, you’ll send an info layer gliding up to the top, showing you photos, reviews, and more. And for the adventurous souls looking for a new place to dine or visit, you’ll see more to Explore at the bottom of your map.
Fluid transitions guide you through Google Maps

There’s more to this app than good looks—we also make it easier for you to get on with your day. Need to make a last-minute dinner reservation? You can now reserve a table right from the Google Maps app for restaurants found on OpenTable (U.S. only).
Make a restaurant reservation from Google Maps

On a cool winter day, a chilly walk or train ride may not always be the most appealing choice. Travelers deciding whether they should take an Uber or brave the frosty winds can now see estimates for Uber’s pickup time and price for their route in walking and transit directions in Google Maps. This option will appear if you have the Uber app installed, where available.
Wait time and price estimates for Google Maps’ Uber card

For Google Maps, giving you useful options and information is always in vogue. So as you’re traveling this holiday season, don’t forget to open up your Maps app for all the navigation help we have to offer—now with a fun new look.

Posted by Evelyn Kim, Google Maps UX Designer]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-maps-your-best-accessory-this-season/feed/ 0 Explore the haunted corners of the world… if you dare https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-haunted-corners-of-the-world-if-you-dare/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=explore-the-haunted-corners-of-the-world-if-you-dare https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-haunted-corners-of-the-world-if-you-dare/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2014 21:20:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=a78d219f02a73ac7e81c24e9c8a7cde5 Something wicked this way comes… Whether you’re a trio of witches back from the dead or just a trick-or-treater, chances are you’re hitting the streets (or riding a broom!) on Halloween night. For those looking for an extra fright, take a tour of spooky places from around the world on Google Maps.

Start in 19th century Paris. While cheery guests listen to the beautiful arias at the Opéra Garnier, a dreary lake lies beneath the streets. Floating above the silent water, a phantom lurks. Are your eyes playing tricks on you... or is that a cloaked figure looming in the shadows?


Standing at the steps of Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, BC, you might believe you’ve found the perfect home away from home. Think again… listen closely for the sounds of a piano playing softly throughout the house. The spirit of a ghastly pianist is said to linger in the corridors and windows.


If you’re feeling ill, the abandoned Xinglin hospital in Taiwan is not the place to go. For years, passersby have sighted now-deceased patients, both young and old, in the treacherous fourth- and fifth-floor windows. To this day, people claim to hear wailing in the night from inside the hospital’s haunted walls.


Not all spooky stories are made up. For three decades, the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was home to some 1,500 of the world’s most infamous prisoners. Surrounded by bone-chilling waters, “the Rock” was notorious as the toughest prison in America.


If these spooky spots whet your appetite for fear, get up close with some of the most frightful locations in Google Maps Gallery and find ghouls and goblins in haunted houses around the world. If you’re looking for a laugh instead of a scream, take a hayride through your local corn maze, find the perfect jack-o-lantern at your neighboring pumpkin patch, and scout the best trick-or-treat routes near you.

Now get your cauldrons bubbling and monsters mashing because after all, this is Halloween!

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Zombie Bride]]> Something wicked this way comes… Whether you’re a trio of witches back from the dead or just a trick-or-treater, chances are you’re hitting the streets (or riding a broom!) on Halloween night. For those looking for an extra fright, take a tour of spooky places from around the world on Google Maps.

Start in 19th century Paris. While cheery guests listen to the beautiful arias at the Opéra Garnier, a dreary lake lies beneath the streets. Floating above the silent water, a phantom lurks. Are your eyes playing tricks on you... or is that a cloaked figure looming in the shadows?


Standing at the steps of Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, BC, you might believe you’ve found the perfect home away from home. Think again… listen closely for the sounds of a piano playing softly throughout the house. The spirit of a ghastly pianist is said to linger in the corridors and windows.


If you’re feeling ill, the abandoned Xinglin hospital in Taiwan is not the place to go. For years, passersby have sighted now-deceased patients, both young and old, in the treacherous fourth- and fifth-floor windows. To this day, people claim to hear wailing in the night from inside the hospital’s haunted walls.


Not all spooky stories are made up. For three decades, the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was home to some 1,500 of the world’s most infamous prisoners. Surrounded by bone-chilling waters, “the Rock” was notorious as the toughest prison in America.


If these spooky spots whet your appetite for fear, get up close with some of the most frightful locations in Google Maps Gallery and find ghouls and goblins in haunted houses around the world. If you’re looking for a laugh instead of a scream, take a hayride through your local corn maze, find the perfect jack-o-lantern at your neighboring pumpkin patch, and scout the best trick-or-treat routes near you.

Now get your cauldrons bubbling and monsters mashing because after all, this is Halloween!

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Zombie Bride]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-haunted-corners-of-the-world-if-you-dare/feed/ 0 Explore the world through Google Earth for Android with fast, accurate maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-world-through-google-earth-for-android-with-fast-accurate-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=explore-the-world-through-google-earth-for-android-with-fast-accurate-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-world-through-google-earth-for-android-with-fast-accurate-maps/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:53:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=bc244723f76fcac8b3e0bda18cdd8de2 Whether you’re sailing down the Mississippi River or trekking through the Swiss Alps, Google Earth can inspire your next adventure. To help power your digital travels, Google Earth for Android is getting an update over the next week—with an enhanced 3D experience, quicker updates to the map, and an easier way to view your KML files in Earth.

Starting today, you’ll see faster, smoother, and crisper transitions as you’re zooming into your dream destination in Google Earth. Thanks to a new 3D rendering technology—the first major 3D overhaul since Earth launched more than 10 years ago—sharper views of mountains and cities are just a virtual skydive away.

Built from scratch, our new 3D technology gives you sharper views in Google Earth for Android

As you’re flying around Paris or looking for things to do in Tokyo, you can rest assured knowing that the globe in your pocket will show you the freshest information, with Google Earth now getting the same updates as Google Maps. Roads and labels have gotten a visual refresh as well, making Earth’s styling easier on the eyes for you virtual explorers.

    BEFORE:

AFTER:
Roads and labels get a refresh in the newest version of Earth

And if you’ve created your own map for Google Earth—whether you’re a teacher preparing a history lesson, a researcher tracking changes in the environment, or just a geospatial enthusiast—you’ll now be able to open your KML files from Google Drive directly in the Earth app, so you can view it on the go.

Save a few clicks when viewing your KML files on the go

To discover the world with these updates in hand, head to the Play Store and download Google Earth for Android. Stay tuned for more 3D updates in the coming months!

Posted by Ashwin Limaye, Product Manager, Google Earth]]> Whether you’re sailing down the Mississippi River or trekking through the Swiss Alps, Google Earth can inspire your next adventure. To help power your digital travels, Google Earth for Android is getting an update over the next week—with an enhanced 3D experience, quicker updates to the map, and an easier way to view your KML files in Earth.

Starting today, you’ll see faster, smoother, and crisper transitions as you’re zooming into your dream destination in Google Earth. Thanks to a new 3D rendering technology—the first major 3D overhaul since Earth launched more than 10 years ago—sharper views of mountains and cities are just a virtual skydive away.

Built from scratch, our new 3D technology gives you sharper views in Google Earth for Android

As you’re flying around Paris or looking for things to do in Tokyo, you can rest assured knowing that the globe in your pocket will show you the freshest information, with Google Earth now getting the same updates as Google Maps. Roads and labels have gotten a visual refresh as well, making Earth’s styling easier on the eyes for you virtual explorers.

    BEFORE:

AFTER:
Roads and labels get a refresh in the newest version of Earth

And if you’ve created your own map for Google Earth—whether you’re a teacher preparing a history lesson, a researcher tracking changes in the environment, or just a geospatial enthusiast—you’ll now be able to open your KML files from Google Drive directly in the Earth app, so you can view it on the go.

Save a few clicks when viewing your KML files on the go

To discover the world with these updates in hand, head to the Play Store and download Google Earth for Android. Stay tuned for more 3D updates in the coming months!

Posted by Ashwin Limaye, Product Manager, Google Earth]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-world-through-google-earth-for-android-with-fast-accurate-maps/feed/ 0 Explore Gombe National Park through the eyes of Dr. Jane Goodall https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-gombe-national-park-through-the-eyes-of-dr-jane-goodall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=explore-gombe-national-park-through-the-eyes-of-dr-jane-goodall https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-gombe-national-park-through-the-eyes-of-dr-jane-goodall/#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=4fa028b7a6be814e04c07c7641ef2495 In July 1960, Dr. Jane Goodall stepped off the boat in what is now Gombe National Park, Tanzania with a pair of second-hand binoculars and a notepad. She was 26 years old, and was there to observe and record the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild. This summer, after four planes and a boat ride, I took my first (wobbly) steps onto the shores of Lake Tanganyika. I was about to walk the same paths that Dr. Goodall took to do her groundbreaking research into the lives of chimpanzees. And now—thanks to a Google Maps partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute and Tanzania National Parks—so can you.



We were invited to Gombe National Park to capture a record of this historic place, where today the Jane Goodall Institute manages the longest-running chimpanzee research study in the world. It was here that Dr. Goodall first witnessed chimpanzees fishing for termites using a blade of grass as a tool to dig them out of their mounds. Using tools was an act previously believed to be unique to humans. Her observations revolutionized our understanding of chimpanzees—animals that share 98 percent of our DNA—and redefined the very notion of “human.” More than 50 years later, protecting chimpanzees and their habitat is central to the mission of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI).


Pushing through the brush, carrying the Street View Trekker, we collected thousands of 360 degree images along the narrow paths of the park to share with the world. We first stopped at a location Jane calls “The Peak”—her favorite vantage point. I could imagine her looking out over the canopies, peering tirelessly through her binoculars, writing in her notebook, and observing these beautiful animals as they swung through the trees.


In the spirit of preservation, the Institute plans to use Gombe Street View as a unique archive of this special place, available to future generations of researchers. This imagery complements JGI’s current monitoring efforts using satellite imagery and mapping to protect 85 percent of the remaining chimpanzees in Africa. Young people will also be inspired to explore the wild through the 360 degree imagery as part of JGI’s educational program, Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots.

This Street View collection is our small contribution to the already rich legacy of science and discovery at Gombe. Wherever you are, take a moment to experience what it’s like to be Jane for a day: peek into her house, take a dip in Lake Tanganyika, spot the chimp named Google and try to keep up with Glitter and Gossamer.

We hope you enjoy exploring this living laboratory for yourself!

Posted by Allie Lieber, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach

Special thank you to Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Lilian Pintea, Bill Wallauer, Dr. Anthony Collins and many more members of the Jane Goodall Institute in the United States and Tanzania, as well as TANAPA, for all of the knowledge and time they contributed to this project.]]> In July 1960, Dr. Jane Goodall stepped off the boat in what is now Gombe National Park, Tanzania with a pair of second-hand binoculars and a notepad. She was 26 years old, and was there to observe and record the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild. This summer, after four planes and a boat ride, I took my first (wobbly) steps onto the shores of Lake Tanganyika. I was about to walk the same paths that Dr. Goodall took to do her groundbreaking research into the lives of chimpanzees. And now—thanks to a Google Maps partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute and Tanzania National Parks—so can you.



We were invited to Gombe National Park to capture a record of this historic place, where today the Jane Goodall Institute manages the longest-running chimpanzee research study in the world. It was here that Dr. Goodall first witnessed chimpanzees fishing for termites using a blade of grass as a tool to dig them out of their mounds. Using tools was an act previously believed to be unique to humans. Her observations revolutionized our understanding of chimpanzees—animals that share 98 percent of our DNA—and redefined the very notion of “human.” More than 50 years later, protecting chimpanzees and their habitat is central to the mission of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI).


Pushing through the brush, carrying the Street View Trekker, we collected thousands of 360 degree images along the narrow paths of the park to share with the world. We first stopped at a location Jane calls “The Peak”—her favorite vantage point. I could imagine her looking out over the canopies, peering tirelessly through her binoculars, writing in her notebook, and observing these beautiful animals as they swung through the trees.


In the spirit of preservation, the Institute plans to use Gombe Street View as a unique archive of this special place, available to future generations of researchers. This imagery complements JGI’s current monitoring efforts using satellite imagery and mapping to protect 85 percent of the remaining chimpanzees in Africa. Young people will also be inspired to explore the wild through the 360 degree imagery as part of JGI’s educational program, Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots.

This Street View collection is our small contribution to the already rich legacy of science and discovery at Gombe. Wherever you are, take a moment to experience what it’s like to be Jane for a day: peek into her house, take a dip in Lake Tanganyika, spot the chimp named Google and try to keep up with Glitter and Gossamer.

We hope you enjoy exploring this living laboratory for yourself!

Posted by Allie Lieber, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach

Special thank you to Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Lilian Pintea, Bill Wallauer, Dr. Anthony Collins and many more members of the Jane Goodall Institute in the United States and Tanzania, as well as TANAPA, for all of the knowledge and time they contributed to this project.]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-gombe-national-park-through-the-eyes-of-dr-jane-goodall/feed/ 0 Roam the Arabian desert with Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/roam-the-arabian-desert-with-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=roam-the-arabian-desert-with-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/roam-the-arabian-desert-with-street-view/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2014 06:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=3cebbe139de7cdcee496298c868d31ea Imagine sitting atop a camel looking across a vast expanse of desert dunes. A glimmer of green flashes in the distance. It could be a mirage or a bountiful oasis just awaiting your discovery. Now with Google Maps, you can see for yourself and journey across the sands of the Liwa Desert, one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.



On your virtual trip through the desert, you’ll find sand dunes that reach an astounding height of 25-40 meters. These rolling sandy hills were home to early settlers back in the Late Stone Age, making Liwa one of the oldest sites in the United Arab Emirates.


Some of the richest history in this desert lies in the Liwa Oasis—the largest oasis in the Arabian peninsula. Many people across the UAE can trace their origins to the first tribes that settled there and established the region as a trade center. The oasis is also home to date farms, whose trees and fruit are important cultural symbols—the trunks of the palms were used to weave the walls of Bedouin tents, baskets and more, while the fruit was a treasured treat for the locals. Now, the oasis is a sought out location for tourists around the world and those who live in the area.


To bring this stunning desert to Street View, we fashioned the Trekker to rest on a camel, which gathered imagery as it walked. Using camels for the collection allowed us to collect authentic imagery and minimize our disruption of this fragile environment.

Street View Trekker mounted on a camel

We hope this collection gives you a glimpse of what it may be like to travel the desert as caravan merchants have for the past 3000 years. Should you make the journey here in person, who knows—you may meet some new friends. To see more, visit our Street View gallery.

Posted by Najeeb Jarrar, Product Marketing Manager, Middle East and North Africa]]> Imagine sitting atop a camel looking across a vast expanse of desert dunes. A glimmer of green flashes in the distance. It could be a mirage or a bountiful oasis just awaiting your discovery. Now with Google Maps, you can see for yourself and journey across the sands of the Liwa Desert, one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.



On your virtual trip through the desert, you’ll find sand dunes that reach an astounding height of 25-40 meters. These rolling sandy hills were home to early settlers back in the Late Stone Age, making Liwa one of the oldest sites in the United Arab Emirates.


Some of the richest history in this desert lies in the Liwa Oasis—the largest oasis in the Arabian peninsula. Many people across the UAE can trace their origins to the first tribes that settled there and established the region as a trade center. The oasis is also home to date farms, whose trees and fruit are important cultural symbols—the trunks of the palms were used to weave the walls of Bedouin tents, baskets and more, while the fruit was a treasured treat for the locals. Now, the oasis is a sought out location for tourists around the world and those who live in the area.


To bring this stunning desert to Street View, we fashioned the Trekker to rest on a camel, which gathered imagery as it walked. Using camels for the collection allowed us to collect authentic imagery and minimize our disruption of this fragile environment.

Street View Trekker mounted on a camel

We hope this collection gives you a glimpse of what it may be like to travel the desert as caravan merchants have for the past 3000 years. Should you make the journey here in person, who knows—you may meet some new friends. To see more, visit our Street View gallery.

Posted by Najeeb Jarrar, Product Marketing Manager, Middle East and North Africa]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/roam-the-arabian-desert-with-street-view/feed/ 0 Make your own way with the new My Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/make-your-own-way-with-the-new-my-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=make-your-own-way-with-the-new-my-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/make-your-own-way-with-the-new-my-maps/#comments Tue, 16 Sep 2014 15:30:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=6d2f4b63517a7e0424c522cfc7bd73a9 As temperatures cool down, you might be searching for your next warm vacation spot. Starting today, you can get a little inspiration by going to Google Maps Gallery and browsing publicly shared custom maps of all types. Just look up sunny “Los Angeles” to find the best hiking trails, street art, breweries and more to do in La-La Land. And, for those of you who are actually looking forward to the winter, see what ski options others have recommended, with the maps they created of their favorite slopes and resorts.


An insider’s take on the best views and paths of Cahuenga Peak, Los Angeles—including a walk to the Hollywood sign!

Once you’re done daydreaming, plan out your own trip with the new My Maps (previously Google Maps Engine Lite), adding images, descriptions, custom icons, and place details along the way. Make sure to download the My Maps Android app so you can also view your map or make a change on the go, or check out others’ maps while you’re on your way. Did you plot out the perfect vacation? Share it publicly so others can get inspired, too—or if you prefer, keep your secret spots safe by setting your map to private or by sharing with a lucky few.

With these tools for exploration in hand, you can find and create maps for anything you’re interested in—like a collection of Sherlock Holmes’ famous haunts, or global tributes to Nelson Mandela. The possibilities are pretty much endless—students have photographed and mapped a city’s public art installments, authors have laid out their stories’ locations on the map, and activists have plotted out shelters and distribution centers during emergency situations.

Find Nelson Mandela tributes, speeches and more in Maps Gallery

If you’ve already been creating custom maps with classic My Maps, today you can upgrade all your content to the new My Maps, and enjoy these new options. You can import spreadsheets, easily include images and YouTube videos, and organize your locations and routes however you want.

By the end of this year, all maps created in classic Google Maps will automatically upgrade to the new My Maps, but to get started right away, open up the new My Maps and “Upgrade now,” then check out the tour—found in the settings menu—for tips on creating your own custom content.

Where will your map take you?

Posted by Heather Folsom, Product Manager, My Maps]]> As temperatures cool down, you might be searching for your next warm vacation spot. Starting today, you can get a little inspiration by going to Google Maps Gallery and browsing publicly shared custom maps of all types. Just look up sunny “Los Angeles” to find the best hiking trails, street art, breweries and more to do in La-La Land. And, for those of you who are actually looking forward to the winter, see what ski options others have recommended, with the maps they created of their favorite slopes and resorts.


An insider’s take on the best views and paths of Cahuenga Peak, Los Angeles—including a walk to the Hollywood sign!

Once you’re done daydreaming, plan out your own trip with the new My Maps (previously Google Maps Engine Lite), adding images, descriptions, custom icons, and place details along the way. Make sure to download the My Maps Android app so you can also view your map or make a change on the go, or check out others’ maps while you’re on your way. Did you plot out the perfect vacation? Share it publicly so others can get inspired, too—or if you prefer, keep your secret spots safe by setting your map to private or by sharing with a lucky few.

With these tools for exploration in hand, you can find and create maps for anything you’re interested in—like a collection of Sherlock Holmes’ famous haunts, or global tributes to Nelson Mandela. The possibilities are pretty much endless—students have photographed and mapped a city’s public art installments, authors have laid out their stories’ locations on the map, and activists have plotted out shelters and distribution centers during emergency situations.

Find Nelson Mandela tributes, speeches and more in Maps Gallery

If you’ve already been creating custom maps with classic My Maps, today you can upgrade all your content to the new My Maps, and enjoy these new options. You can import spreadsheets, easily include images and YouTube videos, and organize your locations and routes however you want.

By the end of this year, all maps created in classic Google Maps will automatically upgrade to the new My Maps, but to get started right away, open up the new My Maps and “Upgrade now,” then check out the tour—found in the settings menu—for tips on creating your own custom content.

Where will your map take you?

Posted by Heather Folsom, Product Manager, My Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/make-your-own-way-with-the-new-my-maps/feed/ 0 Take your dream trip to Mexico with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-your-dream-trip-to-mexico-with-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-your-dream-trip-to-mexico-with-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-your-dream-trip-to-mexico-with-google-maps/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2014 11:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=5612960446cb0858468f855cee4e5107 The famed author Gabriel García Márquez once said: "In Mexico, surrealism runs through the streets. Surrealism comes from the reality of Latin America.” So today, we invite you to embark on a dreamlike journey of more than 60 new sites that take you through Mexico’s culture and geography with Street View. These are places where ancient civilizations merge with modern-day structures and lush jungles, and where remote deserts and beaches stretch neverending towards the horizon.

No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you; the magic is real in places like Holbox, where big resorts and tourist traps seem to be a world away. You can leave your worries behind and make new friends while snorkeling the clear, blue waters.


Mexico has a rich heritage of religion and tradition. Explore the country’s sacred sites, like the Catedral de Merida, one of the oldest cathedrals in North America, and the remains of the Museo Ex Convento de Tepoztlán, which was first built for the Dominican friars in 1555.


As we approach the end of our virtual tour, it’s a good time to take a look at the iconic monumental clock in Pachuca, Hidalgo. Close to Mexico City, this former mining town witnessed the country’s history from the pre-Hispanic empire to today’s modern republic.


This imagery from across Mexico is the latest of our Street View Collections, in which we capture the world’s natural, cultural and historic legacy for you to explore. Now pack your virtual sandalias, grab your digital sunglasses, and discover Mexico’s history with Street View on Google Maps!

Posted by Ricardo Blanco, Products Communications for Google in Latin America]]> The famed author Gabriel García Márquez once said: "In Mexico, surrealism runs through the streets. Surrealism comes from the reality of Latin America.” So today, we invite you to embark on a dreamlike journey of more than 60 new sites that take you through Mexico’s culture and geography with Street View. These are places where ancient civilizations merge with modern-day structures and lush jungles, and where remote deserts and beaches stretch neverending towards the horizon.

No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you; the magic is real in places like Holbox, where big resorts and tourist traps seem to be a world away. You can leave your worries behind and make new friends while snorkeling the clear, blue waters.


Mexico has a rich heritage of religion and tradition. Explore the country’s sacred sites, like the Catedral de Merida, one of the oldest cathedrals in North America, and the remains of the Museo Ex Convento de Tepoztlán, which was first built for the Dominican friars in 1555.


As we approach the end of our virtual tour, it’s a good time to take a look at the iconic monumental clock in Pachuca, Hidalgo. Close to Mexico City, this former mining town witnessed the country’s history from the pre-Hispanic empire to today’s modern republic.


This imagery from across Mexico is the latest of our Street View Collections, in which we capture the world’s natural, cultural and historic legacy for you to explore. Now pack your virtual sandalias, grab your digital sunglasses, and discover Mexico’s history with Street View on Google Maps!

Posted by Ricardo Blanco, Products Communications for Google in Latin America]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-your-dream-trip-to-mexico-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 Making of Maps: Ground Truth glue https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-ground-truth-glue/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-of-maps-ground-truth-glue https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-ground-truth-glue/#comments Tue, 09 Sep 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=935f7f4ca7d367e5d3e18d5ecf789970 The final post in our Making of Maps series shows you how Ground Truth brings all the pieces of Google Maps together. Catch up on posts 1, 2, & 3 for more info! — Ed.

Henman Hill or Murray Mound? For years, British tennis fans have argued over the proper name for this hill near Wimbledon. Recently, this quirky debate over naming rights made its way to Google Maps, as people used our Map Maker tool to wrestle over the knoll’s identity. Never fear, tennis fans: whichever name you prefer, you’ll be sent to the right location when you look it up on Google Maps—let’s call it deuce.

Making sure you get to the right place, no matter what name you know it by, is just the sort of thing our Ground Truth team handles every day. Ground Truth’s aim is to keep Google Maps as up to date and accurate as possible, whether that means considering user reports from Map Maker and Report a Problem or proactively looking for new changes ourselves. Every day we start by scoping out what’s happening in the world—and by using algorithms and a little elbow grease, we can identify what roads will close for Labor Day, what housing developments are opening in Texas, and which street names are changing in Denmark (note: there are a lot of them). Ground Truth gives us the ability to use all this information to shape the map—so we can include colloquial street names, newly opened businesses, and even indoor floor plans.

All the streets in Sondergarden, Denmark were renamed this year as part of a country-wide initiative to make addresses easier to understand

Another way Ground Truth keeps Google Maps accurate is through imagery; and if a picture is worth a thousand words, you can imagine how useful satellite, aerial, and Street View imagery imagery can be. With a bird’s-eye view, we can trace the roads running through a town or identify bodies of water and park boundaries throughout a region. (One of my favorite projects is using satellite images to add golf courses to the map, including green spaces, trails, and each hole on the course.)

Satellite and aerial images are used to trace roads, bodies of water, and more (St. Petersburg, Russia)

With Street View, we can also add the granular detail needed to give you good directions. Intersections become easy to navigate because we can tell which direction each lane will take you; points of interest are easy to find because we can add information that can only be seen from the street, like the name of a restaurant or building address. Combine this with the fact that our Street View cars are designed to pinpoint exactly where each photo was taken, and the map starts to look like a mirror of the real world. 


Street View images can help pinpoint businesses and determine lane directions (Brașov, Romania)

Ground Truth takes information from thousands of sources—governments, imagery, organizations, individuals—and makes it into one cohesive map. But the best part of putting together this giant puzzle is how it helps people every day. It can save you time, empower you to get things done, and give you the opportunity to travel and explore without worry. Reaching our 50th Ground Truth country was an important moment for this project, but it’s far from the end. As long as the world keeps changing, we’ll keep mapping.

Posted by Nick Volmar, Program Manager & Ground Truth Operator]]> The final post in our Making of Maps series shows you how Ground Truth brings all the pieces of Google Maps together. Catch up on posts 1, 2, & 3 for more info! — Ed.

Henman Hill or Murray Mound? For years, British tennis fans have argued over the proper name for this hill near Wimbledon. Recently, this quirky debate over naming rights made its way to Google Maps, as people used our Map Maker tool to wrestle over the knoll’s identity. Never fear, tennis fans: whichever name you prefer, you’ll be sent to the right location when you look it up on Google Maps—let’s call it deuce.

Making sure you get to the right place, no matter what name you know it by, is just the sort of thing our Ground Truth team handles every day. Ground Truth’s aim is to keep Google Maps as up to date and accurate as possible, whether that means considering user reports from Map Maker and Report a Problem or proactively looking for new changes ourselves. Every day we start by scoping out what’s happening in the world—and by using algorithms and a little elbow grease, we can identify what roads will close for Labor Day, what housing developments are opening in Texas, and which street names are changing in Denmark (note: there are a lot of them). Ground Truth gives us the ability to use all this information to shape the map—so we can include colloquial street names, newly opened businesses, and even indoor floor plans.

All the streets in Sondergarden, Denmark were renamed this year as part of a country-wide initiative to make addresses easier to understand

Another way Ground Truth keeps Google Maps accurate is through imagery; and if a picture is worth a thousand words, you can imagine how useful satellite, aerial, and Street View imagery imagery can be. With a bird’s-eye view, we can trace the roads running through a town or identify bodies of water and park boundaries throughout a region. (One of my favorite projects is using satellite images to add golf courses to the map, including green spaces, trails, and each hole on the course.)

Satellite and aerial images are used to trace roads, bodies of water, and more (St. Petersburg, Russia)

With Street View, we can also add the granular detail needed to give you good directions. Intersections become easy to navigate because we can tell which direction each lane will take you; points of interest are easy to find because we can add information that can only be seen from the street, like the name of a restaurant or building address. Combine this with the fact that our Street View cars are designed to pinpoint exactly where each photo was taken, and the map starts to look like a mirror of the real world. 


Street View images can help pinpoint businesses and determine lane directions (Brașov, Romania)

Ground Truth takes information from thousands of sources—governments, imagery, organizations, individuals—and makes it into one cohesive map. But the best part of putting together this giant puzzle is how it helps people every day. It can save you time, empower you to get things done, and give you the opportunity to travel and explore without worry. Reaching our 50th Ground Truth country was an important moment for this project, but it’s far from the end. As long as the world keeps changing, we’ll keep mapping.

Posted by Nick Volmar, Program Manager & Ground Truth Operator]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-ground-truth-glue/feed/ 0 Making of Maps: Perspective from the ground https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-perspective-from-the-ground/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-of-maps-perspective-from-the-ground https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-perspective-from-the-ground/#comments Mon, 08 Sep 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c7efc6dba39cf7593b488ab4d0b441f4 Our third post in the Making of Maps series focuses on two individuals who have made significant contributions to their community’s information on Google Maps. Note: this interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. — Ed.

Google Map Maker can give you the tools you need to improve information about your region in Google Maps—whether you’re adding a new road to your town, or getting your entire country on the map. Across the world, mappers have taken the lead on adding what’s most important to them—indigenous communities in Canada have added reservations; Detroit’s cycling enthusiasts have improved the city’s biking lanes and trails; and disaster response volunteers dramatically improved the map of the Philippines following Super Typhoon Yolanda. In Poland, the Google Map Maker community built their map from scratch, adding a remarkable amount of detail along the way. I’ve sat down with two of our biggest mapping contributors in Poland—Jacek and Tomasz—to hear their stories:

Lori: First things first—how’d you get started with Map Maker?
Jacek: As a teenager I was called the "Geograf" or the Geographer because I loved maps. I brought them with me everywhere I went. As a child I loved to open maps and check how right they were, translating what I knew about the world to country lines, dots, shapes, icons. So when I found Map Maker, it was the perfect tool for me to share my knowledge and experience with others.
Tomasz: I’m a teacher and one day I started to search for my school because I was interested to see if people using Google Maps could find it. I discovered that the address was incorrect, so I started to search the Internet for how to correct Google Maps. And that’s how I found Map Maker. I started correcting things—beginning with the place that I work and then correcting the rest of my region. That’s when I met Jacek.

Lori: You’ve both worked with a community of mappers who do an amazing job helping one another. Do you want to talk a little bit about the sort of team you self-organized and how you found each other?
Tomasz: When I first started mapping, I thought I knew everything—I know my region, so I’m the one who knows what should be where, how it should be presented, etc. And then I met Jacek, who showed me what I was doing wrong (I wasn't connecting the roads I added!) and taught me how to map. It’s very important that we lived in the same region because he was already a regional expert reviewer and could review my edits. Jacek was also the one who welcomed me to the Polish Map Maker group.
Jacek: Now Tomasz makes more additions and edits than me! Right now, our group of trusted mappers always has a hangout open so we can chat. With every addition, we consult each other, review it and discuss it in our language whether it’s a good addition or if something needs to be changed. But we also talk about other things!

Tomasz and Jacek were two of the attendees at Poland’s Mapping Summit in Warsaw, March 2014

Lori: Between all this collaborative team mapping and the events you’ve attended, how do you feel Map Maker has impacted your region and Poland overall?
Jacek: It’s had a huge impact. In my city, there’s a big national road which was rebuilt in the last two years. I made changes on the roundabout and bridge over the old road, and my changes were connected with the road’s official opening. My changes were on the map and in navigation within 24 hours. It was fascinating to me that my edits were able to change the lives of citizens of my city, of my region—that they’re able to navigate on good maps that are connected to reality, instead of old ones that are out of date.

Lori: And last but not least, why do you map?
Jacek: Sometimes I don’t map at all. Sometimes I maps for hours. Sometimes the whole day. I’m happy when I have a whole day to map - woah! The most important thing for me is that the map and Google forum is fun.
Tomasz: For me, mapping is a way for me to take a break from the normal things I do, and I can map or review or teach someone else how to map—it gives me a way to help other people in my region.

Jacek & Tomasz helped improve the map detail in their region, Upper Silesia, Poland

Map Maker empowers anyone to contribute their knowledge to Google Maps, making the map even more comprehensive. In our final post, we’ll show you how it fits in with the rest of our authoritative sources, Street View, indoor maps, Ground Truth and more.

Posted by Lori Savageau, Community Program Manager, Google Maps]]> Our third post in the Making of Maps series focuses on two individuals who have made significant contributions to their community’s information on Google Maps. Note: this interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. — Ed.

Google Map Maker can give you the tools you need to improve information about your region in Google Maps—whether you’re adding a new road to your town, or getting your entire country on the map. Across the world, mappers have taken the lead on adding what’s most important to them—indigenous communities in Canada have added reservations; Detroit’s cycling enthusiasts have improved the city’s biking lanes and trails; and disaster response volunteers dramatically improved the map of the Philippines following Super Typhoon Yolanda. In Poland, the Google Map Maker community built their map from scratch, adding a remarkable amount of detail along the way. I’ve sat down with two of our biggest mapping contributors in Poland—Jacek and Tomasz—to hear their stories:

Lori: First things first—how’d you get started with Map Maker?
Jacek: As a teenager I was called the "Geograf" or the Geographer because I loved maps. I brought them with me everywhere I went. As a child I loved to open maps and check how right they were, translating what I knew about the world to country lines, dots, shapes, icons. So when I found Map Maker, it was the perfect tool for me to share my knowledge and experience with others.
Tomasz: I’m a teacher and one day I started to search for my school because I was interested to see if people using Google Maps could find it. I discovered that the address was incorrect, so I started to search the Internet for how to correct Google Maps. And that’s how I found Map Maker. I started correcting things—beginning with the place that I work and then correcting the rest of my region. That’s when I met Jacek.

Lori: You’ve both worked with a community of mappers who do an amazing job helping one another. Do you want to talk a little bit about the sort of team you self-organized and how you found each other?
Tomasz: When I first started mapping, I thought I knew everything—I know my region, so I’m the one who knows what should be where, how it should be presented, etc. And then I met Jacek, who showed me what I was doing wrong (I wasn't connecting the roads I added!) and taught me how to map. It’s very important that we lived in the same region because he was already a regional expert reviewer and could review my edits. Jacek was also the one who welcomed me to the Polish Map Maker group.
Jacek: Now Tomasz makes more additions and edits than me! Right now, our group of trusted mappers always has a hangout open so we can chat. With every addition, we consult each other, review it and discuss it in our language whether it’s a good addition or if something needs to be changed. But we also talk about other things!

Tomasz and Jacek were two of the attendees at Poland’s Mapping Summit in Warsaw, March 2014

Lori: Between all this collaborative team mapping and the events you’ve attended, how do you feel Map Maker has impacted your region and Poland overall?
Jacek: It’s had a huge impact. In my city, there’s a big national road which was rebuilt in the last two years. I made changes on the roundabout and bridge over the old road, and my changes were connected with the road’s official opening. My changes were on the map and in navigation within 24 hours. It was fascinating to me that my edits were able to change the lives of citizens of my city, of my region—that they’re able to navigate on good maps that are connected to reality, instead of old ones that are out of date.

Lori: And last but not least, why do you map?
Jacek: Sometimes I don’t map at all. Sometimes I maps for hours. Sometimes the whole day. I’m happy when I have a whole day to map - woah! The most important thing for me is that the map and Google forum is fun.
Tomasz: For me, mapping is a way for me to take a break from the normal things I do, and I can map or review or teach someone else how to map—it gives me a way to help other people in my region.

Jacek & Tomasz helped improve the map detail in their region, Upper Silesia, Poland

Map Maker empowers anyone to contribute their knowledge to Google Maps, making the map even more comprehensive. In our final post, we’ll show you how it fits in with the rest of our authoritative sources, Street View, indoor maps, Ground Truth and more.

Posted by Lori Savageau, Community Program Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-perspective-from-the-ground/feed/ 0 Making of Maps: The cornerstones https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-the-cornerstones/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-of-maps-the-cornerstones https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-the-cornerstones/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=91899a214ea5ad5ed5b4456f78f5e20a This is the second post in our Making of Maps series. Here you’ll get a glimpse of the information we use to build Google Maps from authoritative sources and our own mapping tools. —Ed.

With Google Maps by your side, you have a co-pilot for everything from turn-by-turn directions, to discovering new restaurants to deciding which hiking trails to climb next. This is possible in large part because Google Maps includes information from thousands of authoritative sources as varied as the U.S. Geological Survey, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, and Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). But even all this isn’t enough to build the most comprehensive map. To give you the highest quality results, we need to fill in details like the right place to turn on an unmarked road and indoor maps of your local museum.

Over the years, we’ve created new sources of information to fill in those details. In fact, one of the most important sources for Google Maps is our own Street View imagery. In addition to giving you a way to virtually explore the world, Street View has helped to improve the quality of what we call our “basemap.” With ground-level images, we can identify one-way roads, pinpoint addresses on the map, and verify street names. This added level of detail gives you better search results, more accurate directions, and smoother turn-by-turn navigation.

Adding and verifying street names and turn restrictions in Taipei City, Taiwan

But Street View isn’t the only way we fill in details on Google Maps. Today, we’re releasing six indoor maps created with our new mapping tool called Cartographer. Cartographer is a backpack equipped with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology.

The Cartographer creates indoor floor plans on the fly

As the backpack-wearer walks through a building, SLAM technology generates the floor plan in real time and displays it on an Android tablet connected to the backpack’s computer. The wearer can then add points of interest on the go, such as a T-rex replica in a museum. As fast as you can walk, you can map with Cartographer—so you can create floor plans for a 39-story building, like the San Francisco Marriott Marquis hotel, in just a few hours!


Deutsches Museum in Germany features aircrafts and helicopters in historic hangars

Projects like these make Google Maps unique. Our own mapping tools supplement the information from authoritative sources, making it easier for you to get where you need to go.

But the world is big and changes happen every day—businesses open and close, roads go under construction, and new parks are built. You know your neighborhood and what’s important to your local community better than anyone, which is why we created a tool called Map Maker that empowers anyone—from the avid mapper to the traveling businesswoman—to update the map as the world changes. Next up, we’ll talk to members of the Map Maker community to hear their stories. Until next time!

Posted by Sophia Lin, Product Manager, Ground Truth]]> This is the second post in our Making of Maps series. Here you’ll get a glimpse of the information we use to build Google Maps from authoritative sources and our own mapping tools. —Ed.

With Google Maps by your side, you have a co-pilot for everything from turn-by-turn directions, to discovering new restaurants to deciding which hiking trails to climb next. This is possible in large part because Google Maps includes information from thousands of authoritative sources as varied as the U.S. Geological Survey, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, and Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). But even all this isn’t enough to build the most comprehensive map. To give you the highest quality results, we need to fill in details like the right place to turn on an unmarked road and indoor maps of your local museum.

Over the years, we’ve created new sources of information to fill in those details. In fact, one of the most important sources for Google Maps is our own Street View imagery. In addition to giving you a way to virtually explore the world, Street View has helped to improve the quality of what we call our “basemap.” With ground-level images, we can identify one-way roads, pinpoint addresses on the map, and verify street names. This added level of detail gives you better search results, more accurate directions, and smoother turn-by-turn navigation.

Adding and verifying street names and turn restrictions in Taipei City, Taiwan

But Street View isn’t the only way we fill in details on Google Maps. Today, we’re releasing six indoor maps created with our new mapping tool called Cartographer. Cartographer is a backpack equipped with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology.

The Cartographer creates indoor floor plans on the fly

As the backpack-wearer walks through a building, SLAM technology generates the floor plan in real time and displays it on an Android tablet connected to the backpack’s computer. The wearer can then add points of interest on the go, such as a T-rex replica in a museum. As fast as you can walk, you can map with Cartographer—so you can create floor plans for a 39-story building, like the San Francisco Marriott Marquis hotel, in just a few hours!


Deutsches Museum in Germany features aircrafts and helicopters in historic hangars

Projects like these make Google Maps unique. Our own mapping tools supplement the information from authoritative sources, making it easier for you to get where you need to go.

But the world is big and changes happen every day—businesses open and close, roads go under construction, and new parks are built. You know your neighborhood and what’s important to your local community better than anyone, which is why we created a tool called Map Maker that empowers anyone—from the avid mapper to the traveling businesswoman—to update the map as the world changes. Next up, we’ll talk to members of the Map Maker community to hear their stories. Until next time!

Posted by Sophia Lin, Product Manager, Ground Truth]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-the-cornerstones/feed/ 0 Making of Maps: Reaching a milestone https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-reaching-a-milestone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=making-of-maps-reaching-a-milestone https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-reaching-a-milestone/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=9842c18abf1558dacd3876c54af60a6e This is the first in a series of posts taking you behind the scenes of how Google makes its Maps. —Ed.

When you head out your door, you’ve got directions in your pocket—whether you’re driving to your aunt’s place in the mountains, cycling to a new biergarten or taking the train downtown. For Google Maps to get you there, it needs to be a digital mirror of the real world. But the real world is always changing. So to make sure your map is an accurate reflection of your world, we started Ground Truth, a project that brings the freshest, most relevant information to Google Maps.

Today, we’ve reached our 50th Ground Truth country with the addition of five new countries: Taiwan, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, and the last regions of Russia. We’re also rolling out Google Map Maker and Report a Problem—our crowdsourcing map tools—to Taiwan, Russia and Malaysia, giving anyone in those countries the ability to share and contribute their local knowledge directly to Google Maps.


For these countries, that means clearer, more detailed depictions of points of interest like walking paths in parks or department lables in universities, a reworking of the road network with new street names and turn restrictions, and faster updates to the map. In the unique case of Poland and Romania, both of which have Map Maker communities that were instrumental in building the map from scratch, it also means providing more resources to bring the same level of map detail to all regions in these countries.


Over the next week, we’re pulling back the curtain to show you how Ground Truth and Map Maker work together to build Google Maps. Much of the magic behind Maps comes from people—from the Googlers who spend hours perfecting every road in the world, to the users who come together to improve the quality of maps in their local communities. To build the map, we have to gather high-quality information; in the next post, we’ll show you what that process looks like—and show off a new mapping technology. Stay tuned!

Posted by Manik Gupta, Group Product Manager, Google Maps]]> This is the first in a series of posts taking you behind the scenes of how Google makes its Maps. —Ed.

When you head out your door, you’ve got directions in your pocket—whether you’re driving to your aunt’s place in the mountains, cycling to a new biergarten or taking the train downtown. For Google Maps to get you there, it needs to be a digital mirror of the real world. But the real world is always changing. So to make sure your map is an accurate reflection of your world, we started Ground Truth, a project that brings the freshest, most relevant information to Google Maps.

Today, we’ve reached our 50th Ground Truth country with the addition of five new countries: Taiwan, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, and the last regions of Russia. We’re also rolling out Google Map Maker and Report a Problem—our crowdsourcing map tools—to Taiwan, Russia and Malaysia, giving anyone in those countries the ability to share and contribute their local knowledge directly to Google Maps.


For these countries, that means clearer, more detailed depictions of points of interest like walking paths in parks or department lables in universities, a reworking of the road network with new street names and turn restrictions, and faster updates to the map. In the unique case of Poland and Romania, both of which have Map Maker communities that were instrumental in building the map from scratch, it also means providing more resources to bring the same level of map detail to all regions in these countries.


Over the next week, we’re pulling back the curtain to show you how Ground Truth and Map Maker work together to build Google Maps. Much of the magic behind Maps comes from people—from the Googlers who spend hours perfecting every road in the world, to the users who come together to improve the quality of maps in their local communities. To build the map, we have to gather high-quality information; in the next post, we’ll show you what that process looks like—and show off a new mapping technology. Stay tuned!

Posted by Manik Gupta, Group Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/making-of-maps-reaching-a-milestone/feed/ 0 Visit the sets of this year’s Emmy Award nominees on Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/visit-the-sets-of-this-years-emmy-award-nominees-on-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=visit-the-sets-of-this-years-emmy-award-nominees-on-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/visit-the-sets-of-this-years-emmy-award-nominees-on-google-maps/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=3e787722c89b01b4ea193cc292fb91be Whether you’re into D.C. intrigue or Khaleesi’s conquests, chances are you’re watching the Emmy Awards on Monday. To get ready for the show, relive your favorite moments from this year’s nominees with Google Maps. Let’s take a peek at a highlight reel of some hot spots and scenes!

If you’re craving ribs after a House of Cards binge-watching session, head over to Frank Underwood’s favorite restaurant, Freddy’s BBQ Rib Joint, in Baltimore on Street View.

Street View of the filming location of Freddy’s BBQ Joint in Netflix’s House of Cards

More in the mood for afternoon tea? Then visit Highclere Castle in North Wessex Downs, where PBS’ critically-acclaimed drama Downton Abbey is filmed.

Photo Sphere of Highclere Castle, North Wessex Downs, the filming location of PBS’ Downton Abbey

Tired of teaching high school chemistry like our friend Walter White from AMC’s Breaking Bad? Well, look no further, because we heard that Albuquerque’s Los Pollos Hermanos is hiring.

Street View of the filming location of Los Pollos Hermanos in AMC’s Breaking Bad

Warlords, the Night’s Watch and royalty from all the Seven Kingdoms can agree that the scenery in HBO’s Game of Thrones seems like it’s from another world. Google Maps lets you fly over Marrakech to visit Aït-Ben-Haddou, the set of Yunkai, one of the cities conquered by the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen.

Photo of Aït-Ben-Haddou, Marrakech, Morocco, filming location of Yunkai in HBO’s Game of Thrones

Or if political intrigue is more your style, then you might be surprised to learn that Olivia Pope and Associates from ABC’s Scandal do their fixing at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles!

Street View of the filming location of Olivia Pope and Associates in ABC’s Scandal

While we can’t get you a ticket to the awards, Google Maps can at least make you feel like an extra on the set of your favorite show. Happy (Street) viewing!

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps and TV Fanatic]]> Whether you’re into D.C. intrigue or Khaleesi’s conquests, chances are you’re watching the Emmy Awards on Monday. To get ready for the show, relive your favorite moments from this year’s nominees with Google Maps. Let’s take a peek at a highlight reel of some hot spots and scenes!

If you’re craving ribs after a House of Cards binge-watching session, head over to Frank Underwood’s favorite restaurant, Freddy’s BBQ Rib Joint, in Baltimore on Street View.

Street View of the filming location of Freddy’s BBQ Joint in Netflix’s House of Cards

More in the mood for afternoon tea? Then visit Highclere Castle in North Wessex Downs, where PBS’ critically-acclaimed drama Downton Abbey is filmed.

Photo Sphere of Highclere Castle, North Wessex Downs, the filming location of PBS’ Downton Abbey

Tired of teaching high school chemistry like our friend Walter White from AMC’s Breaking Bad? Well, look no further, because we heard that Albuquerque’s Los Pollos Hermanos is hiring.

Street View of the filming location of Los Pollos Hermanos in AMC’s Breaking Bad

Warlords, the Night’s Watch and royalty from all the Seven Kingdoms can agree that the scenery in HBO’s Game of Thrones seems like it’s from another world. Google Maps lets you fly over Marrakech to visit Aït-Ben-Haddou, the set of Yunkai, one of the cities conquered by the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen.

Photo of Aït-Ben-Haddou, Marrakech, Morocco, filming location of Yunkai in HBO’s Game of Thrones

Or if political intrigue is more your style, then you might be surprised to learn that Olivia Pope and Associates from ABC’s Scandal do their fixing at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles!

Street View of the filming location of Olivia Pope and Associates in ABC’s Scandal

While we can’t get you a ticket to the awards, Google Maps can at least make you feel like an extra on the set of your favorite show. Happy (Street) viewing!

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps and TV Fanatic]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/visit-the-sets-of-this-years-emmy-award-nominees-on-google-maps/feed/ 0 Explore the geysers and waterfalls of Iceland on Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-geysers-and-waterfalls-of-iceland-on-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=explore-the-geysers-and-waterfalls-of-iceland-on-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-geysers-and-waterfalls-of-iceland-on-google-maps/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2014 08:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d34f21e3732db3ec20b235b24b518d91 In his book Tales of Iceland, Stephen Markley wrote, “The problem with driving around Iceland is that you’re basically confronted by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming natural sight every five... minutes. It’s totally exhausting.” We've never been ones to take someone else's word for it when it comes to sightseeing, so we took Street View to some of the most stunning locations throughout the country. As it turns out, Markley was right...and now with Street View, you can take a journey through Iceland to explore these beautiful places too.

We started with Iceland's "Golden Circle," a famous loop in the southern part of the country. Here’s a look at the famous Gullfoss Waterfall on the Hvítá river in the south west of the country. The average amount of water crashing over the falls can reach as much as 140 cubic meters/second at its summertime peak.


Then, we made the trek to what’s known locally as “Geysir,” or the Haukadalur Geothermal Area. Our cameras snapped footage of Strokkur, which routinely erupts every five to 10 minutes, and the bigger Geysir, which is largely dormant now but used to erupt several times a day. Interestingly, this is the geyser that lent its name to the phenomenon in many languages.


We’ve also captured beautiful heritage sites including Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður, a national park, and the UNESCO site Þingvellir, a place of great historical, cultural and geological importance. Iceland's Parliament, Alþingi, was established on this site in the year 930, and in 1930 the national park was established to protect the remains.


And the wonders don’t stop there. Gaze at Dettifoss, a waterfall situated in the Vatnajökull National Park and said to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, or explore Kerið, the perfect volcanic crater lake.



So start your virtual exploration now—and it's OK if, like Markley, exhaustion sets in and you need to take a nap in the middle. We—and Iceland's astonishing natural beauty—will be waiting.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager ]]> In his book Tales of Iceland, Stephen Markley wrote, “The problem with driving around Iceland is that you’re basically confronted by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming natural sight every five... minutes. It’s totally exhausting.” We've never been ones to take someone else's word for it when it comes to sightseeing, so we took Street View to some of the most stunning locations throughout the country. As it turns out, Markley was right...and now with Street View, you can take a journey through Iceland to explore these beautiful places too.

We started with Iceland's "Golden Circle," a famous loop in the southern part of the country. Here’s a look at the famous Gullfoss Waterfall on the Hvítá river in the south west of the country. The average amount of water crashing over the falls can reach as much as 140 cubic meters/second at its summertime peak.


Then, we made the trek to what’s known locally as “Geysir,” or the Haukadalur Geothermal Area. Our cameras snapped footage of Strokkur, which routinely erupts every five to 10 minutes, and the bigger Geysir, which is largely dormant now but used to erupt several times a day. Interestingly, this is the geyser that lent its name to the phenomenon in many languages.


We’ve also captured beautiful heritage sites including Vatnajökulsþjóðgarður, a national park, and the UNESCO site Þingvellir, a place of great historical, cultural and geological importance. Iceland's Parliament, Alþingi, was established on this site in the year 930, and in 1930 the national park was established to protect the remains.


And the wonders don’t stop there. Gaze at Dettifoss, a waterfall situated in the Vatnajökull National Park and said to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, or explore Kerið, the perfect volcanic crater lake.



So start your virtual exploration now—and it's OK if, like Markley, exhaustion sets in and you need to take a nap in the middle. We—and Iceland's astonishing natural beauty—will be waiting.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-geysers-and-waterfalls-of-iceland-on-google-maps/feed/ 0 Take a college road trip with Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-college-road-trip-with-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-a-college-road-trip-with-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-college-road-trip-with-street-view/#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2014 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=717a546a031e8ec14e35cd1e572677ab Whether you’re a college applicant or a curious parent getting to know your kid’s new home away from home, Street View can take you on a walking tour of schools around the world. Starting today, you’ll be able to explore 36 new university campuses across the U.S. and Canada with Street View in Google Maps.

First stop: Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Architecture buffs will love Georgetown's Healy Hall, a National Historic Landmark and iconic building in the Romanesque revival style.


Now let’s head south. If a tropical climate is more your speed, maybe the University of Miami is the right place for you. Strolling UM’s scenic pathways winding through palm trees and clear blue water, you almost need to put on your shades. Talk about extra credit!


Finally, let’s stop by the University of Regina in Canada. Founded in 1911, the school is known for its emphasis on experiential learning. Although its Saskatchewan location can get pretty cold, students can take advantage of the beautiful green when the sun is shining.


These universities are the latest additions to the hundreds of college campuses all over the world that are already available for you to explore in Google Maps. To see if a Street View tour of your dream school is available, search for a particular university on Google Maps and click on Pegman to enter the Street View imagery. Visit our Street View gallery for global highlights and other popular universities around the world.

So if you can’t make it in person, Street View can help you get a feel for the place you’re considering spending the next four years. And for you parents out there, this might help you get used to the idea of an empty nest!

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> Whether you’re a college applicant or a curious parent getting to know your kid’s new home away from home, Street View can take you on a walking tour of schools around the world. Starting today, you’ll be able to explore 36 new university campuses across the U.S. and Canada with Street View in Google Maps.

First stop: Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Architecture buffs will love Georgetown's Healy Hall, a National Historic Landmark and iconic building in the Romanesque revival style.


Now let’s head south. If a tropical climate is more your speed, maybe the University of Miami is the right place for you. Strolling UM’s scenic pathways winding through palm trees and clear blue water, you almost need to put on your shades. Talk about extra credit!


Finally, let’s stop by the University of Regina in Canada. Founded in 1911, the school is known for its emphasis on experiential learning. Although its Saskatchewan location can get pretty cold, students can take advantage of the beautiful green when the sun is shining.


These universities are the latest additions to the hundreds of college campuses all over the world that are already available for you to explore in Google Maps. To see if a Street View tour of your dream school is available, search for a particular university on Google Maps and click on Pegman to enter the Street View imagery. Visit our Street View gallery for global highlights and other popular universities around the world.

So if you can’t make it in person, Street View can help you get a feel for the place you’re considering spending the next four years. And for you parents out there, this might help you get used to the idea of an empty nest!

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-college-road-trip-with-street-view/feed/ 0 Spend more time exploring with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/spend-more-time-exploring-with-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spend-more-time-exploring-with-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/spend-more-time-exploring-with-google-maps/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2014 22:37:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7c4498d05a8317bfe72dafa20525b3fc On vacation and want to know where the locals go? Looking for a new place to grab food on your lunch break? Waiting on the platform for your next train and wondering when it’s scheduled to arrive? Starting this week, you can spend less time searching for your answer and more time exploring the world with the Google Maps app for Android and iOS.

Now, whenever you want to discover places in your area, simply tap the new Explore button at the bottom right corner of your map to get a quick look at what’s nearby (where available). With Explore as your guide, you’ll see different places and activities that adapt to each area and moment throughout your day. This also works when you’re browsing other neighborhoods and cities on the map so you can plan your day’s outing or daydream about your next vacation.


The results you get in Explore not only tell you what’s nearby—and you can decide if “nearby” means a five-minute walk or a 20-minute drive—but they actually change based on context like the time of day and the weather, too. So don’t worry about wandering over to a breakfast spot for dinner, or arriving at the park just in time for a thunderstorm. You’ll get best results when you’re signed in with location reporting and history turned on.


Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you can get even more relevant information. If you’re using an Android device, tap on the My Location button at the bottom right or on the blue dot on the map, and you can quickly access more info about your location such as restaurant reviews and transit schedules, or simply save the place for later. Over time, your location experience will improve as you confirm the places you visit.


So next time you’re deciding where to brunch, or you want to check out your restaurant’s reviews while you wait for friends to arrive, open up your Google Maps app and Explore.

Posted by Taj Campbell, Google Maps Product Manager]]> On vacation and want to know where the locals go? Looking for a new place to grab food on your lunch break? Waiting on the platform for your next train and wondering when it’s scheduled to arrive? Starting this week, you can spend less time searching for your answer and more time exploring the world with the Google Maps app for Android and iOS.

Now, whenever you want to discover places in your area, simply tap the new Explore button at the bottom right corner of your map to get a quick look at what’s nearby (where available). With Explore as your guide, you’ll see different places and activities that adapt to each area and moment throughout your day. This also works when you’re browsing other neighborhoods and cities on the map so you can plan your day’s outing or daydream about your next vacation.


The results you get in Explore not only tell you what’s nearby—and you can decide if “nearby” means a five-minute walk or a 20-minute drive—but they actually change based on context like the time of day and the weather, too. So don’t worry about wandering over to a breakfast spot for dinner, or arriving at the park just in time for a thunderstorm. You’ll get best results when you’re signed in with location reporting and history turned on.


Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you can get even more relevant information. If you’re using an Android device, tap on the My Location button at the bottom right or on the blue dot on the map, and you can quickly access more info about your location such as restaurant reviews and transit schedules, or simply save the place for later. Over time, your location experience will improve as you confirm the places you visit.


So next time you’re deciding where to brunch, or you want to check out your restaurant’s reviews while you wait for friends to arrive, open up your Google Maps app and Explore.

Posted by Taj Campbell, Google Maps Product Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/spend-more-time-exploring-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 Hop on board—and go almost anywhere—with public transit on Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/hop-on-board-and-go-almost-anywhere-with-public-transit-on-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hop-on-board-and-go-almost-anywhere-with-public-transit-on-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/hop-on-board-and-go-almost-anywhere-with-public-transit-on-google-maps/#comments Wed, 14 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f6d7593329de985b5fc351711a6f6711 Over 70 percent of the world’s population doesn’t own a car1—a surprising fact for anyone who’s sat for what seems like hours on end in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Millions of people rely on public transit to get around. That’s why, since 2007, we’ve worked to include public transit routes and schedules in Google Maps. In fact, buses, trains, trams and subways included in Google Maps travel 200 million kilometers every day—that’s the equivalent of driving every single road in the world three times!2


Today, Google Maps is helping you get around on public transit even more easily with these additions:
  • We’ve added every single transit route in Great Britain to Google Maps—making it easier to get anywhere from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
  • On the other side of the globe, Vancouverites looking for sun can now get real-time updates on whether a bus to Kits is faster than one to Third Beach.
  • In Chicago, Cubs fans can now zip to and from Wrigley Field, armed with the real-time information they need to hop on a bus and avoid congestion on Lake Shore Drive.
  • And finally, just in time for the games, we’ve recently added transit information for every host city in Brazil. Can you say “GOOOAAALLLLL?!”

Our transit data spans six continents, 64 countries and more than 15,000 towns and cities worldwide. And we’re not done yet: Google Maps will continue to improve—serving people the information they need to get around town when and where they need it.


Posted by David Tattersall, Product Manager, Public Transit

1 This estimate is based on the most recent World Bank data on the number of passenger cars per 1,000 people throughout 100 countries and territories. Passenger cars refer to road motor vehicles, other than two-wheelers, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine people (including the driver).
2 CIA World Factbook

]]> Over 70 percent of the world’s population doesn’t own a car1—a surprising fact for anyone who’s sat for what seems like hours on end in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Millions of people rely on public transit to get around. That’s why, since 2007, we’ve worked to include public transit routes and schedules in Google Maps. In fact, buses, trains, trams and subways included in Google Maps travel 200 million kilometers every day—that’s the equivalent of driving every single road in the world three times!2


Today, Google Maps is helping you get around on public transit even more easily with these additions:
  • We’ve added every single transit route in Great Britain to Google Maps—making it easier to get anywhere from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
  • On the other side of the globe, Vancouverites looking for sun can now get real-time updates on whether a bus to Kits is faster than one to Third Beach.
  • In Chicago, Cubs fans can now zip to and from Wrigley Field, armed with the real-time information they need to hop on a bus and avoid congestion on Lake Shore Drive.
  • And finally, just in time for the games, we’ve recently added transit information for every host city in Brazil. Can you say “GOOOAAALLLLL?!”

Our transit data spans six continents, 64 countries and more than 15,000 towns and cities worldwide. And we’re not done yet: Google Maps will continue to improve—serving people the information they need to get around town when and where they need it.


Posted by David Tattersall, Product Manager, Public Transit

1 This estimate is based on the most recent World Bank data on the number of passenger cars per 1,000 people throughout 100 countries and territories. Passenger cars refer to road motor vehicles, other than two-wheelers, intended for the carriage of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine people (including the driver).
2 CIA World Factbook

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/hop-on-board-and-go-almost-anywhere-with-public-transit-on-google-maps/feed/ 0 Get on the road, go off the grid, or plan the perfect weekend with the Google Maps app https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-on-the-road-go-off-the-grid-or-plan-the-perfect-weekend-with-the-google-maps-app/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=get-on-the-road-go-off-the-grid-or-plan-the-perfect-weekend-with-the-google-maps-app https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-on-the-road-go-off-the-grid-or-plan-the-perfect-weekend-with-the-google-maps-app/#comments Tue, 06 May 2014 15:53:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d630c012956589b0a7377927fe17029f When your life is moving fast, you need tools to keep up with your pace. Google Maps for mobile is the perfect travel companion for your daily commute, weekend errands, and (much-needed) vacations. Starting today, you now have even more ways to avoid life’s everyday hiccups with Google Maps for Android and iPhone/iPad:

Don’t miss your next turn or exit. The Google Maps app now shows you which lane to stay in or move to so you’ll never find yourself driving for miles down the wrong road. You’ll also have easy access to alternate routes while you’re navigating, so you can choose the best drive for you. To learn more about lane guidance availability, click here.

Don’t worry if you’re not online. Before setting off on your next vacation, hike, or roadtrip, search for an area and tap on its place info sheet, then when available, you can select “Save map to use offline,” and give your map a custom name, like “Toronto Vacation.” To find your offline maps, sign-in, tap the profile icon next to the search box in the top right corner, and scroll to see “Toronto Vacation” and other saved maps.

Don’t be late for last call. With new filters, you can browse through restaurants, bars and hotels by opening hours, rating, price, and more—where available—to find just what you’re looking for, right when you need it.

Don’t limit your options. Frequent Uber rider? If you have the Uber app installed, you can now compare your ride with transit and walking directions right from Google Maps in some cities. And if you choose the Uber option, you’ll jump right into the Uber app with just one click.

Don’t miss that train. With more than a million public transit stops on Google Maps, you’ll get reliable information to help you get where you’re going. Next time you’re in Chicago, search for directions to Lincoln Park Zoo, tap the train icon, and select “Depart at” to choose the time and day you want to leave—or even “last train home” for those night owls—so you get the most accurate transit information for your needs.

Don’t forget the park you wanted to visit. See places you’ve saved on Google Maps across all your devices when you’re signed in. And if you find a place you want to save on the go, search for the location you’re interested in, tap on the place card, and hit the star icon to save the location for later.

Don’t wait to explore your next vacation spot. Search for your ideal destination—anywhere from the Gateway Arch to the Taj Mahal—then tap on the place card to dive into Street View where available. You might even get a peek inside some hotels, restaurants, and more.

So, next time you’re caught up in a whirlwind of activity, make navigating your world a little easier. Take a moment to grab your phone, open up the Google Maps app, and find all you need to search, navigate and explore the world around you. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

Posted by Jeffrey Hightower, Software Engineering Manager]]> When your life is moving fast, you need tools to keep up with your pace. Google Maps for mobile is the perfect travel companion for your daily commute, weekend errands, and (much-needed) vacations. Starting today, you now have even more ways to avoid life’s everyday hiccups with Google Maps for Android and iPhone/iPad:

Don’t miss your next turn or exit. The Google Maps app now shows you which lane to stay in or move to so you’ll never find yourself driving for miles down the wrong road. You’ll also have easy access to alternate routes while you’re navigating, so you can choose the best drive for you. To learn more about lane guidance availability, click here.

Don’t worry if you’re not online. Before setting off on your next vacation, hike, or roadtrip, search for an area and tap on its place info sheet, then when available, you can select “Save map to use offline,” and give your map a custom name, like “Toronto Vacation.” To find your offline maps, sign-in, tap the profile icon next to the search box in the top right corner, and scroll to see “Toronto Vacation” and other saved maps.

Don’t be late for last call. With new filters, you can browse through restaurants, bars and hotels by opening hours, rating, price, and more—where available—to find just what you’re looking for, right when you need it.

Don’t limit your options. Frequent Uber rider? If you have the Uber app installed, you can now compare your ride with transit and walking directions right from Google Maps in some cities. And if you choose the Uber option, you’ll jump right into the Uber app with just one click.

Don’t miss that train. With more than a million public transit stops on Google Maps, you’ll get reliable information to help you get where you’re going. Next time you’re in Chicago, search for directions to Lincoln Park Zoo, tap the train icon, and select “Depart at” to choose the time and day you want to leave—or even “last train home” for those night owls—so you get the most accurate transit information for your needs.

Don’t forget the park you wanted to visit. See places you’ve saved on Google Maps across all your devices when you’re signed in. And if you find a place you want to save on the go, search for the location you’re interested in, tap on the place card, and hit the star icon to save the location for later.

Don’t wait to explore your next vacation spot. Search for your ideal destination—anywhere from the Gateway Arch to the Taj Mahal—then tap on the place card to dive into Street View where available. You might even get a peek inside some hotels, restaurants, and more.

So, next time you’re caught up in a whirlwind of activity, make navigating your world a little easier. Take a moment to grab your phone, open up the Google Maps app, and find all you need to search, navigate and explore the world around you. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

Posted by Jeffrey Hightower, Software Engineering Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-on-the-road-go-off-the-grid-or-plan-the-perfect-weekend-with-the-google-maps-app/feed/ 0 Wander through Angkor’s thousand-year-old temples on Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/wander-through-angkors-thousand-year-old-temples-on-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wander-through-angkors-thousand-year-old-temples-on-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/wander-through-angkors-thousand-year-old-temples-on-street-view/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2014 01:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=8ef7c1387625d4aeed36a568e757b00b The sunrise at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic and breathtaking vistas. Dawn brings to light the many temples that are thousands of years old, nestled in a web of ancient roads and jungles. Today you’ll be one step closer to that view as we are making more than 100 of these historic sites available online with Street View on Google Maps.

The temples at Angkor each have a unique story—whether it’s the way they were built, the ancient Khmer cities they sit on, or the artwork they contain. To give you the most complete picture, our team used all the tools available to us: Street View cars, Trekkers and tripods to carefully photograph the exteriors and interiors of Angkor’s temples as they stand today.



With more than 90,000 new panoramic images views, we hope Cambodians and others around the world can experience these cultural and archaeological treasures in an entirely new way. Whether it’s revisiting iconic sites such as Bayon Temple in time for the Khmer New Year or studying the Ramayana’s Battle of Lanka bas relief carvings within Angkor Wat, Street View can help you more easily explore Angkor’s rich heritage.


After roaming the temples, you can also experience more of Angkor’s rich historical and artistic heritage through the Google Cultural Institute. From 12th-century sculpture and mid-20th century photography to modern-day renderings of medieval Angkor life, nearly 300 exhibits across the Google Cultural Institute can give you a look at Khmer culture through the ages.

We hope this new imagery will not only let people experience the scale and beauty of Angkor wherever they are, but also demonstrate how technology can change the way cultural treasures are preserved for generations to come.

Manik Gupta, Group Product Manager, Google Maps]]> The sunrise at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic and breathtaking vistas. Dawn brings to light the many temples that are thousands of years old, nestled in a web of ancient roads and jungles. Today you’ll be one step closer to that view as we are making more than 100 of these historic sites available online with Street View on Google Maps.

The temples at Angkor each have a unique story—whether it’s the way they were built, the ancient Khmer cities they sit on, or the artwork they contain. To give you the most complete picture, our team used all the tools available to us: Street View cars, Trekkers and tripods to carefully photograph the exteriors and interiors of Angkor’s temples as they stand today.



With more than 90,000 new panoramic images views, we hope Cambodians and others around the world can experience these cultural and archaeological treasures in an entirely new way. Whether it’s revisiting iconic sites such as Bayon Temple in time for the Khmer New Year or studying the Ramayana’s Battle of Lanka bas relief carvings within Angkor Wat, Street View can help you more easily explore Angkor’s rich heritage.


After roaming the temples, you can also experience more of Angkor’s rich historical and artistic heritage through the Google Cultural Institute. From 12th-century sculpture and mid-20th century photography to modern-day renderings of medieval Angkor life, nearly 300 exhibits across the Google Cultural Institute can give you a look at Khmer culture through the ages.

We hope this new imagery will not only let people experience the scale and beauty of Angkor wherever they are, but also demonstrate how technology can change the way cultural treasures are preserved for generations to come.

Manik Gupta, Group Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/wander-through-angkors-thousand-year-old-temples-on-street-view/feed/ 0 Become a Pokémon Master with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/become-a-pokemon-master-with-google-maps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=become-a-pokemon-master-with-google-maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/become-a-pokemon-master-with-google-maps/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:42:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=996a54344c79fc57fbd2ca6275c8d06b We value employees who are risk-taking and detail-oriented, have deep technical knowledge, and can navigate through tall grass to capture wild creatures. It turns out that these skills have a lot in common with another profession—that of the Pokémon Master. With that in mind, we’ve worked with Pokémon and Nintendo to develop a new training tool to help people hone their Pokémon-capturing abilities using Google Maps.

Dozens of wild Pokémon have taken up residence on streets, amidst forests and atop mountains throughout Google Maps. To find and catch ‘em all, you’ll need to tap into your inner Pokémon Master.



If you think you’re up to the challenge, grab your Poké Ball and the newest version of Google Maps for iPhone or Android. Then tap the search bar, “press start,” and begin your quest.
Leave no stone unturned or city unzoomed as you seek out wild Charizards and Pikachus to add to your Pokédex. Be vigilant—you never know if a wild Steelix will appear in Tokyo, Japan or New York City, USA. And follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter for hints and tips.
Time is of the essence—in the words of Professor Oak, “The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the Pokémon.”

Update: We hope you've enjoyed wading through water and tall grass to catch Pokemon all over the world this April Fools' Day. Good Mews for trainers who want the fun to last—those who have caught 5 or more Pokemon can still continue their quest to catch 'em all for a little while longer with Google Maps for iPhone and Android.

©Google; Pokemon content © Pokemon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK

 Tatsuo Nomura, Advanced Pokémon Trainer]]> We value employees who are risk-taking and detail-oriented, have deep technical knowledge, and can navigate through tall grass to capture wild creatures. It turns out that these skills have a lot in common with another profession—that of the Pokémon Master. With that in mind, we’ve worked with Pokémon and Nintendo to develop a new training tool to help people hone their Pokémon-capturing abilities using Google Maps.

Dozens of wild Pokémon have taken up residence on streets, amidst forests and atop mountains throughout Google Maps. To find and catch ‘em all, you’ll need to tap into your inner Pokémon Master.



If you think you’re up to the challenge, grab your Poké Ball and the newest version of Google Maps for iPhone or Android. Then tap the search bar, “press start,” and begin your quest.
Leave no stone unturned or city unzoomed as you seek out wild Charizards and Pikachus to add to your Pokédex. Be vigilant—you never know if a wild Steelix will appear in Tokyo, Japan or New York City, USA. And follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter for hints and tips.
Time is of the essence—in the words of Professor Oak, “The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the Pokémon.”

Update: We hope you've enjoyed wading through water and tall grass to catch Pokemon all over the world this April Fools' Day. Good Mews for trainers who want the fun to last—those who have caught 5 or more Pokemon can still continue their quest to catch 'em all for a little while longer with Google Maps for iPhone and Android.

©Google; Pokemon content © Pokemon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK

 Tatsuo Nomura, Advanced Pokémon Trainer]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/become-a-pokemon-master-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 Explore America’s most endangered river on Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-americas-most-endangered-river-on-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=explore-americas-most-endangered-river-on-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-americas-most-endangered-river-on-street-view/#comments Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f8eb0c7bce3a9752edfe639f4a781b98 This guest post is by Chris Williams, Senior Vice President of Conservation at American Rivers. We’ve partnered with American Rivers to share the adventure of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in Google Maps. -Ed.

For 6 million years, the Colorado River has flowed through the heart of the desert southwest, its waters slowly carving out a canyon so vast it can be seen from space—yet so remote it didn’t appear on early maps of the region. It wasn’t until 1869, when John Wesley Powell led a small exploration party on a rafting trip, that the natural wonders of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon came fully into view.

Now with Google Street View, you can ride the whitewater rapids, cruise the sleepy river bends, and discover the side canyons that make the Colorado River a treasured resource.


Start at an iconic spot like Deer Creek Falls or North Canyon, or climb up to the Nankoweap Granaries. Geology fans will enjoy formations like Hermit Shale and Tapeats Sandstone. On your journey, look out for wildlife like big horn sheep and signs of a volcanic dam that naturally occurred centuries ago.

While you admire its grandeur, remember that the river is also at risk. One of the United States’ most important resources, the Colorado River provides drinking water for 36 million people from Denver to Los Angeles, supports a $26 billion recreation industry, and irrigates nearly 4 million acres of land that grow 15 percent of our nation’s crops. But it’s also one of the most endangered, dammed, diverted and plumbed rivers in the world, thanks to a century of management policies and practices that have promoted the use of Colorado River water at an unsustainable rate. By the time it reaches the Gulf of California in Mexico, the river is barely a trickle—a ghost of its once magnificent self. You can see evidence of the river’s decline In Street View, like the high water mark (showing 1950s driftwood on top of the rock), or sedimentation along the river’s edge down by Lake Mead.


We’re proud to partner with Google and Street View to raise awareness of the need to protect and restore the river. It’s time to speak up and protect the wonder of the Grand Canyon and the riches of a healthy Colorado River. Join American Rivers and help us protect and restore this iconic river of the west—for today and for future generations.

Posted by Chris Williams, Senior Vice President of Conservation, American Rivers]]> This guest post is by Chris Williams, Senior Vice President of Conservation at American Rivers. We’ve partnered with American Rivers to share the adventure of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in Google Maps. -Ed.

For 6 million years, the Colorado River has flowed through the heart of the desert southwest, its waters slowly carving out a canyon so vast it can be seen from space—yet so remote it didn’t appear on early maps of the region. It wasn’t until 1869, when John Wesley Powell led a small exploration party on a rafting trip, that the natural wonders of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon came fully into view.

Now with Google Street View, you can ride the whitewater rapids, cruise the sleepy river bends, and discover the side canyons that make the Colorado River a treasured resource.


Start at an iconic spot like Deer Creek Falls or North Canyon, or climb up to the Nankoweap Granaries. Geology fans will enjoy formations like Hermit Shale and Tapeats Sandstone. On your journey, look out for wildlife like big horn sheep and signs of a volcanic dam that naturally occurred centuries ago.

While you admire its grandeur, remember that the river is also at risk. One of the United States’ most important resources, the Colorado River provides drinking water for 36 million people from Denver to Los Angeles, supports a $26 billion recreation industry, and irrigates nearly 4 million acres of land that grow 15 percent of our nation’s crops. But it’s also one of the most endangered, dammed, diverted and plumbed rivers in the world, thanks to a century of management policies and practices that have promoted the use of Colorado River water at an unsustainable rate. By the time it reaches the Gulf of California in Mexico, the river is barely a trickle—a ghost of its once magnificent self. You can see evidence of the river’s decline In Street View, like the high water mark (showing 1950s driftwood on top of the rock), or sedimentation along the river’s edge down by Lake Mead.


We’re proud to partner with Google and Street View to raise awareness of the need to protect and restore the river. It’s time to speak up and protect the wonder of the Grand Canyon and the riches of a healthy Colorado River. Join American Rivers and help us protect and restore this iconic river of the west—for today and for future generations.

Posted by Chris Williams, Senior Vice President of Conservation, American Rivers]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-americas-most-endangered-river-on-street-view/feed/ 0 Aloha from Google Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/aloha-from-google-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=aloha-from-google-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/aloha-from-google-street-view/#comments Thu, 06 Mar 2014 17:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=a3b9b1979c856966dbba711dd114e67f Longing for an island getaway? You’re not the only one. Over the last 30 days on Google.com, search interest in “Hawaii” has risen a staggering 78 percent.

Starting today, you can take a trip to the Aloha state and explore even more of Hawaii’s hiking trails, parks, historical sites, and beaches using Street View on Google Maps. Last summer we announced our Trekker Loan Program with our first partner, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB). Since then, HVCB has been collecting Street View imagery of many popular and special places across the islands of Hawaii (the Big Island) and Oahu.

Hawaii is famous for its spectacular sandy beaches, like Hapunua Beach, but this tropical island paradise has much more to offer to all the outdoor adventurers out there. Hike through a volcanic crater along the Kilauea Iki Trail, learn about Native Hawaiian culture at the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs, and take in the diverse flora at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

 Hapuna Beach, Island of Hawaii

Kilauea Iki Trail, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Pāpa'ikou, Island of Hawaii

Whether you want to travel across the Pacific or around the block, we hope you’ll use Street View to explore all the incredible places in the world. And if we’ve inspired you to plan your next vacation to Hawaii, you can also explore these amazing Street View Treks on GoHawaii.com, the official website for HVCB.

To learn more about this program and apply to be the next Trekker, visit g.co/trekker.

Mahalo!

Posted by Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps and Street View ]]> Longing for an island getaway? You’re not the only one. Over the last 30 days on Google.com, search interest in “Hawaii” has risen a staggering 78 percent.

Starting today, you can take a trip to the Aloha state and explore even more of Hawaii’s hiking trails, parks, historical sites, and beaches using Street View on Google Maps. Last summer we announced our Trekker Loan Program with our first partner, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB). Since then, HVCB has been collecting Street View imagery of many popular and special places across the islands of Hawaii (the Big Island) and Oahu.

Hawaii is famous for its spectacular sandy beaches, like Hapunua Beach, but this tropical island paradise has much more to offer to all the outdoor adventurers out there. Hike through a volcanic crater along the Kilauea Iki Trail, learn about Native Hawaiian culture at the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs, and take in the diverse flora at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

 Hapuna Beach, Island of Hawaii

Kilauea Iki Trail, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, Pāpa'ikou, Island of Hawaii

Whether you want to travel across the Pacific or around the block, we hope you’ll use Street View to explore all the incredible places in the world. And if we’ve inspired you to plan your next vacation to Hawaii, you can also explore these amazing Street View Treks on GoHawaii.com, the official website for HVCB.

To learn more about this program and apply to be the next Trekker, visit g.co/trekker.

Mahalo!

Posted by Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps and Street View ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/aloha-from-google-street-view/feed/ 0 Introducing Google Maps Gallery: Unlocking the World’s Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-google-maps-gallery-unlocking-the-worlds-maps-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-google-maps-gallery-unlocking-the-worlds-maps-2 https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-google-maps-gallery-unlocking-the-worlds-maps-2/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 19:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=4bfef8b8729ec09d6c15ae3ef8443c0f
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, it’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]]>
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, it’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]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-google-maps-gallery-unlocking-the-worlds-maps-2/feed/ 0 Wandering in the footsteps of the polar bear with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/wandering-in-the-footsteps-of-the-polar-bear-with-google-maps-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wandering-in-the-footsteps-of-the-polar-bear-with-google-maps-2 https://googledata.org/google-earth/wandering-in-the-footsteps-of-the-polar-bear-with-google-maps-2/#comments Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:15:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d5d26dbb2c29734505832e73e7825b9e
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.



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]]>
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.



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]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/wandering-in-the-footsteps-of-the-polar-bear-with-google-maps-2/feed/ 0 Discover the Taj Mahal and other iconic Indian monuments on Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-the-taj-mahal-and-other-iconic-indian-monuments-on-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=discover-the-taj-mahal-and-other-iconic-indian-monuments-on-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-the-taj-mahal-and-other-iconic-indian-monuments-on-street-view/#comments Thu, 20 Feb 2014 22:33:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=ea5ab682d5992e98fdc37d35d1b0a44d 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]]> 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]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-the-taj-mahal-and-other-iconic-indian-monuments-on-street-view/feed/ 0 Monitoring the World’s Forests with Global Forest Watch https://googledata.org/google-earth/monitoring-the-worlds-forests-with-global-forest-watch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=monitoring-the-worlds-forests-with-global-forest-watch https://googledata.org/google-earth/monitoring-the-worlds-forests-with-global-forest-watch/#comments Thu, 20 Feb 2014 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=6f3fad807e4b25598f04accd0bd8db2b 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

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

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

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.]]> 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

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

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

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.]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/monitoring-the-worlds-forests-with-global-forest-watch/feed/ 0 Expanding our Map Maker community in Southern and Eastern Europe https://googledata.org/google-earth/expanding-our-map-maker-community-in-southern-and-eastern-europe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=expanding-our-map-maker-community-in-southern-and-eastern-europe https://googledata.org/google-earth/expanding-our-map-maker-community-in-southern-and-eastern-europe/#comments Thu, 20 Feb 2014 07:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=faf65fc2b6b86bf3aee922005255a874 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]]> 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]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/expanding-our-map-maker-community-in-southern-and-eastern-europe/feed/ 0 Thank you, and welcome to the new Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/thank-you-and-welcome-to-the-new-google-maps-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thank-you-and-welcome-to-the-new-google-maps-2 https://googledata.org/google-earth/thank-you-and-welcome-to-the-new-google-maps-2/#comments Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:30:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=1d696d6adf8b84ad362ab94201670301 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]]> 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]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/thank-you-and-welcome-to-the-new-google-maps-2/feed/ 0 Forget Cupid, all you need is Google Maps this Valentine’s Day https://googledata.org/google-maps/forget-cupid-all-you-need-is-google-maps-this-valentines-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=forget-cupid-all-you-need-is-google-maps-this-valentines-day https://googledata.org/google-maps/forget-cupid-all-you-need-is-google-maps-this-valentines-day/#comments Wed, 12 Feb 2014 19:30:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c0e64dfaa9af88514ffe1ced9eb634d5 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.


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”.



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

]]> 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.


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”.



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

]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/forget-cupid-all-you-need-is-google-maps-this-valentines-day/feed/ 0 Introducing Slovenia Street View and updating Russian imagery https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-slovenia-street-view-and-updating-russian-imagery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-slovenia-street-view-and-updating-russian-imagery https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-slovenia-street-view-and-updating-russian-imagery/#comments Fri, 31 Jan 2014 21:41:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=999d4375d2c6f95be03aefa883d69868 With the eyes of winter sports fans turning to Russia, we thought this would be a good time to add more towns, cities and picturesque sights of this sprawling country to Google Maps. From today, Street View is available in Vladivostok, Yakutsk, Irkutsk and, of course, Sochi.

Winter lovers also are treated, for the first time, to images of mountainous Slovenia. This gorgeous Central European country becomes our 55th country to launch Street View.


Map of some of the newly available areas to explore in Russia

In Russia, our drivers reached the far away corners of the world's largest country. Users can take a walk around Yakutsk, the city with the greatest seasonal temperature swings on Earth (the lowest recorded winter temperature was −64.4°C with the highest summer peak hitting 38.4°C).


Explore the city center of Yakutsk

In total, Street View cars covered 300,000 kilometers in Russia in 2013, an area housing almost 60 percent of the population. We mapped the biggest Russian island of Sakhalin and the Russkiy Bridge, the world's longest cable-stayed bridge. While snapping the M52 highway, also known as Chuya Highway or Chuysky Trakt, Street View drivers met indigenous tribes.

The mapping team faced unusual challenges. When taking imagery of the Tobolsk monastery the drivers spent two days praying with the Monastery Abbot. In order to get to some remote spots, Street View cars were transported in containers on tracks and boats. There was even place for romance: while shooting Sakhalin, one driver met his future wife!


The Tobolsk Monastery in Tyumen Oblast

We also are launching our imagery in Slovenia. Virtual tourists now can explore cities like Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj, and Koper, as well as beautiful places like Bohinj Lake or the sea town of Piran.


Congress Square, Ljubljana

Enjoy some of these amazing sights on StreetView’s journey eastward through Europe.

Posted by Carlos Reolid, Program Manager for Google Street View]]> With the eyes of winter sports fans turning to Russia, we thought this would be a good time to add more towns, cities and picturesque sights of this sprawling country to Google Maps. From today, Street View is available in Vladivostok, Yakutsk, Irkutsk and, of course, Sochi.

Winter lovers also are treated, for the first time, to images of mountainous Slovenia. This gorgeous Central European country becomes our 55th country to launch Street View.


Map of some of the newly available areas to explore in Russia

In Russia, our drivers reached the far away corners of the world's largest country. Users can take a walk around Yakutsk, the city with the greatest seasonal temperature swings on Earth (the lowest recorded winter temperature was −64.4°C with the highest summer peak hitting 38.4°C).


Explore the city center of Yakutsk

In total, Street View cars covered 300,000 kilometers in Russia in 2013, an area housing almost 60 percent of the population. We mapped the biggest Russian island of Sakhalin and the Russkiy Bridge, the world's longest cable-stayed bridge. While snapping the M52 highway, also known as Chuya Highway or Chuysky Trakt, Street View drivers met indigenous tribes.

The mapping team faced unusual challenges. When taking imagery of the Tobolsk monastery the drivers spent two days praying with the Monastery Abbot. In order to get to some remote spots, Street View cars were transported in containers on tracks and boats. There was even place for romance: while shooting Sakhalin, one driver met his future wife!


The Tobolsk Monastery in Tyumen Oblast

We also are launching our imagery in Slovenia. Virtual tourists now can explore cities like Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj, and Koper, as well as beautiful places like Bohinj Lake or the sea town of Piran.


Congress Square, Ljubljana

Enjoy some of these amazing sights on StreetView’s journey eastward through Europe.

Posted by Carlos Reolid, Program Manager for Google Street View]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-slovenia-street-view-and-updating-russian-imagery/feed/ 0 Santa’s sleigh is ready for lift-off https://googledata.org/google-maps/santas-sleigh-is-ready-for-lift-off/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=santas-sleigh-is-ready-for-lift-off https://googledata.org/google-maps/santas-sleigh-is-ready-for-lift-off/#comments Tue, 24 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=cd035c98eb35005d13d393eb112ca2e0 The countdown is over. Santa and his elves have been preparing around the clock for the big day, opening up new pieces of Santa’s Village throughout the month. Santa’s been skydiving, the elves catapulted presents, and Santa even sent custom voice messages to friends and family.

The elves are now reporting that the sleigh is ready for takeoff!



Join Santa as he delivers presents around the globe. Whether you’re in Sydney or South Dakota, hop in the driver’s seat by checking out Santa’s Dash(er) Board. See where Santa’s been, where he’s going, and his real-time jolly status ("mmm, those cookies were delicious!”). Don’t forget to check out the photos and local info for places he visits on the route.


For the next 24 hours, tune in on your desktop, tablet, or phone to the Santa Tracker website. Still worried you’ll miss a minute of Santa’s big day? The developer elves have been hard at work so you can:
And, follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter to get up-to-the-minute details on Santa’s journey around the world.

With more than 300,000 kilometers to go, Santa’s got a lot of the map to cover. So set out those cookies and a glass of milk and get ready to #tracksanta!

Brian McClendon, Vice President, Google Maps]]> The countdown is over. Santa and his elves have been preparing around the clock for the big day, opening up new pieces of Santa’s Village throughout the month. Santa’s been skydiving, the elves catapulted presents, and Santa even sent custom voice messages to friends and family.

The elves are now reporting that the sleigh is ready for takeoff!



Join Santa as he delivers presents around the globe. Whether you’re in Sydney or South Dakota, hop in the driver’s seat by checking out Santa’s Dash(er) Board. See where Santa’s been, where he’s going, and his real-time jolly status ("mmm, those cookies were delicious!”). Don’t forget to check out the photos and local info for places he visits on the route.


For the next 24 hours, tune in on your desktop, tablet, or phone to the Santa Tracker website. Still worried you’ll miss a minute of Santa’s big day? The developer elves have been hard at work so you can:
And, follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter to get up-to-the-minute details on Santa’s journey around the world.

With more than 300,000 kilometers to go, Santa’s got a lot of the map to cover. So set out those cookies and a glass of milk and get ready to #tracksanta!

Brian McClendon, Vice President, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/santas-sleigh-is-ready-for-lift-off/feed/ 0 Building Better Maps in Brazil, Israel, and Russia https://googledata.org/google-earth/building-better-maps-in-brazil-israel-and-russia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=building-better-maps-in-brazil-israel-and-russia https://googledata.org/google-earth/building-better-maps-in-brazil-israel-and-russia/#comments Wed, 11 Dec 2013 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=1c9bafd52b592188c60266ffc89e6c51 Whether you’re exploring new places or your own hometown, you want an up-to-date, accurate map that gets you where you want to go quickly and easily. That’s why we’re launching our Ground Truth initiative in Brazil, Israel, and additional parts of Russia (including Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, and Volgograd). With Ground Truth data, we can improve a country’s map faster so that it accurately reflects the ever-changing world.

The newest Ground Truth update also gives all three countries the option to add local knowledge to the map with the Report a Problem tool. We’ve also relaunched Map Maker in Brazil, so you can add and update geographic information for millions of users to see in Google Maps and Google Earth. Now, from the bustling markets of Manaus to the dazzling coastline of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian map enthusiasts can directly contribute their local expertise for all the world to see with Google Map Maker.

In the updated maps for Brazil, Israel, and Russia, you can easily distinguish areas of interest with crisper, colored depictions of water bodies and greenery. For example, you can quickly identify Copacabana beach on the map by its yellow coloring, making it easier to find nearby restaurants or streets to explore.


Updates to the maps’ road priorities, turn restrictions, street names, and interchange signs make navigating the roads more accurate and efficient. For example, in Israel we’ve updated the recently extended Highway 22, helping residents and visitors quickly arrive at their destinations.


Easily identify points of interest, like national parks, hospitals, and universities, with improved highlighting and visual enhancements. In Israel, Tel Aviv University now shows detailed walking paths, named roads, building department labels, and even designated grounds for the sculpture garden and swimming pools.


More than 20 additional Russian regions will also see a more detailed map with this update. By highlighting major roads, greenery, and extensive networks of water bodies, the map now accurately displays the richness of localities like Kaliningrad.


With visually clearer and increasingly detailed Google Maps, exploring the breathtaking streets of Old Jerusalem or traversing the lush Amazon rainforest is just a click away.

Sophia Lin, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> Whether you’re exploring new places or your own hometown, you want an up-to-date, accurate map that gets you where you want to go quickly and easily. That’s why we’re launching our Ground Truth initiative in Brazil, Israel, and additional parts of Russia (including Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, and Volgograd). With Ground Truth data, we can improve a country’s map faster so that it accurately reflects the ever-changing world.

The newest Ground Truth update also gives all three countries the option to add local knowledge to the map with the Report a Problem tool. We’ve also relaunched Map Maker in Brazil, so you can add and update geographic information for millions of users to see in Google Maps and Google Earth. Now, from the bustling markets of Manaus to the dazzling coastline of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian map enthusiasts can directly contribute their local expertise for all the world to see with Google Map Maker.

In the updated maps for Brazil, Israel, and Russia, you can easily distinguish areas of interest with crisper, colored depictions of water bodies and greenery. For example, you can quickly identify Copacabana beach on the map by its yellow coloring, making it easier to find nearby restaurants or streets to explore.


Updates to the maps’ road priorities, turn restrictions, street names, and interchange signs make navigating the roads more accurate and efficient. For example, in Israel we’ve updated the recently extended Highway 22, helping residents and visitors quickly arrive at their destinations.


Easily identify points of interest, like national parks, hospitals, and universities, with improved highlighting and visual enhancements. In Israel, Tel Aviv University now shows detailed walking paths, named roads, building department labels, and even designated grounds for the sculpture garden and swimming pools.


More than 20 additional Russian regions will also see a more detailed map with this update. By highlighting major roads, greenery, and extensive networks of water bodies, the map now accurately displays the richness of localities like Kaliningrad.


With visually clearer and increasingly detailed Google Maps, exploring the breathtaking streets of Old Jerusalem or traversing the lush Amazon rainforest is just a click away.

Sophia Lin, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/building-better-maps-in-brazil-israel-and-russia/feed/ 0 Create your own Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/create-your-own-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=create-your-own-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/create-your-own-street-view/#comments Tue, 10 Dec 2013 00:10:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b875c9ed63a67da3d49acbec0106a141 Have you ever tried to convey the feeling of walking through your favorite park? Or have you wanted to create an interactive tour of a memorable journey? Well, starting today, it's now possible for you to build your own Street View experiences to do just that. Using a new feature in our Views community, you can easily connect your photo spheres to create 360º virtual tours of the places you love, then share them with the world on Google Maps.

Creating Street View from your photo spheres is as easy as connecting the dots into what looks like a “constellation” of stars. You can even connect your photo spheres to our own Street View panoramas.

To get started, just create photo spheres using your Android phone or a DSLR and then share them on Views. Next, select the photo spheres from your profile and use our new tool to connect them together (as seen in the example above). Once your photo spheres are connected and published, people can navigate between them on Google Maps, just like they can in Street View. Please visit our help center to learn more about connecting photo spheres.

I built this Street View experience from photo spheres I created with both my Android phone (Nexus 4) and my DSLR camera. Now everyone can virtually explore this beautiful location I visited on my vacation.

We are excited to see the different types of Street View experiences that everyone will contribute. For example, this feature can now enable environmental non-profits to document and promote the beautiful places they strive to protect. It also opens up a new tool for photographers to showcase diversity in a specific location -- by times of day, weather conditions or cultural events -- in a way that Street View currently doesn’t cover.

And, just like with Street View, you can embed our interactive viewer on your own website or build applications with it using the Google Maps API. You can learn more about solutions for developers.

We hope this new feature will enable people to share and witness the beauty and breadth of our planet through Google Maps. Whether you’re photographing exotic islands or your favorite neighborhood hangout, mountain peaks or city streets, historic castles or your town center, we’re thrilled to see the places you love coming to life on Google Maps.

Businesses, as a reminder, you can showcase the beauty of your interiors through Business Photos.

Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps & Photo Sphere
Updated December 16: Modified use cases for clarity & added reference to Business Photos.]]> Have you ever tried to convey the feeling of walking through your favorite park? Or have you wanted to create an interactive tour of a memorable journey? Well, starting today, it's now possible for you to build your own Street View experiences to do just that. Using a new feature in our Views community, you can easily connect your photo spheres to create 360º virtual tours of the places you love, then share them with the world on Google Maps.

Creating Street View from your photo spheres is as easy as connecting the dots into what looks like a “constellation” of stars. You can even connect your photo spheres to our own Street View panoramas.

To get started, just create photo spheres using your Android phone or a DSLR and then share them on Views. Next, select the photo spheres from your profile and use our new tool to connect them together (as seen in the example above). Once your photo spheres are connected and published, people can navigate between them on Google Maps, just like they can in Street View. Please visit our help center to learn more about connecting photo spheres.

I built this Street View experience from photo spheres I created with both my Android phone (Nexus 4) and my DSLR camera. Now everyone can virtually explore this beautiful location I visited on my vacation.

We are excited to see the different types of Street View experiences that everyone will contribute. For example, this feature can now enable environmental non-profits to document and promote the beautiful places they strive to protect. It also opens up a new tool for photographers to showcase diversity in a specific location -- by times of day, weather conditions or cultural events -- in a way that Street View currently doesn’t cover.

And, just like with Street View, you can embed our interactive viewer on your own website or build applications with it using the Google Maps API. You can learn more about solutions for developers.

We hope this new feature will enable people to share and witness the beauty and breadth of our planet through Google Maps. Whether you’re photographing exotic islands or your favorite neighborhood hangout, mountain peaks or city streets, historic castles or your town center, we’re thrilled to see the places you love coming to life on Google Maps.

Businesses, as a reminder, you can showcase the beauty of your interiors through Business Photos.

Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps & Photo Sphere
Updated December 16: Modified use cases for clarity & added reference to Business Photos.]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/create-your-own-street-view/feed/ 0 National Geographic shares rich map content with the world via Google Maps Engine https://googledata.org/google-earth/national-geographic-shares-rich-map-content-with-the-world-via-google-maps-engine-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=national-geographic-shares-rich-map-content-with-the-world-via-google-maps-engine-2 https://googledata.org/google-earth/national-geographic-shares-rich-map-content-with-the-world-via-google-maps-engine-2/#comments Fri, 06 Dec 2013 16:33:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7d2ce79810548fb63c880705b17d9dc9

(Cross-posted from the Google Enterprise Blog)

Editor's note: Today’s guest blog is about the newly launched Google Maps Engine public data program, which lets organizations distribute their map content to consumers using Google’s cloud infrastructure. Frank Biasi, Director of Digital Development at National Geographic Maps, tells us how his organization is participating in the public data program and sharing over 500 maps to the world.

Why are maps important for National Geographic?
Founded in 1888, National Geographic Society aims to inspire people to care about the planet. As one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, we’ve funded more than 10,000 research, conservation and exploration projects. Maps and geography are integral to everything we do; it’s even part of our name. Over our long history, we’ve created and published more than 800 reference, historic and travel maps.


Medieval England (1979)


Dominican Republic: Adventure Map

Why did you want to take part in the Google Enterprise Maps public data program?
People have collected our magazine fold-out maps for over a hundred years, and many of those maps are sequestered away in attics and garages. The public data program gives us the opportunity to release our amazing map collection to the wider world.

We will also use Maps Engine to overlay our maps with interactive editorial content, so the maps can “tell stories” and raise awareness about environmental issues and historic events. Anyone will be able to access our free public maps, but we also plan to sell or license high-resolution and print versions to raise funds for our nonprofit mission.

Why did you choose to work with Google and not another maps technology partner?
We needed a high-performance mapping platform to produce and publish hundreds of interactive maps. We also wanted a relatively simple web-based workflow that could be used by non-technical employees and wouldn’t require any programming or desktop software. Google Maps Engine offers a good blend of robust technology and simple usability. Of course, Google will also help our maps get discovered by more people, including National Geographic fans, students and educators and travelers. We expect travel and home decor businesses, publishers and brand marketers will also want to buy or license them.

Which Google Maps Engine advanced tools do you use the most?
We use all the features. We load data, create layers, combine layers into maps, publish individual layers as maps and integrate multiple maps. We use both the raster and vector capabilities to put descriptors, links, pop-ups and thumbnails on top of maps. For example, we could use Maps Engine to add articles, photography and information from National Geographic expeditions to our ocean maps. These interactive maps, which we can display in 2D or 3D using Maps Engine, will allow people to follow along with expeditions as they unfold or retrace past expeditions.

What’s the most exciting thing about participating in the Google Maps Engine public data program?
Google Maps Engine lets us turn our maps into interactive full-screen images that can be panned and zoomed and overlaid with tons of great data. We are proud of our century-long cartographic tradition. The Maps Engine public data program will help get our maps out into the world where more people can enjoy and learn from them.

Posted by Frank Biasi, Director of Digital Development, National Geographic Maps]]>

(Cross-posted from the Google Enterprise Blog)

Editor's note: Today’s guest blog is about the newly launched Google Maps Engine public data program, which lets organizations distribute their map content to consumers using Google’s cloud infrastructure. Frank Biasi, Director of Digital Development at National Geographic Maps, tells us how his organization is participating in the public data program and sharing over 500 maps to the world.

Why are maps important for National Geographic?
Founded in 1888, National Geographic Society aims to inspire people to care about the planet. As one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, we’ve funded more than 10,000 research, conservation and exploration projects. Maps and geography are integral to everything we do; it’s even part of our name. Over our long history, we’ve created and published more than 800 reference, historic and travel maps.


Medieval England (1979)


Dominican Republic: Adventure Map

Why did you want to take part in the Google Enterprise Maps public data program?
People have collected our magazine fold-out maps for over a hundred years, and many of those maps are sequestered away in attics and garages. The public data program gives us the opportunity to release our amazing map collection to the wider world.

We will also use Maps Engine to overlay our maps with interactive editorial content, so the maps can “tell stories” and raise awareness about environmental issues and historic events. Anyone will be able to access our free public maps, but we also plan to sell or license high-resolution and print versions to raise funds for our nonprofit mission.

Why did you choose to work with Google and not another maps technology partner?
We needed a high-performance mapping platform to produce and publish hundreds of interactive maps. We also wanted a relatively simple web-based workflow that could be used by non-technical employees and wouldn’t require any programming or desktop software. Google Maps Engine offers a good blend of robust technology and simple usability. Of course, Google will also help our maps get discovered by more people, including National Geographic fans, students and educators and travelers. We expect travel and home decor businesses, publishers and brand marketers will also want to buy or license them.

Which Google Maps Engine advanced tools do you use the most?
We use all the features. We load data, create layers, combine layers into maps, publish individual layers as maps and integrate multiple maps. We use both the raster and vector capabilities to put descriptors, links, pop-ups and thumbnails on top of maps. For example, we could use Maps Engine to add articles, photography and information from National Geographic expeditions to our ocean maps. These interactive maps, which we can display in 2D or 3D using Maps Engine, will allow people to follow along with expeditions as they unfold or retrace past expeditions.

What’s the most exciting thing about participating in the Google Maps Engine public data program?
Google Maps Engine lets us turn our maps into interactive full-screen images that can be panned and zoomed and overlaid with tons of great data. We are proud of our century-long cartographic tradition. The Maps Engine public data program will help get our maps out into the world where more people can enjoy and learn from them.

Posted by Frank Biasi, Director of Digital Development, National Geographic Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/national-geographic-shares-rich-map-content-with-the-world-via-google-maps-engine-2/feed/ 0 Join Santa and his elves in the countdown to Christmas Eve https://googledata.org/google-earth/join-santa-and-his-elves-in-the-countdown-to-christmas-eve/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=join-santa-and-his-elves-in-the-countdown-to-christmas-eve https://googledata.org/google-earth/join-santa-and-his-elves-in-the-countdown-to-christmas-eve/#comments Wed, 04 Dec 2013 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7eded9c93eac151cd796b8f91117aa65 After 11 months soaking up the sun in the tropics, Santa and his elves are back at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas Eve. In addition to making toys, they need to clear the snow off 23 elf homes, candy factories and command centers in Santa’s Village.


Santa's jet-skiing all the way to the North Pole from his tropical vacation

To join in the flurry of preparations for Christmas Eve, visit the Village every day through December 24. You'll have the chance to join the elves as they catapult presents and race with reindeer—and you'll be able to send holiday wishes to friends and family from Santa himself. The elves make a little more progress each day, so be sure to stop by the Village to see the latest.

Come back to Santa's Village every day to see the newest games and scenes

Meanwhile, a team of Google engineers are working hard to track Santa’s sleigh with the most advanced maps and holiday technology available. On December 24, grab some cookies and apple cider and settle down in front of your computer, phone or TV to follow the big guy across the globe with our Santa Tracker. See where Santa’s going, the number of presents he’s delivered, and what he’s thinking throughout the evening.

Keep up the holiday cheer across all of your screens. Once the elves approve, we’ll launch the Google Santa Tracker app for Android in mid-December. Use your phone for on-the-go flight practice with the elves or cozy up near the fireplace with your tablet to follow Santa around the world as he delivers presents Christmas Eve. If you have Chromecast, cast from the Santa Tracker Android app to explore the Village or track his route right from your TV. Worried you’ll forget the big day? Download the Chrome extension to count down to Santa’s takeoff while browsing the web for holiday gifts.

Help the elves get ready across all your devices


Download the Chrome extension for easy Santa tracking from your browser

Be sure to come back to Santa’s Village each day to find new ways to celebrate—and from all of us at Google, happy holidays!

Posted by Sandy Russell, Elf Creative Director]]> After 11 months soaking up the sun in the tropics, Santa and his elves are back at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas Eve. In addition to making toys, they need to clear the snow off 23 elf homes, candy factories and command centers in Santa’s Village.


Santa's jet-skiing all the way to the North Pole from his tropical vacation

To join in the flurry of preparations for Christmas Eve, visit the Village every day through December 24. You'll have the chance to join the elves as they catapult presents and race with reindeer—and you'll be able to send holiday wishes to friends and family from Santa himself. The elves make a little more progress each day, so be sure to stop by the Village to see the latest.

Come back to Santa's Village every day to see the newest games and scenes

Meanwhile, a team of Google engineers are working hard to track Santa’s sleigh with the most advanced maps and holiday technology available. On December 24, grab some cookies and apple cider and settle down in front of your computer, phone or TV to follow the big guy across the globe with our Santa Tracker. See where Santa’s going, the number of presents he’s delivered, and what he’s thinking throughout the evening.

Keep up the holiday cheer across all of your screens. Once the elves approve, we’ll launch the Google Santa Tracker app for Android in mid-December. Use your phone for on-the-go flight practice with the elves or cozy up near the fireplace with your tablet to follow Santa around the world as he delivers presents Christmas Eve. If you have Chromecast, cast from the Santa Tracker Android app to explore the Village or track his route right from your TV. Worried you’ll forget the big day? Download the Chrome extension to count down to Santa’s takeoff while browsing the web for holiday gifts.

Help the elves get ready across all your devices


Download the Chrome extension for easy Santa tracking from your browser

Be sure to come back to Santa’s Village each day to find new ways to celebrate—and from all of us at Google, happy holidays!

Posted by Sandy Russell, Elf Creative Director]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/join-santa-and-his-elves-in-the-countdown-to-christmas-eve/feed/ 0 Take off for the holidays with Google Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-off-for-the-holidays-with-google-street-view/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-off-for-the-holidays-with-google-street-view https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-off-for-the-holidays-with-google-street-view/#comments Tue, 26 Nov 2013 02:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c30b5af14cdc54f4d6ee5f003977b951 Whether it’s touring the canals of Venice, swimming with the seals in the Galapagos or climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Street View has taken you to some of the most beautiful and exciting places around the world.

Now, in addition to scoping out your destination, Street View can help you cut down the stress of traveling by giving you a preview of your journey, too. Our first efforts to map global transit locations include 16 international airports, over 50 train and subway stations, and even a cable car station in Hong Kong.


Here’s an interactive map so you can see the new Street View transit locations worldwide.

Now you can visit the check-in counter of your airline in Madrid, map out the way from baggage claim to the bus at Tokyo International Airport and check out where to pick up your rental car at Eindhoven Airport; you can even scope out your seat on an Emirates flight from Dubai!

Or, if you’re planning to take the train, navigate through Waterloo station so you can be one step ahead, whether you’re with a group of friends, family or a baby stroller.






Don’t let travel logistics get you down this holiday season. With Street View, you can see how to get where you’re going faster and easier. Enjoy and safe travels!

Posted by Ulf Spitzer, Google Street View Program Manager]]> Whether it’s touring the canals of Venice, swimming with the seals in the Galapagos or climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Street View has taken you to some of the most beautiful and exciting places around the world.

Now, in addition to scoping out your destination, Street View can help you cut down the stress of traveling by giving you a preview of your journey, too. Our first efforts to map global transit locations include 16 international airports, over 50 train and subway stations, and even a cable car station in Hong Kong.


Here’s an interactive map so you can see the new Street View transit locations worldwide.

Now you can visit the check-in counter of your airline in Madrid, map out the way from baggage claim to the bus at Tokyo International Airport and check out where to pick up your rental car at Eindhoven Airport; you can even scope out your seat on an Emirates flight from Dubai!

Or, if you’re planning to take the train, navigate through Waterloo station so you can be one step ahead, whether you’re with a group of friends, family or a baby stroller.






Don’t let travel logistics get you down this holiday season. With Street View, you can see how to get where you’re going faster and easier. Enjoy and safe travels!

Posted by Ulf Spitzer, Google Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-off-for-the-holidays-with-google-street-view/feed/ 0 Take a hike with Street View through U.S. National Parks and Parks Canada https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-hike-with-street-view-through-u-s-national-parks-and-parks-canada/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-a-hike-with-street-view-through-u-s-national-parks-and-parks-canada https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-hike-with-street-view-through-u-s-national-parks-and-parks-canada/#comments Wed, 20 Nov 2013 11:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=38e7ecb050c7c6ed9c05bcd426efa752 What do tents and hiking boots have in common? You don’t need either to start exploring or planning your next adventure to some of the best national parks and historical sites across North America.

Working with the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada, our Street View cars, trikes and Trekker mapped more than 44 locations with beautiful, 360 degree panoramas.

Leave your gear behind and still get a chance to marvel at the Sequoias in California. Or perhaps you’re looking for more adventure? Lookout to Signal Mountain in Wyoming’s Grand Tetons, climb around California’s Joshua Tree National Park, or dip your toe into Moraine Lake in Banff, Canada.

Moraine Lake’s beautiful color comes from the light reflecting off rock flour at the bottom of the lake. (Wikipedia)

Getting tired? Take a break to watch the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world.

Old Faithful’s eruptions last 1 1/2 to 5 minutes, expel up to 8,400 gallons of boiling water, and can be as high as 184 feet. (Yellowstone National Park)

Or, let your inner history buff come out to explore monuments and fortresses across North America.

Brush up presidential facts as you check out the Lincoln Memorial or get a closer look at US presidents at Mount Rushmore. Take a moment to “Remember the Alamo” as you visit this battlefield in Texas or step inside the Halifax Citadel to investigate the city’s role as a key naval station in the British Empire. For a selection of our favorites, check out the Views collection.

Fifty-six pillars and a pair of small triumphal arches surrounding a plaza and fountain make up the humbling World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Take a moment to remember those that served at the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Whether you’re planning your next adventure or just looking to be inspired by the beauty of the world from the comfort of your living room, we invite you to head over to Google Maps and let Pegman be your virtual guide to Street View. We hope you enjoy exploring the majestic scenery of North America’s national parks and monuments.

Posted by Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> What do tents and hiking boots have in common? You don’t need either to start exploring or planning your next adventure to some of the best national parks and historical sites across North America.

Working with the U.S. National Park Service and Parks Canada, our Street View cars, trikes and Trekker mapped more than 44 locations with beautiful, 360 degree panoramas.

Leave your gear behind and still get a chance to marvel at the Sequoias in California. Or perhaps you’re looking for more adventure? Lookout to Signal Mountain in Wyoming’s Grand Tetons, climb around California’s Joshua Tree National Park, or dip your toe into Moraine Lake in Banff, Canada.

Moraine Lake’s beautiful color comes from the light reflecting off rock flour at the bottom of the lake. (Wikipedia)

Getting tired? Take a break to watch the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world.

Old Faithful’s eruptions last 1 1/2 to 5 minutes, expel up to 8,400 gallons of boiling water, and can be as high as 184 feet. (Yellowstone National Park)

Or, let your inner history buff come out to explore monuments and fortresses across North America.

Brush up presidential facts as you check out the Lincoln Memorial or get a closer look at US presidents at Mount Rushmore. Take a moment to “Remember the Alamo” as you visit this battlefield in Texas or step inside the Halifax Citadel to investigate the city’s role as a key naval station in the British Empire. For a selection of our favorites, check out the Views collection.

Fifty-six pillars and a pair of small triumphal arches surrounding a plaza and fountain make up the humbling World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Take a moment to remember those that served at the Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Whether you’re planning your next adventure or just looking to be inspired by the beauty of the world from the comfort of your living room, we invite you to head over to Google Maps and let Pegman be your virtual guide to Street View. We hope you enjoy exploring the majestic scenery of North America’s national parks and monuments.

Posted by Evan Rapoport, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-hike-with-street-view-through-u-s-national-parks-and-parks-canada/feed/ 0 Meet nonprofits using “Geo for Good” https://googledata.org/google-earth/meet-nonprofits-using-geo-for-good/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-nonprofits-using-geo-for-good https://googledata.org/google-earth/meet-nonprofits-using-geo-for-good/#comments Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:30:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=9fb42f68c883f681c6b86bef3720b6f3 This week, we are excited to welcome this year’s group of nonprofit mapping specialists to the annual Geo for Good User Summit – a workshop hosted by the Google Earth Outreach team. The 4-day intensive workshop gives these do-gooder techies hands-on technical training with Google mapping tools and guidance with their projects. Out of the 75 participating organizations this year, there are some truly amazing stories to tell.

One of the attendees, Devin Dotson, is from the nonprofit American Rivers, focused on protecting and restoring the rivers of the United States. American Rivers uses maps to help tell the story of river conservation across the nation. Most recently, American Rivers made their annual announcement of the 10 rivers that are America’s Most Endangered Rivers in 2013. To illustrate these rivers, they released this map in the Google Earth Gallery, built using a Google Maps Engine software grant. The map allows the public to explore the map of the rivers and learn more about how to get involved by clicking each river.


Another Geo for Good participant is Lilian Pintea from the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI). Lilian will be sharing JGI’s story about how they’ve used mapping technology on mobile devices to monitor chimpanzee populations, habitats and human threats with local communities in Tanzania. Using this data, JGI is able to engage local communities in protecting chimpanzees and share real-time information with the world through dynamic web maps using App Engine, Fusion Tables, Google Maps API, and Open Data Kit (ODK).


Learn how the Jane Goodall Institute uses Google mapping technology to protect chimpanzees

Returning to the Summit from last year is Daniel Orellana, representing the Charles Darwin Foundation. It was during last year’s Summit that Daniel was inspired to suggest that Charles Darwin Foundation work with Google Earth Outreach to bring Street View to the Galapagos. Since the imagery was launched in September, the Charles Darwin Foundation has been working on projects to use the images for science, conservation and education. One of these projects is Darwin for a Day, which allows the public to help identify plants and animals observed when navigating through the imagery.

Daniel Orellana of Charles Darwin Foundation wearing the Street View Trekker to capture Galapagos’s volcanic beauty

To learn about Google Earth Outreach and how you can use maps to make the world a better place, head to the Google Earth Outreach website. To find out about next year’s Geo for Good or other mapping workshops, follow Google Earth Outreach on Twitter.

Raleigh Seamster, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach]]> This week, we are excited to welcome this year’s group of nonprofit mapping specialists to the annual Geo for Good User Summit – a workshop hosted by the Google Earth Outreach team. The 4-day intensive workshop gives these do-gooder techies hands-on technical training with Google mapping tools and guidance with their projects. Out of the 75 participating organizations this year, there are some truly amazing stories to tell.

One of the attendees, Devin Dotson, is from the nonprofit American Rivers, focused on protecting and restoring the rivers of the United States. American Rivers uses maps to help tell the story of river conservation across the nation. Most recently, American Rivers made their annual announcement of the 10 rivers that are America’s Most Endangered Rivers in 2013. To illustrate these rivers, they released this map in the Google Earth Gallery, built using a Google Maps Engine software grant. The map allows the public to explore the map of the rivers and learn more about how to get involved by clicking each river.


Another Geo for Good participant is Lilian Pintea from the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI). Lilian will be sharing JGI’s story about how they’ve used mapping technology on mobile devices to monitor chimpanzee populations, habitats and human threats with local communities in Tanzania. Using this data, JGI is able to engage local communities in protecting chimpanzees and share real-time information with the world through dynamic web maps using App Engine, Fusion Tables, Google Maps API, and Open Data Kit (ODK).


Learn how the Jane Goodall Institute uses Google mapping technology to protect chimpanzees

Returning to the Summit from last year is Daniel Orellana, representing the Charles Darwin Foundation. It was during last year’s Summit that Daniel was inspired to suggest that Charles Darwin Foundation work with Google Earth Outreach to bring Street View to the Galapagos. Since the imagery was launched in September, the Charles Darwin Foundation has been working on projects to use the images for science, conservation and education. One of these projects is Darwin for a Day, which allows the public to help identify plants and animals observed when navigating through the imagery.

Daniel Orellana of Charles Darwin Foundation wearing the Street View Trekker to capture Galapagos’s volcanic beauty

To learn about Google Earth Outreach and how you can use maps to make the world a better place, head to the Google Earth Outreach website. To find out about next year’s Geo for Good or other mapping workshops, follow Google Earth Outreach on Twitter.

Raleigh Seamster, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/meet-nonprofits-using-geo-for-good/feed/ 0 From where you are to where you want to go https://googledata.org/google-earth/from-where-you-are-to-where-you-want-to-go/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-where-you-are-to-where-you-want-to-go https://googledata.org/google-earth/from-where-you-are-to-where-you-want-to-go/#comments Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:12:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=5e6af2c83d649fff3767e1b44b18016c As you gear up for the holidays, you can easily plan your vacation with the new Google Maps for desktop. With the latest updates, Earth Tours will take you on a virtual trip through cities and natural wonders in full 3D, while Street View imagery and real time traffic incidents will help to ensure smooth travels.

Explore the world with Pegman
Street View’s comprehensive imagery has always been a great way to preview your destination before arriving, but it's equally helpful when deciding where you want to go. Thanks to your feedback, we’ve made it easier to find where Street View is available, so you can explore locations in over 50 countries around the globe.

To discover a world of imagery at your fingertips, look no further than Pegman – your guide through Street View – who you can find in the lower right corner of the screen. Click on Pegman, and areas with Street View imagery will light up in blue. For a street-level preview, hover over any highlighted road, then click to dive into that location.

To see a preview before you go, click on the highlighted map

As you zoom in, you’ll also see blue circles indicating where you can find user-uploaded photos, including Photo Spheres – immersive, 360º panoramas taken from land, air, and sea. Click on a yellow circle to see inside restaurants, museums, and more. With these features, you can explore an increasing variety of locations, inside and out.

And for the Pegman fans out there, you know he's a globetrotter. Jump over to Google+ now to submit your idea for his next adventure!

New blue and yellow circles show you where to find user-uploaded images and indoor photos

Get a bird’s-eye view with Earth Tours
Explore beautiful, 3D imagery of buildings and terrain for thousands of locations from above with Earth Tours available right in your browser.* Wherever you see the Earth Tour icon, you can click, sit back, and get a virtual tour from a soaring angle. Dive into Boston or circle the Alps.

*Available on WebGL-enabled browsers, like Chrome.

Get a 3D experience wherever you see the Earth Tour icon

Navigate the roads with confidence
Maneuvering an unfamiliar route can be tricky when turns, exits, or tolls appear without warning. With the new step-by-step preview, you can see a street-level snapshot of each decision point to know exactly where you’re going and what to expect. Just click “Preview steps” from the directions card and advance through for a quick study of your trip, including transfers for transit.

Click on the thumbnail in the directions preview for a closer look

Save time commuting and navigate the roads accurately with traffic incident reports – available on desktop and mobile. When you search for driving directions, you’ll now see congestion along the route and real time incidents on the map, including data reported by Waze.

Know the road conditions before you leave

These tools are designed to help you explore and effectively navigate your world. If you’ve opted into the new Google Maps preview, these features will start rolling out today – and in the coming weeks, more of you will begin to see the new Maps experience, which you can tour below.



Posted by Kelvin Ho, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> As you gear up for the holidays, you can easily plan your vacation with the new Google Maps for desktop. With the latest updates, Earth Tours will take you on a virtual trip through cities and natural wonders in full 3D, while Street View imagery and real time traffic incidents will help to ensure smooth travels.

Explore the world with Pegman
Street View’s comprehensive imagery has always been a great way to preview your destination before arriving, but it's equally helpful when deciding where you want to go. Thanks to your feedback, we’ve made it easier to find where Street View is available, so you can explore locations in over 50 countries around the globe.

To discover a world of imagery at your fingertips, look no further than Pegman – your guide through Street View – who you can find in the lower right corner of the screen. Click on Pegman, and areas with Street View imagery will light up in blue. For a street-level preview, hover over any highlighted road, then click to dive into that location.

To see a preview before you go, click on the highlighted map

As you zoom in, you’ll also see blue circles indicating where you can find user-uploaded photos, including Photo Spheres – immersive, 360º panoramas taken from land, air, and sea. Click on a yellow circle to see inside restaurants, museums, and more. With these features, you can explore an increasing variety of locations, inside and out.

And for the Pegman fans out there, you know he's a globetrotter. Jump over to Google+ now to submit your idea for his next adventure!

New blue and yellow circles show you where to find user-uploaded images and indoor photos

Get a bird’s-eye view with Earth Tours
Explore beautiful, 3D imagery of buildings and terrain for thousands of locations from above with Earth Tours available right in your browser.* Wherever you see the Earth Tour icon, you can click, sit back, and get a virtual tour from a soaring angle. Dive into Boston or circle the Alps.

*Available on WebGL-enabled browsers, like Chrome.

Get a 3D experience wherever you see the Earth Tour icon

Navigate the roads with confidence
Maneuvering an unfamiliar route can be tricky when turns, exits, or tolls appear without warning. With the new step-by-step preview, you can see a street-level snapshot of each decision point to know exactly where you’re going and what to expect. Just click “Preview steps” from the directions card and advance through for a quick study of your trip, including transfers for transit.

Click on the thumbnail in the directions preview for a closer look

Save time commuting and navigate the roads accurately with traffic incident reports – available on desktop and mobile. When you search for driving directions, you’ll now see congestion along the route and real time incidents on the map, including data reported by Waze.

Know the road conditions before you leave

These tools are designed to help you explore and effectively navigate your world. If you’ve opted into the new Google Maps preview, these features will start rolling out today – and in the coming weeks, more of you will begin to see the new Maps experience, which you can tour below.



Posted by Kelvin Ho, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/from-where-you-are-to-where-you-want-to-go/feed/ 0 Introducing Google Maps Engine Pro: Helping businesses create, visualize and share their data on a map https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-google-maps-engine-pro-helping-businesses-create-visualize-and-share-their-data-on-a-map/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=introducing-google-maps-engine-pro-helping-businesses-create-visualize-and-share-their-data-on-a-map https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-google-maps-engine-pro-helping-businesses-create-visualize-and-share-their-data-on-a-map/#comments Mon, 21 Oct 2013 21:32:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=ad31c6e4a6ab62b421eba218a8fa52cc (Cross-posted on the Google Enterpise Blog)

Maps are a part of our daily lives—from finding the best local Italian restaurant to planning a trip abroad. Maps are also a valuable tool in the workplace. Businesses use maps to help customers easily find their store locations or help travelers get to their final destination.

Today we’re announcing a new professional mapping tool, Google Maps Engine Pro, which lets businesses visualize their data on a map. By importing data like addresses, names, office locations and sales leads from various file formats onto a map, businesses can edit, analyze and share their information in a simple format. Google Maps Engine Pro can be as easy to use as creating a document and it gives businesses an added productivity tool to help make decisions, organize information, and plan operations using Google Maps.

With the ability to collect business information, visualize it on a map and share it across multiple devices, organizations can make better sense of data in relation to real-world surroundings. For example, Pure Fix Cycles, a distributor of custom, fixed gear bikes, uses Maps Engine Pro to identify sales opportunities across target markets, helping to expand their business throughout the U.S. and around the world.


Google Maps Engine Pro was built as an application on top of the Google Maps Engine platform, which provides businesses with cloud based technology to help them organize large datasets and create more complex maps. Today, in addition to introducing Maps Engine Pro, we’re also announcing several new features to Google Maps Engine:
  • Mobile App: The new mobile app allows individuals to access their maps created in Google Maps Engine, Maps Engine Pro and Maps Engine Lite. Once a map has been shared, users can access their data on-the-go and from any Android device.
  • Connector Tools: It’s now easy to migrate data from legacy systems, such as SAP, into Maps Engine using a connector tool that can be downloaded for free. There are more than 300+ business and geospatial applications available through the connector. To make data migration even easier, the Maps Engine now features an ESRI Toolbar that lets you transfer your ArcGIS maps to Maps Engine.
  • Introductory Account: Want to test out Google Maps Engine for your business? The introductory account is an easy way to introduce Maps Engine to your organization’s geospatial infrastructure. The free account supports the product’s full platform capabilities, including API access, but limits the number of map queries per day.
By providing better ways to easily integrate maps into your organization’s operations, businesses now have the ability to use powerful mapping technologies that were once only available to the mapping experts. With the launch of Google Maps Engine Pro and the new Google Maps Engine platform features, now every enterprise and business professional can visualize their data on a map.
Posted by Brian McClendon]]> (Cross-posted on the Google Enterpise Blog)

Maps are a part of our daily lives—from finding the best local Italian restaurant to planning a trip abroad. Maps are also a valuable tool in the workplace. Businesses use maps to help customers easily find their store locations or help travelers get to their final destination.

Today we’re announcing a new professional mapping tool, Google Maps Engine Pro, which lets businesses visualize their data on a map. By importing data like addresses, names, office locations and sales leads from various file formats onto a map, businesses can edit, analyze and share their information in a simple format. Google Maps Engine Pro can be as easy to use as creating a document and it gives businesses an added productivity tool to help make decisions, organize information, and plan operations using Google Maps.

With the ability to collect business information, visualize it on a map and share it across multiple devices, organizations can make better sense of data in relation to real-world surroundings. For example, Pure Fix Cycles, a distributor of custom, fixed gear bikes, uses Maps Engine Pro to identify sales opportunities across target markets, helping to expand their business throughout the U.S. and around the world.


Google Maps Engine Pro was built as an application on top of the Google Maps Engine platform, which provides businesses with cloud based technology to help them organize large datasets and create more complex maps. Today, in addition to introducing Maps Engine Pro, we’re also announcing several new features to Google Maps Engine:
  • Mobile App: The new mobile app allows individuals to access their maps created in Google Maps Engine, Maps Engine Pro and Maps Engine Lite. Once a map has been shared, users can access their data on-the-go and from any Android device.
  • Connector Tools: It’s now easy to migrate data from legacy systems, such as SAP, into Maps Engine using a connector tool that can be downloaded for free. There are more than 300+ business and geospatial applications available through the connector. To make data migration even easier, the Maps Engine now features an ESRI Toolbar that lets you transfer your ArcGIS maps to Maps Engine.
  • Introductory Account: Want to test out Google Maps Engine for your business? The introductory account is an easy way to introduce Maps Engine to your organization’s geospatial infrastructure. The free account supports the product’s full platform capabilities, including API access, but limits the number of map queries per day.
By providing better ways to easily integrate maps into your organization’s operations, businesses now have the ability to use powerful mapping technologies that were once only available to the mapping experts. With the launch of Google Maps Engine Pro and the new Google Maps Engine platform features, now every enterprise and business professional can visualize their data on a map.
Posted by Brian McClendon ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/introducing-google-maps-engine-pro-helping-businesses-create-visualize-and-share-their-data-on-a-map/feed/ 0 A long way home with help from Google Earth https://googledata.org/google-maps/a-long-way-home-with-help-from-google-earth-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-long-way-home-with-help-from-google-earth-2 https://googledata.org/google-maps/a-long-way-home-with-help-from-google-earth-2/#comments Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:09:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=1ce9f5f901b146951db75ff247a77827 [Cross posted from the Official Google Blog]

In 1986, a five-year-old boy named Saroo Munshi Khan accidentally fell asleep on a stationary train in India. He woke up hours later, alone and in an unfamiliar place. This fateful train ride ripped Saroo away from his home and family. For more than a quarter century, he searched for them before finding his way back home with the help of Google Earth.

This incredible true story spans decades, miles and continents. If it weren’t for hope, determination and technology, Saroo would have remained forever lost.


On that day 27 years ago, Saroo and his 14-year-old brother, Guddu, were searching a train station for change to help support their family. Guddu wandered beyond the station and Saroo fell asleep on a stationary train waiting for his brother’s return. When he woke up, the train had left the station, separating Saroo from his home and family.

The train Saroo boarded was in Berhanpur, India, and he ended up 1,500 kilometers away, in Calcutta. For weeks, he survived on the streets. Eventually, he was taken into an orphanage, where he was adopted by the Brierleys, an Australian family. He moved across an ocean to the town of Hobart in Tasmania. At six years old, Saroo had a new family, home, country and name. Though Saroo Munshi Khan couldn’t find his home, Saroo Brierley never gave up the search.

In 2011, using vague memories and Google Earth imagery, Saroo identified his home town. Using the ruler feature in Google Earth, he mapped out a search radius by making an educated guess about how far he traveled by train. After countless hours of scouring this area of Google Earth imagery, he came upon a proverbial needle in a haystack. Saroo spotted one vague landmark that led him to the next, helping him unlock a five-year-old child’s memories. He eventually spotted a neighborhood, street and tin roof that looked familiar.

In Saroo's words, "It was just like being Superman. You are able to go over and take a photo mentally and ask, 'Does this match?' And when you say, 'No,' you keep on going and going and going."

In 2012, Saroo embarked on a trip from Australia back to Khandwa, India. Once he arrived, he shared his story with locals, who helped him find his way back home to his mother and surviving brother and sister. Twenty-six years after accidentally leaving home, he finally found his way back.


The Google Earth imagery that brought Saroo home.
Maps can affect our lives in many ways, big and small—but hopefully they always help us find our way. You can now read Saroo’s book, “A Long Way Home,” for a detailed account of his journey of survival and triumph against incredible odds. It celebrates the importance of never letting go of what drives the human spirit—hope.

Posted by Peter Birch, Google Earth Product Manager]]> [Cross posted from the Official Google Blog]

In 1986, a five-year-old boy named Saroo Munshi Khan accidentally fell asleep on a stationary train in India. He woke up hours later, alone and in an unfamiliar place. This fateful train ride ripped Saroo away from his home and family. For more than a quarter century, he searched for them before finding his way back home with the help of Google Earth.

This incredible true story spans decades, miles and continents. If it weren’t for hope, determination and technology, Saroo would have remained forever lost.


On that day 27 years ago, Saroo and his 14-year-old brother, Guddu, were searching a train station for change to help support their family. Guddu wandered beyond the station and Saroo fell asleep on a stationary train waiting for his brother’s return. When he woke up, the train had left the station, separating Saroo from his home and family.

The train Saroo boarded was in Berhanpur, India, and he ended up 1,500 kilometers away, in Calcutta. For weeks, he survived on the streets. Eventually, he was taken into an orphanage, where he was adopted by the Brierleys, an Australian family. He moved across an ocean to the town of Hobart in Tasmania. At six years old, Saroo had a new family, home, country and name. Though Saroo Munshi Khan couldn’t find his home, Saroo Brierley never gave up the search.

In 2011, using vague memories and Google Earth imagery, Saroo identified his home town. Using the ruler feature in Google Earth, he mapped out a search radius by making an educated guess about how far he traveled by train. After countless hours of scouring this area of Google Earth imagery, he came upon a proverbial needle in a haystack. Saroo spotted one vague landmark that led him to the next, helping him unlock a five-year-old child’s memories. He eventually spotted a neighborhood, street and tin roof that looked familiar.

In Saroo's words, "It was just like being Superman. You are able to go over and take a photo mentally and ask, 'Does this match?' And when you say, 'No,' you keep on going and going and going."

In 2012, Saroo embarked on a trip from Australia back to Khandwa, India. Once he arrived, he shared his story with locals, who helped him find his way back home to his mother and surviving brother and sister. Twenty-six years after accidentally leaving home, he finally found his way back.


The Google Earth imagery that brought Saroo home.

Maps can affect our lives in many ways, big and small—but hopefully they always help us find our way. You can now read Saroo’s book, “A Long Way Home,” for a detailed account of his journey of survival and triumph against incredible odds. It celebrates the importance of never letting go of what drives the human spirit—hope.

Posted by Peter Birch, Google Earth Product Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/a-long-way-home-with-help-from-google-earth-2/feed/ 0 Hit the road with the New Google Maps preview https://googledata.org/google-earth/hit-the-road-with-the-new-google-maps-preview/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hit-the-road-with-the-new-google-maps-preview https://googledata.org/google-earth/hit-the-road-with-the-new-google-maps-preview/#comments Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:29:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=a9f83aeab904fecb2f9fff95aff5fe58 Though summer has come to an end – at least in the Northern Hemisphere – your feedback on the new Google Maps preview these past three months has been a great help in our continuing quest to build a better map, more tailored to you. Based on your input, we’re pleased to announce one of your most requested features – directions for multiple destinations – will begin rolling out today. And with two new tools to help manage your reservations and discover upcoming events, it's never too early to plan your next road trip or adventure.

Directions for multiple destinations
Whether you’re running weekend errands or planning a cross-country tour, you can plot multiple destinations for your trip with ease – now available for driving, walking and biking directions. Once you’ve chosen a starting point, click '+' and add stops to your route by typing in the search box or clicking on the map.

Plan your next road trip with directions for multiple destinations

When you’re exploring a new city, find the best way to museums, historic squares, and other attractions by dragging and dropping your destinations in the order that works for you. And if you’re curious before you go, the Views carousel, located in the bottom right corner, is a great way to preview Street View, Photo Tours, and other imagery.

Re-order your route by dragging and dropping one destination above or below another

See your flight, hotel, and restaurant reservations
Similar to Google Search, find your flight, hotel, and restaurant reservations faster right in Maps. Just search for your departing airport or dining destination, and we’ll instantly show your upcoming plans. Having all your stuff in one place makes it easier to manage your appointment details and plan your commute. This info is available when you're signed into Google, and only you can see it.

Then, when you're ready to go, you can quickly access your recent search history on the Google Maps app for your iPhone or Android device and hit the road

This feature is currently rolling out to Maps users in the U.S. and is available in English only.

When signed into Google, locate your destination on desktop 
and access search history on mobile to quickly navigate there

Upcoming Events
Search for Radio City Music Hall, the O2 Arena, or your favorite local performance venues, and click
on the Upcoming Events card to see a schedule of concerts, sports matches, and other events happening near you. Or if you’re new to an area, start with "music venues."

See a schedule of performances and sports matches with the Upcoming Events card

It's been a busy summer for the Maps team, and we wanted to share a few things we've been working on, but there's a lot more coming soon. Keep sending us your feedback using the "Help & Feedback" menu in the upper right corner of the screen.

Posted by Florian Goerisch, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> Though summer has come to an end – at least in the Northern Hemisphere – your feedback on the new Google Maps preview these past three months has been a great help in our continuing quest to build a better map, more tailored to you. Based on your input, we’re pleased to announce one of your most requested features – directions for multiple destinations – will begin rolling out today. And with two new tools to help manage your reservations and discover upcoming events, it's never too early to plan your next road trip or adventure.

Directions for multiple destinations
Whether you’re running weekend errands or planning a cross-country tour, you can plot multiple destinations for your trip with ease – now available for driving, walking and biking directions. Once you’ve chosen a starting point, click '+' and add stops to your route by typing in the search box or clicking on the map.

Plan your next road trip with directions for multiple destinations

When you’re exploring a new city, find the best way to museums, historic squares, and other attractions by dragging and dropping your destinations in the order that works for you. And if you’re curious before you go, the Views carousel, located in the bottom right corner, is a great way to preview Street View, Photo Tours, and other imagery.

Re-order your route by dragging and dropping one destination above or below another

See your flight, hotel, and restaurant reservations
Similar to Google Search, find your flight, hotel, and restaurant reservations faster right in Maps. Just search for your departing airport or dining destination, and we’ll instantly show your upcoming plans. Having all your stuff in one place makes it easier to manage your appointment details and plan your commute. This info is available when you're signed into Google, and only you can see it.

Then, when you're ready to go, you can quickly access your recent search history on the Google Maps app for your iPhone or Android device and hit the road

This feature is currently rolling out to Maps users in the U.S. and is available in English only.

When signed into Google, locate your destination on desktop 
and access search history on mobile to quickly navigate there

Upcoming Events
Search for Radio City Music Hall, the O2 Arena, or your favorite local performance venues, and click
on the Upcoming Events card to see a schedule of concerts, sports matches, and other events happening near you. Or if you’re new to an area, start with "music venues."

See a schedule of performances and sports matches with the Upcoming Events card

It's been a busy summer for the Maps team, and we wanted to share a few things we've been working on, but there's a lot more coming soon. Keep sending us your feedback using the "Help & Feedback" menu in the upper right corner of the screen.

Posted by Florian Goerisch, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/hit-the-road-with-the-new-google-maps-preview/feed/ 0 Street View arrives at CERN https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-arrives-at-cern/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=street-view-arrives-at-cern https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-arrives-at-cern/#comments Thu, 26 Sep 2013 16:16:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=0f1216b4e71480ac6002bce77db92314 At CERN, the European particle physics laboratory based in the suburbs of Geneva, some of the world’s best physicists and engineers are using advanced particle accelerators to help solve age old questions about the universe — What is is made of? How did it start?

We’re delighted that CERN opened its doors to Google Maps Street View allowing anyone, anywhere in the world to take a peek into its laboratories, control centers and its myriad underground tunnels housing cutting-edge experiments. Street View also lets scientists working on the experiments, who may be on the other side of the world, explore the equipment they're using.

This is the Large Hadron Collider. The LHC beauty experiment will shed light on why we live in a universe that appears to be composed almost entirely of matter, but no antimatter. Learn more here.

This is the the 7000-tonne ATLAS detector. From a cavern 100 metres below a small Swiss village, it’s probing for fundamental particles including the Higgs Boson.

ALICE is a heavy-ion detector on the Large Hadron Collider ring. It's designed to study the physics of strongly interacting matter at extreme energy densities, where a phase of matter called quark-gluon plasma forms.

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is a general-purpose detector at the Large Hadron Collider. It's designed to investigate a wide range of physics, including the search for the Higgs boson, extra dimensions, and particles that could make up dark matter.

For two full weeks back in 2011, members of our Street View team from Google’s Zurich office worked with our CERN partners to capture this incredible imagery. You can check out the above experiments, like ATLAS, ALICE, CMS, LHCb and the Large Hadron Collider tunnel in Google Maps, as well as collections of other Street View imagery from amazing sites around the world, on our Views site.

You can also learn more about CERN by following its Google+ page.

Posted by Pascale Milite, Google Street View operations]]> At CERN, the European particle physics laboratory based in the suburbs of Geneva, some of the world’s best physicists and engineers are using advanced particle accelerators to help solve age old questions about the universe — What is is made of? How did it start?

We’re delighted that CERN opened its doors to Google Maps Street View allowing anyone, anywhere in the world to take a peek into its laboratories, control centers and its myriad underground tunnels housing cutting-edge experiments. Street View also lets scientists working on the experiments, who may be on the other side of the world, explore the equipment they're using.

This is the Large Hadron Collider. The LHC beauty experiment will shed light on why we live in a universe that appears to be composed almost entirely of matter, but no antimatter. Learn more here.

This is the the 7000-tonne ATLAS detector. From a cavern 100 metres below a small Swiss village, it’s probing for fundamental particles including the Higgs Boson.

ALICE is a heavy-ion detector on the Large Hadron Collider ring. It's designed to study the physics of strongly interacting matter at extreme energy densities, where a phase of matter called quark-gluon plasma forms.

The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is a general-purpose detector at the Large Hadron Collider. It's designed to investigate a wide range of physics, including the search for the Higgs boson, extra dimensions, and particles that could make up dark matter.

For two full weeks back in 2011, members of our Street View team from Google’s Zurich office worked with our CERN partners to capture this incredible imagery. You can check out the above experiments, like ATLAS, ALICE, CMS, LHCb and the Large Hadron Collider tunnel in Google Maps, as well as collections of other Street View imagery from amazing sites around the world, on our Views site.

You can also learn more about CERN by following its Google+ page.

Posted by Pascale Milite, Google Street View operations]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-arrives-at-cern/feed/ 0