Google Data » Google Earth https://googledata.org Everything Google: News, Products, Services, Content, Culture Tue, 10 Jan 2017 00:16:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.13 Try these new Google Maps voice commands on your next road trip https://googledata.org/google-earth/try-these-new-google-maps-voice-commands-on-your-next-road-trip/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/try-these-new-google-maps-voice-commands-on-your-next-road-trip/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=9f066dd0da7b23b6156850479a029783
For the ultimate hands-free and eyes-free experience, first make sure you’ve got the latest versions of the Google Maps app and Google app for Android. Then, the next time you enter navigation mode or driving mode, you can simply say “Ok Google” followed by a voice command, without needing to tap or even look at the screen. You’ll always know when voice commands can be used in Google Maps by looking for a white microphone icon in the top right corner.


When you say “Ok Google”, the microphone will activate and you’ll see a circle with bouncing dots – indicating that your voice command is being heard. For example, try saying “Ok Google, find gas stations”, and see what happens. You can tap the circle to cancel an ongoing command. If for some reason you want to use a non-hands-free alternative to saying “Ok Google”, tap the microphone and simply say “Find gas stations”.

To make sure you have things set up correctly, tap the overflow menu (the button with three dots), then tap “Settings”, and finally, tap ““Ok Google” detection”. The “While driving” setting allows you to say “Ok Google” during navigation in Google Maps. If you’d like to do this anywhere on your device, you’ll need to enable the “Always on” setting (on some devices, the setting is called “From any screen”). And if for some reason you’d like to turn off “Ok Google” detection entirely throughout your device, you can do so by toggling the settings to the off position.


Once you’re all set up, the possibilities are endless. In addition to tried-and-true voice commands like “What’s my next turn?” and “What’s my ETA?”, you can now do things like “Show / Hide traffic”, “Mute / Unmute voice guidance”, and even “Avoid tolls / highways / ferries”, with just the sound of your voice. If you anticipate traffic, you can say “How’s traffic ahead?” or “Show alternate routes”. And if you want to add a little fun to your drive, you can say “Play some jazz”, “Send a text”, or maybe even “Call mom”. Here’s a cheat sheet with more of the voice commands you can use in Google Maps. Safe driving, and happy road tripping!

Posted by Raghu Simha, Product Manager, Google Maps




]]>
For the ultimate hands-free and eyes-free experience, first make sure you’ve got the latest versions of the Google Maps app and Google app for Android. Then, the next time you enter navigation mode or driving mode, you can simply say “Ok Google” followed by a voice command, without needing to tap or even look at the screen. You’ll always know when voice commands can be used in Google Maps by looking for a white microphone icon in the top right corner.


When you say “Ok Google”, the microphone will activate and you’ll see a circle with bouncing dots – indicating that your voice command is being heard. For example, try saying “Ok Google, find gas stations”, and see what happens. You can tap the circle to cancel an ongoing command. If for some reason you want to use a non-hands-free alternative to saying “Ok Google”, tap the microphone and simply say “Find gas stations”.

To make sure you have things set up correctly, tap the overflow menu (the button with three dots), then tap “Settings”, and finally, tap ““Ok Google” detection”. The “While driving” setting allows you to say “Ok Google” during navigation in Google Maps. If you’d like to do this anywhere on your device, you’ll need to enable the “Always on” setting (on some devices, the setting is called “From any screen”). And if for some reason you’d like to turn off “Ok Google” detection entirely throughout your device, you can do so by toggling the settings to the off position.


Once you’re all set up, the possibilities are endless. In addition to tried-and-true voice commands like “What’s my next turn?” and “What’s my ETA?”, you can now do things like “Show / Hide traffic”, “Mute / Unmute voice guidance”, and even “Avoid tolls / highways / ferries”, with just the sound of your voice. If you anticipate traffic, you can say “How’s traffic ahead?” or “Show alternate routes”. And if you want to add a little fun to your drive, you can say “Play some jazz”, “Send a text”, or maybe even “Call mom”. Here’s a cheat sheet with more of the voice commands you can use in Google Maps. Safe driving, and happy road tripping!

Posted by Raghu Simha, Product Manager, Google Maps




]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/try-these-new-google-maps-voice-commands-on-your-next-road-trip/feed/ 0 Walk the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine like the pros with Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/walk-the-ryder-cup-at-hazeltine-like-the-pros-with-street-view/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/walk-the-ryder-cup-at-hazeltine-like-the-pros-with-street-view/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2016 16:37:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=008249291eb8153f964f0aa9c5b7aee7 Street View Trekker. They hit the links to collect hole-by-hole imagery at Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club, site of this year's tournament starting today through October 2.

Over two days, the team covered the 160-acres course.

Randy Dickerson, of Turner Sports, gets ready for his first trek. Randy and team carried the 40lb camera over the 5+ mile golf course at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Not to be outdone by past Street View collects captured by snowmobile, boat and zipline, the Trekker hitched a ride on a golf cart.

Explore the images on Google Maps, or walk the course like the pros using the Hazeltine Explorer, an interactive tour developed by Turner and Ubilabs. Along with 360-degree views, the site, built with Google Maps APIs, features custom elevation graphs for every hole, integrated video highlights and course-specific historical moments.

Fans attending the event can also make use of the Ryder Cup app’s Wayfinding feature, available on Android and iOS. Built using Google Maps APIs, the feature includes a detailed view of the course with routing instructions that account for walking paths and crosswalks. The map also displays information about on-course amenities and facilities. 


iPhone_wayfinder.png

Posted By: Vanessa Schneider, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach]]> Street View Trekker. They hit the links to collect hole-by-hole imagery at Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club, site of this year's tournament starting today through October 2.

Over two days, the team covered the 160-acres course.

Randy Dickerson, of Turner Sports, gets ready for his first trek. Randy and team carried the 40lb camera over the 5+ mile golf course at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Not to be outdone by past Street View collects captured by snowmobile, boat and zipline, the Trekker hitched a ride on a golf cart.

Explore the images on Google Maps, or walk the course like the pros using the Hazeltine Explorer, an interactive tour developed by Turner and Ubilabs. Along with 360-degree views, the site, built with Google Maps APIs, features custom elevation graphs for every hole, integrated video highlights and course-specific historical moments.

Fans attending the event can also make use of the Ryder Cup app’s Wayfinding feature, available on Android and iOS. Built using Google Maps APIs, the feature includes a detailed view of the course with routing instructions that account for walking paths and crosswalks. The map also displays information about on-course amenities and facilities. 


iPhone_wayfinder.png

Posted By: Vanessa Schneider, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/walk-the-ryder-cup-at-hazeltine-like-the-pros-with-street-view/feed/ 0 Always know which way you’re headed with this Google Maps update https://googledata.org/google-earth/always-know-which-way-youre-headed-with-this-google-maps-update/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/always-know-which-way-youre-headed-with-this-google-maps-update/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2016 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=2b6f017f099974a7202844c582617b41

The beam also tells you how accurate your phone’s direction is at any given time. The narrower the beam, the more accurate the direction. The wider the beam, the more likely it is that your your phone’s compass is temporarily uncalibrated, which means that its sensors aren’t working as they should be. This can happen by doing something as simple as charging your phone or walking by a metal pole, which most of us do everyday. Thankfully, there’s a really easy fix. Any time you want to get back on track – not just when you see a prompt or notification – simply move your phone in a figure 8 motion a few times. This should immediately result in a more accurate direction.
Help_Article_v1.gif
Once you master the curving motion, you’re one step closer to having a more accurate compass when you use Google Maps on your Android phone.

Posted by: Raja Ayyagari, Product Manager, Google Maps]]>

The beam also tells you how accurate your phone’s direction is at any given time. The narrower the beam, the more accurate the direction. The wider the beam, the more likely it is that your your phone’s compass is temporarily uncalibrated, which means that its sensors aren’t working as they should be. This can happen by doing something as simple as charging your phone or walking by a metal pole, which most of us do everyday. Thankfully, there’s a really easy fix. Any time you want to get back on track – not just when you see a prompt or notification – simply move your phone in a figure 8 motion a few times. This should immediately result in a more accurate direction.
Help_Article_v1.gif
Once you master the curving motion, you’re one step closer to having a more accurate compass when you use Google Maps on your Android phone.

Posted by: Raja Ayyagari, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/always-know-which-way-youre-headed-with-this-google-maps-update/feed/ 0 Mapping global fishing activity with machine learning https://googledata.org/google-earth/mapping-global-fishing-activity-with-machine-learning/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/mapping-global-fishing-activity-with-machine-learning/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2016 17:10:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=9b63784b92ddff7f1c852b4f868e096b
The world’s oceans and fisheries are at a turning point. Over a billion people depend on wild-caught fish for their primary source of protein. Fisheries are intertwined with global food security, slave labor issues, livelihoods, sovereign wealth and biodiversity but our fisheries are being harvested beyond sustainable levels. Fish populations have already plummeted by 90 percent for some species within the last generation, and the human population is only growing larger. One in five fish entering global markets is harvested illegally, or is unreported or unregulated. But amidst all these sobering trends, we're also better equipped to face these challenges — thanks to the rise of technology, increased availability of information, and a growing international desire to create a sustainable future.

Today, in partnership with Oceana and SkyTruth, we’re launching Global Fishing Watch, a beta technology platform intended to increase awareness of fisheries and influence sustainable policy through transparency. Global Fishing Watch combines cloud computing technology with satellite data to provide the world’s first global view of commercial fishing activities. It gives anyone around the world — citizens, governments, industry, and researchers — a free, simple, online platform to visualize, track, and share information about fishing activity worldwide.

Global Fishing Watch, the first global view of large scale commercial fishing activity over time

At any given time, there are about 200,000 vessels publicly broadcasting their location at sea through the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Their signals are picked up by dozens of satellites and thousands of terrestrial receivers. Global Fishing Watch runs this information — more than 22 million points of information per day — through machine learning classifiers to determine the type of ship (e.g., cargo, tug, sail, fishing), what kind of fishing gear (longline, purse seine, trawl) they’re using and where they’re fishing based on their movement patterns. To do this, our research partners and fishery experts have manually classified thousands of vessel tracks as training data to “teach” our algorithms what fishing looks like. We then apply that learning to the entire dataset — 37 billion points over the last 4.5 years — enabling anyone to see the individual tracks and fishing activity of every vessel along with its name and flag state.
An individual vessel fishing off Madagascar

This data can help inform sustainable policy and identify suspicious behaviors for further investigation. By understanding what areas of the ocean are being heavily fished, agencies and governments can make important decisions about how much fishing should be allowed in any given area. Often, fish populations are so depleted that the only way to ensure they are replenished is to create “no take areas” where fishing is not allowed. Our hope is that this new technology can help governments and other organizations make decisions about which areas need protection and monitor if policies are respected.
Kiribati's Phoenix Island Protected Area transitioning from heavy tuna fishing to a protected area.

Partners have already started using Global Fishing Watch and have committed to providing additional data sources for greater impact:

  • Indonesia’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti, has committed to making the government’s Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) public in Global Fishing Watch in 2017. Ibu Susi has been a progressive leader for transparency in fisheries with other governments now expressing similar interest to collaborate.
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will collaborate on new research methodologies for reporting spatial fishery and vessel statistics, building on Global Fishing Watch and developing transparency tools to support their member states in improving the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities.
  • Trace Register, a seafood digital supply chain company, has committed to using Global Fishing Watch to verify catch documentation for its customers such as Whole Foods.
  • Bali Seafood, the largest exporter of snapper from Indonesia, has teamed up with Pelagic Data Systems, manufacturers of cellular and solar powered tracking devices to bring the same transparency for small scale and artisanal fishing vessels, into Global Fishing Watch as part of a pilot program.

We’ve also developed a Global Fishing Watch Research Program with 10 leading institutions from around the world. By combining Google tools, methodologies, and datasets in a collaborative environment, they’re modeling economic, environmental, policy, and climate change implications on fisheries at a scale not otherwise possible.

Global Fishing Watch was not possible five years ago. From a technology perspective, satellites were just beginning to collect vessel positions over the open ocean, and the "global coverage" was spotty. There has been tremendous growth in machine learning with applications in new fields. Policy and regulatory frameworks have evolved, with the United States, European Union, and other nations and Regional Fishery Management Organizations now requiring that vessels broadcast their positions. Market forces and import laws are beginning to demand transparency and traceability, both as a positive differentiator and for risk management. All of these forces interact and shape each other.

Today, Global Fishing Watch is an early preview of what is possible. We’re committed to continuing to build tools, partnerships, and access to information to help restore our abundant ocean for generations to come.


Go explore your ocean at www.globalfishingwatch.org


Posted By: Brian Sullivan, Google Lead - Global Fishing Watch, Sr. Program Manager - Google Ocean & Earth Outreach

]]>
The world’s oceans and fisheries are at a turning point. Over a billion people depend on wild-caught fish for their primary source of protein. Fisheries are intertwined with global food security, slave labor issues, livelihoods, sovereign wealth and biodiversity but our fisheries are being harvested beyond sustainable levels. Fish populations have already plummeted by 90 percent for some species within the last generation, and the human population is only growing larger. One in five fish entering global markets is harvested illegally, or is unreported or unregulated. But amidst all these sobering trends, we're also better equipped to face these challenges — thanks to the rise of technology, increased availability of information, and a growing international desire to create a sustainable future.

Today, in partnership with Oceana and SkyTruth, we’re launching Global Fishing Watch, a beta technology platform intended to increase awareness of fisheries and influence sustainable policy through transparency. Global Fishing Watch combines cloud computing technology with satellite data to provide the world’s first global view of commercial fishing activities. It gives anyone around the world — citizens, governments, industry, and researchers — a free, simple, online platform to visualize, track, and share information about fishing activity worldwide.

Global Fishing Watch, the first global view of large scale commercial fishing activity over time

At any given time, there are about 200,000 vessels publicly broadcasting their location at sea through the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Their signals are picked up by dozens of satellites and thousands of terrestrial receivers. Global Fishing Watch runs this information — more than 22 million points of information per day — through machine learning classifiers to determine the type of ship (e.g., cargo, tug, sail, fishing), what kind of fishing gear (longline, purse seine, trawl) they’re using and where they’re fishing based on their movement patterns. To do this, our research partners and fishery experts have manually classified thousands of vessel tracks as training data to “teach” our algorithms what fishing looks like. We then apply that learning to the entire dataset — 37 billion points over the last 4.5 years — enabling anyone to see the individual tracks and fishing activity of every vessel along with its name and flag state.
An individual vessel fishing off Madagascar

This data can help inform sustainable policy and identify suspicious behaviors for further investigation. By understanding what areas of the ocean are being heavily fished, agencies and governments can make important decisions about how much fishing should be allowed in any given area. Often, fish populations are so depleted that the only way to ensure they are replenished is to create “no take areas” where fishing is not allowed. Our hope is that this new technology can help governments and other organizations make decisions about which areas need protection and monitor if policies are respected.
Kiribati's Phoenix Island Protected Area transitioning from heavy tuna fishing to a protected area.

Partners have already started using Global Fishing Watch and have committed to providing additional data sources for greater impact:

  • Indonesia’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti, has committed to making the government’s Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) public in Global Fishing Watch in 2017. Ibu Susi has been a progressive leader for transparency in fisheries with other governments now expressing similar interest to collaborate.
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will collaborate on new research methodologies for reporting spatial fishery and vessel statistics, building on Global Fishing Watch and developing transparency tools to support their member states in improving the monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities.
  • Trace Register, a seafood digital supply chain company, has committed to using Global Fishing Watch to verify catch documentation for its customers such as Whole Foods.
  • Bali Seafood, the largest exporter of snapper from Indonesia, has teamed up with Pelagic Data Systems, manufacturers of cellular and solar powered tracking devices to bring the same transparency for small scale and artisanal fishing vessels, into Global Fishing Watch as part of a pilot program.

We’ve also developed a Global Fishing Watch Research Program with 10 leading institutions from around the world. By combining Google tools, methodologies, and datasets in a collaborative environment, they’re modeling economic, environmental, policy, and climate change implications on fisheries at a scale not otherwise possible.

Global Fishing Watch was not possible five years ago. From a technology perspective, satellites were just beginning to collect vessel positions over the open ocean, and the "global coverage" was spotty. There has been tremendous growth in machine learning with applications in new fields. Policy and regulatory frameworks have evolved, with the United States, European Union, and other nations and Regional Fishery Management Organizations now requiring that vessels broadcast their positions. Market forces and import laws are beginning to demand transparency and traceability, both as a positive differentiator and for risk management. All of these forces interact and shape each other.

Today, Global Fishing Watch is an early preview of what is possible. We’re committed to continuing to build tools, partnerships, and access to information to help restore our abundant ocean for generations to come.


Go explore your ocean at www.globalfishingwatch.org


Posted By: Brian Sullivan, Google Lead - Global Fishing Watch, Sr. Program Manager - Google Ocean & Earth Outreach

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/mapping-global-fishing-activity-with-machine-learning/feed/ 0 Hailing more ride service options in Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/hailing-more-ride-service-options-in-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/hailing-more-ride-service-options-in-google-maps/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2016 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7f6fb6ab329d48f5b0ed6bb9181301c3 introduced a new way for people to find and compare the fastest ways to get around town by adding a new ride services tab when searching for directions in Google Maps. Today, we’re adding two more partners in the U.S., Lyft and Gett. Now Google Maps will display options from 9 ride-sharing partners in over 60 countries, allowing you to compare the fastest, most affordable ride near you, without having to download and open multiple apps.

Say you’re looking to get from the High Line to Times Square in Manhattan. When typing these locations into the Google Maps app, you’ll see a ride services tab appear alongside driving, transit and walking directions. Just tap the icon and you’ll find fare estimates and pick up times from multiple ride service partners, depending on driver availability. We’ll also show various types of services offered by each partner— for instance Lyft may also show options for a Lyft Line ride.
Bookaride Uber Lyft.png
The ride service tab updates automatically based on driver availability, estimated fare and ETA.

Ride options from Lyft will begin appearing across the U.S., while Gett will show availability within New York City. So the next time you find yourself with an appointment across the city, just open the Google Maps app on iOS or Android and take it for a spin.

 By Sara Torti, Senior Product Manager, Google Maps]]> introduced a new way for people to find and compare the fastest ways to get around town by adding a new ride services tab when searching for directions in Google Maps. Today, we’re adding two more partners in the U.S., Lyft and Gett. Now Google Maps will display options from 9 ride-sharing partners in over 60 countries, allowing you to compare the fastest, most affordable ride near you, without having to download and open multiple apps.

Say you’re looking to get from the High Line to Times Square in Manhattan. When typing these locations into the Google Maps app, you’ll see a ride services tab appear alongside driving, transit and walking directions. Just tap the icon and you’ll find fare estimates and pick up times from multiple ride service partners, depending on driver availability. We’ll also show various types of services offered by each partner— for instance Lyft may also show options for a Lyft Line ride.
Bookaride Uber Lyft.png
The ride service tab updates automatically based on driver availability, estimated fare and ETA.

Ride options from Lyft will begin appearing across the U.S., while Gett will show availability within New York City. So the next time you find yourself with an appointment across the city, just open the Google Maps app on iOS or Android and take it for a spin.

 By Sara Torti, Senior Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/hailing-more-ride-service-options-in-google-maps/feed/ 0 Sheep View: Where there’s a wool, there’s a way https://googledata.org/google-earth/sheep-view-where-theres-a-wool-theres-a-way/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/sheep-view-where-theres-a-wool-theres-a-way/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=6d798618f41b8a03b2cd12da60c3a1eb

When we herd about the Sheep View project, we thought it was shear brilliance. So we decided to help the Faroese by supplying them with a Street View trekker and 360 cameras via our Street View camera loan program. Last week, the Google Maps team arrived in the Faroe Islands to help train and equip the local community to capture even more (but slightly less woolly) Street View imagery.



Now that the Faroe Islands is supplied with a Trekker and 360 cameras, residents and tourists can assist the sheep in collecting Street View imagery of their beautiful lands using selfie-sticks, bikes, backpacks, cars, kayaks, horses, ships and even wheelbarrows. The Visit Faroe Islands office in Tórshavn and Atlantic Airways at the airport will be lending out Street View 360 cameras to visitors willing to lend a hoof.

The Faroe Islands have shown us that even sheep can contribute to Street View. If your hometown or favorite hiking trail hasn’t made it into Google Maps yet, grab your own 360 camera or apply to borrow one from us through our Street View camera loan program. We’re excited to see what ewe map!


Published By: David Castro González de Vega - Google Maps Program Manager









]]>

When we herd about the Sheep View project, we thought it was shear brilliance. So we decided to help the Faroese by supplying them with a Street View trekker and 360 cameras via our Street View camera loan program. Last week, the Google Maps team arrived in the Faroe Islands to help train and equip the local community to capture even more (but slightly less woolly) Street View imagery.



Now that the Faroe Islands is supplied with a Trekker and 360 cameras, residents and tourists can assist the sheep in collecting Street View imagery of their beautiful lands using selfie-sticks, bikes, backpacks, cars, kayaks, horses, ships and even wheelbarrows. The Visit Faroe Islands office in Tórshavn and Atlantic Airways at the airport will be lending out Street View 360 cameras to visitors willing to lend a hoof.

The Faroe Islands have shown us that even sheep can contribute to Street View. If your hometown or favorite hiking trail hasn’t made it into Google Maps yet, grab your own 360 camera or apply to borrow one from us through our Street View camera loan program. We’re excited to see what ewe map!


Published By: David Castro González de Vega - Google Maps Program Manager









]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/sheep-view-where-theres-a-wool-theres-a-way/feed/ 0 Five Trending Roadside Attractions for Your End of Summer Road Trip https://googledata.org/google-earth/five-trending-roadside-attractions-for-your-end-of-summer-road-trip/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/five-trending-roadside-attractions-for-your-end-of-summer-road-trip/#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=11ea42007655d1b59ae95cb89c4e164a

Roadtrippers leaving California for the beautiful Oregon landscape shouldn’t miss the Trees of Mystery attraction just 36 miles south of the Oregon border. Despite the name, the true showstoppers are the 49-foot-tall statue of Paul Bunyan and the 35-foot-tall Babe the Blue Ox – both of which are visible from Highway 101.


Downtown Seattle sports a notoriously sticky tourist attraction: a wall covered in gum. Although the wall was scrubbed clean back in 2015, it returned to all its glory in no time. Road trippers who find themselves at the famous Pike Place Market need only wander downstairs to Post Alley to behold the man-made (or chewed) marvel.


Just off Route 66, weary travelers can take a break to picnic, swim, or fish at the small lake that’s home to a big Blue Whale. To cool off from their long drives visitors fling themselves off his tail, slide down his fins and pose for photos in his open jaws.


Fewer than 30 minutes from Atlantic City, travelers can take in another larger than life creation – Lucy the Elephant. Lucy is a 132-year-old elephant-shaped building that towers six-stories tall. Visitors can enter the structure and climb up to the howdah (the carriage positioned on the back of an elephant) for a picturesque view of the beach below.


Take a short detour off I-95 in Connecticut to take a trip back in time to the Jurassic period. Northeastern roadtrippers will find 40 life-sized dinosaur figures on a 1.5-mile nature trail in The Dinosaur Place. And the best part is that they don’t have to worry about any real-life velociraptors.

Next time you’re on a road trip, remember to take a break and explore the roadside attractions along your route. Google Maps can help you do just that with a variety of features like offline maps, the ability to search for places along your route, and the option to create multi-stop trips (now available on Android and iOS). After all, the journey can be just as much fun as the destination.

Posted by Pierre Petronin, Quantitative Analyst, Google Maps
]]>

Roadtrippers leaving California for the beautiful Oregon landscape shouldn’t miss the Trees of Mystery attraction just 36 miles south of the Oregon border. Despite the name, the true showstoppers are the 49-foot-tall statue of Paul Bunyan and the 35-foot-tall Babe the Blue Ox – both of which are visible from Highway 101.


Downtown Seattle sports a notoriously sticky tourist attraction: a wall covered in gum. Although the wall was scrubbed clean back in 2015, it returned to all its glory in no time. Road trippers who find themselves at the famous Pike Place Market need only wander downstairs to Post Alley to behold the man-made (or chewed) marvel.


Just off Route 66, weary travelers can take a break to picnic, swim, or fish at the small lake that’s home to a big Blue Whale. To cool off from their long drives visitors fling themselves off his tail, slide down his fins and pose for photos in his open jaws.


Fewer than 30 minutes from Atlantic City, travelers can take in another larger than life creation – Lucy the Elephant. Lucy is a 132-year-old elephant-shaped building that towers six-stories tall. Visitors can enter the structure and climb up to the howdah (the carriage positioned on the back of an elephant) for a picturesque view of the beach below.


Take a short detour off I-95 in Connecticut to take a trip back in time to the Jurassic period. Northeastern roadtrippers will find 40 life-sized dinosaur figures on a 1.5-mile nature trail in The Dinosaur Place. And the best part is that they don’t have to worry about any real-life velociraptors.

Next time you’re on a road trip, remember to take a break and explore the roadside attractions along your route. Google Maps can help you do just that with a variety of features like offline maps, the ability to search for places along your route, and the option to create multi-stop trips (now available on Android and iOS). After all, the journey can be just as much fun as the destination.

Posted by Pierre Petronin, Quantitative Analyst, Google Maps
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/five-trending-roadside-attractions-for-your-end-of-summer-road-trip/feed/ 0 Dragons and turtles, and fish, oh hi! https://googledata.org/google-earth/dragons-and-turtles-and-fish-oh-hi/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/dragons-and-turtles-and-fish-oh-hi/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2016 06:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c3a20bab8c5e01eb1424ce8ffbaa72e3 The Indonesian Island of Komodo is home to the world's largest living lizard — the Komodo Dragon. Now you can see these carnivorous reptiles from the comfort (and safety!) of home with the launch of new Street View imagery from the Komodo islands.

Beyond taking a virtual walk with dragons, you can also explore the rich marine life surrounding Komodo Island, with the launch of 11 new underwater sites from Indonesia, thanks to XL Catlin Seaview Survey and The Ocean Agency.
BatuBolong.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

Home to a kaleidoscope of corals and fish, sites like Batu Bolong and Raja Ampat attract scuba divers from around the world. Now you can take a dip with turtles, go swimming with sweetlips, and inspect colorful corals all without having to put on a wetsuit. All you need is Google Maps, to see and appreciate these unique and beautiful sites (available on iOS or Android).
Keruo.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey


Bunaken National Park in the Coral Triangle is another top destination for aquanauts, as it has some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world and is home to many reef fish and turtles.

TimorII.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

AlungBanua.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

To really get schooled in the marine diversity of Indonesia, head over to the Drop-off in Bali where you’ll encounter Giant Trevally, Big Eye Trevally and Yellowstripe Scad aplenty.

DropOff.png

Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

To capture all this stunning underwater imagery, the XL Catlin Seaview Survey team use a panoramic camera system, mounted on an underwater scooter piloted by a diver. The crystal clear images are produced by the camera cruising along at around 4kms per hour taking rapid-fire 360 degree pictures every 3 seconds. This imagery is part of a unique global study dedicated to monitoring the change of the ocean’s corals and revealing that change to the world.

Screenshot 2016-08-06 10.54.46.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

Once you’re finished exploring the sea, come up for some air and take in the sights on land at Komodo village.  

Screen Shot 2016-08-06 at 9.18.39 PM.png

We hope you enjoy exploring Indonesia’s stunning natural beauty, above and below the water with Google Street View.

Posted by Cynthia Wei, Google Street View Program Manager, South East Asia.
]]> The Indonesian Island of Komodo is home to the world's largest living lizard — the Komodo Dragon. Now you can see these carnivorous reptiles from the comfort (and safety!) of home with the launch of new Street View imagery from the Komodo islands.

Beyond taking a virtual walk with dragons, you can also explore the rich marine life surrounding Komodo Island, with the launch of 11 new underwater sites from Indonesia, thanks to XL Catlin Seaview Survey and The Ocean Agency.
BatuBolong.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

Home to a kaleidoscope of corals and fish, sites like Batu Bolong and Raja Ampat attract scuba divers from around the world. Now you can take a dip with turtles, go swimming with sweetlips, and inspect colorful corals all without having to put on a wetsuit. All you need is Google Maps, to see and appreciate these unique and beautiful sites (available on iOS or Android).
Keruo.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey


Bunaken National Park in the Coral Triangle is another top destination for aquanauts, as it has some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world and is home to many reef fish and turtles.

TimorII.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

AlungBanua.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

To really get schooled in the marine diversity of Indonesia, head over to the Drop-off in Bali where you’ll encounter Giant Trevally, Big Eye Trevally and Yellowstripe Scad aplenty.

DropOff.png

Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

To capture all this stunning underwater imagery, the XL Catlin Seaview Survey team use a panoramic camera system, mounted on an underwater scooter piloted by a diver. The crystal clear images are produced by the camera cruising along at around 4kms per hour taking rapid-fire 360 degree pictures every 3 seconds. This imagery is part of a unique global study dedicated to monitoring the change of the ocean’s corals and revealing that change to the world.

Screenshot 2016-08-06 10.54.46.png
Image from XL Catlin Seaview Survey

Once you’re finished exploring the sea, come up for some air and take in the sights on land at Komodo village.  

Screen Shot 2016-08-06 at 9.18.39 PM.png

We hope you enjoy exploring Indonesia’s stunning natural beauty, above and below the water with Google Street View.

Posted by Cynthia Wei, Google Street View Program Manager, South East Asia.
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/dragons-and-turtles-and-fish-oh-hi/feed/ 0 Get around town a little easier with new offline features and ride service options https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-around-town-a-little-easier-with-new-offline-features-and-ride-service-options/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-around-town-a-little-easier-with-new-offline-features-and-ride-service-options/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=abd3afa129afd6cb5da4458df5b926f4
Scenario 1: You live or are traveling around a place with expensive data or spotty service
We’ve all been through this -- whether in our own backyard or a different country. You need to get directions, but you don’t have service. Or you do have service – but it’s spotty – so you find yourself staring at the map in a perpetual state of loading while you sit in your car waiting to find out which way to go. Now, when you know you’ll have spotty service or just want to save on data, you can toggle to “Wi-fi only” to use Google Maps entirely offline on Android. And the best part is that you can still use other apps and the rest of your phone as you normally would. You might even save on battery life too.

81M6LszJB4Z.png

Scenario 2: You’re running out of storage
Entry-level smartphones come with internal storage capacities as low as 4GB, while higher-end models range between 8GB and 32GB. For many of us, that’s not enough for all the videos, music, apps, and photos we cram onto our beloved smartphones. To ensure that Google Maps users with any storage capacity can download and use offline areas when they need them most, we’ve added the ability to download your offline areas to an external SD card (if your device supports them) on Google Maps for Android. Now you’ll never have to choose between snapping more food photos or the ability to navigate offline.


Scenario 3: You just want someone else to do the driving
Sometimes you just need to get somewhere fast and don't want to drive, walk, or take public transportation. In March, we introduced a dedicated mode where users can easily compare ride service options without having to open multiple apps. In addition to showing options from Uber, we're now showing GO-JEK rides in three cities in Indonesia with ten more cities coming soon (Android, rolling out on iOS) and Grab rides in 24 cities throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand (Android, rolling out on iOS). We've also expanded the availability of Gett, Hailo, and MyTaxi in select cities across Ireland, Poland, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Israel (Android, iOS).

Commuting around your own city can be a battle and navigating around a foreign land can be ten times tougher. Using Google Maps offline and comparing between ride service options help make it a little easier so you can spend more time living and less time figuring out how to get places.

Posted by Amanda Bishop, Product Manager, Google Maps










]]>
Scenario 1: You live or are traveling around a place with expensive data or spotty service
We’ve all been through this -- whether in our own backyard or a different country. You need to get directions, but you don’t have service. Or you do have service – but it’s spotty – so you find yourself staring at the map in a perpetual state of loading while you sit in your car waiting to find out which way to go. Now, when you know you’ll have spotty service or just want to save on data, you can toggle to “Wi-fi only” to use Google Maps entirely offline on Android. And the best part is that you can still use other apps and the rest of your phone as you normally would. You might even save on battery life too.

81M6LszJB4Z.png

Scenario 2: You’re running out of storage
Entry-level smartphones come with internal storage capacities as low as 4GB, while higher-end models range between 8GB and 32GB. For many of us, that’s not enough for all the videos, music, apps, and photos we cram onto our beloved smartphones. To ensure that Google Maps users with any storage capacity can download and use offline areas when they need them most, we’ve added the ability to download your offline areas to an external SD card (if your device supports them) on Google Maps for Android. Now you’ll never have to choose between snapping more food photos or the ability to navigate offline.


Scenario 3: You just want someone else to do the driving
Sometimes you just need to get somewhere fast and don't want to drive, walk, or take public transportation. In March, we introduced a dedicated mode where users can easily compare ride service options without having to open multiple apps. In addition to showing options from Uber, we're now showing GO-JEK rides in three cities in Indonesia with ten more cities coming soon (Android, rolling out on iOS) and Grab rides in 24 cities throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand (Android, rolling out on iOS). We've also expanded the availability of Gett, Hailo, and MyTaxi in select cities across Ireland, Poland, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Israel (Android, iOS).

Commuting around your own city can be a battle and navigating around a foreign land can be ten times tougher. Using Google Maps offline and comparing between ride service options help make it a little easier so you can spend more time living and less time figuring out how to get places.

Posted by Amanda Bishop, Product Manager, Google Maps










]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-around-town-a-little-easier-with-new-offline-features-and-ride-service-options/feed/ 0 Google Maps goes for the win with Rio updates https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-maps-goes-for-the-win-with-rio-updates/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-maps-goes-for-the-win-with-rio-updates/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2016 12:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7c636eebb89b73cd6defb8ca6ebd8bad
Getting around Rio without a hitch
For folks on the ground in Rio, Maps can be your real-world assistant, helping you get where you’re going via whichever mode of transportation you prefer. In April, we launched real-time transit for 1,300 bus lines in the ​​Rio metro area, as well as bike routes throughout Rio and the rest of Brazil.


Construction, security and crowds during large-scale events can put a damper on a driver’s day. We’re working with the City of Rio to make sure Google Maps has the most up-to-date info on traffic, road closures and detours and help get you where you’re going faster.

Breezing through traffic and beating the crowds is reason for celebration. With the Explore feature on Google Maps for Android and iOS in Brazil, anyone can uncover the local gems wherever you go by simply tapping “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the app. From there you can swipe through the best breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner, and drinks spots around them.


Getting all of Rio on the Map
The favelas of Rio aren’t well-known to many outsiders, partly because there’s limited information about these areas to include on maps. We partnered with the local Brazilian nonprofit Grupo Cultural AfroReggae on a project called “Tá No Mapa” (“It’s On the Map” in English). Together with AfroReggae we trained 150 favela residents on digital mapping skills and in just two years they’ve mapped 26 favelas and gotten more than 3,000 businesses on the map. Not only does this allow locals to find businesses like Bar do David—an award-winning restaurant in the favela Chapeu Mangueira—it’s helped some local residents get a mailing address for the first time.



Getting in on the action from home
For those of you (*raises hand*) who can’t make it to Rio this summer, you can still get in on the excitement from the comfort of your home. We refreshed our Google Street View imagery to give virtual travelers an insider's look at the stadiums. You can almost taste the caipirinhas!


For those who really want to feel like they’re in the the game, we also launched indoor maps of all 25 official indoor venues and added more details to the maps of the 12 outdoor venues – like the custom-made golf course where you can now practically see all 18 holes.


No matter what city you find yourself in this summer, these very same features can help you find the perfect spot to watch the action and get there with ease.

Posted by Marcus Leal, Product Manager, Google Maps



]]>
Getting around Rio without a hitch
For folks on the ground in Rio, Maps can be your real-world assistant, helping you get where you’re going via whichever mode of transportation you prefer. In April, we launched real-time transit for 1,300 bus lines in the ​​Rio metro area, as well as bike routes throughout Rio and the rest of Brazil.


Construction, security and crowds during large-scale events can put a damper on a driver’s day. We’re working with the City of Rio to make sure Google Maps has the most up-to-date info on traffic, road closures and detours and help get you where you’re going faster.

Breezing through traffic and beating the crowds is reason for celebration. With the Explore feature on Google Maps for Android and iOS in Brazil, anyone can uncover the local gems wherever you go by simply tapping “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the app. From there you can swipe through the best breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner, and drinks spots around them.


Getting all of Rio on the Map
The favelas of Rio aren’t well-known to many outsiders, partly because there’s limited information about these areas to include on maps. We partnered with the local Brazilian nonprofit Grupo Cultural AfroReggae on a project called “Tá No Mapa” (“It’s On the Map” in English). Together with AfroReggae we trained 150 favela residents on digital mapping skills and in just two years they’ve mapped 26 favelas and gotten more than 3,000 businesses on the map. Not only does this allow locals to find businesses like Bar do David—an award-winning restaurant in the favela Chapeu Mangueira—it’s helped some local residents get a mailing address for the first time.



Getting in on the action from home
For those of you (*raises hand*) who can’t make it to Rio this summer, you can still get in on the excitement from the comfort of your home. We refreshed our Google Street View imagery to give virtual travelers an insider's look at the stadiums. You can almost taste the caipirinhas!


For those who really want to feel like they’re in the the game, we also launched indoor maps of all 25 official indoor venues and added more details to the maps of the 12 outdoor venues – like the custom-made golf course where you can now practically see all 18 holes.


No matter what city you find yourself in this summer, these very same features can help you find the perfect spot to watch the action and get there with ease.

Posted by Marcus Leal, Product Manager, Google Maps



]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/google-maps-goes-for-the-win-with-rio-updates/feed/ 0 An experiment built with 3D Google Maps imagery, inspired by kids https://googledata.org/google-earth/an-experiment-built-with-3d-google-maps-imagery-inspired-by-kids/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/an-experiment-built-with-3d-google-maps-imagery-inspired-by-kids/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2016 14:07:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=903174a55a6f0c00d36271d2a2e6f818


For years, Google Maps has been adding 3D imagery from all over the world – New York City, the Grand Canyon, Mont Blanc, and more. A few of us started wondering if this 3D imagery could make learning about the world a bit more fun for kids. We started playing with quick prototypes, and even brainstormed with our own kids to get inspired by their sense of curiosity.

Our idea became a new, experimental app called Verne: The Himalayas. It invites you to explore the Himalayas as a 500 foot Yeti named Verne. You can run up Mt. Everest, chase yaks, discover bits of information, ride a jetpack, play Himalayan instruments, and more.

We're excited to share it today as a fun way for anyone to take a summer trip to the tallest mountain range in the world. Get the app for your Android device from the Play Store, or learn more here.

Posted by: Amar Gandhi and JR Schmidt - 3D tinkerers and Yeti Enthusiasts



]]>


For years, Google Maps has been adding 3D imagery from all over the world – New York City, the Grand Canyon, Mont Blanc, and more. A few of us started wondering if this 3D imagery could make learning about the world a bit more fun for kids. We started playing with quick prototypes, and even brainstormed with our own kids to get inspired by their sense of curiosity.

Our idea became a new, experimental app called Verne: The Himalayas. It invites you to explore the Himalayas as a 500 foot Yeti named Verne. You can run up Mt. Everest, chase yaks, discover bits of information, ride a jetpack, play Himalayan instruments, and more.

We're excited to share it today as a fun way for anyone to take a summer trip to the tallest mountain range in the world. Get the app for your Android device from the Play Store, or learn more here.

Posted by: Amar Gandhi and JR Schmidt - 3D tinkerers and Yeti Enthusiasts



]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/an-experiment-built-with-3d-google-maps-imagery-inspired-by-kids/feed/ 0 Now you can build multi-stop road trips on Google Maps for iOS https://googledata.org/google-earth/now-you-can-build-multi-stop-road-trips-on-google-maps-for-ios/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/now-you-can-build-multi-stop-road-trips-on-google-maps-for-ios/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2016 21:50:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d6331cce3a7f7e3a15df85c33a66af71

Posted by Aditya Dhanrajani, Product Manager, Google Maps]]>

Posted by Aditya Dhanrajani, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/now-you-can-build-multi-stop-road-trips-on-google-maps-for-ios/feed/ 0 New Zagat iOS app: Tap into tailored, trustworthy dining recommendations — wherever you may be https://googledata.org/google-earth/new-zagat-ios-app-tap-into-tailored-trustworthy-dining-recommendations-wherever-you-may-be/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/new-zagat-ios-app-tap-into-tailored-trustworthy-dining-recommendations-wherever-you-may-be/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d36469d612a0b775ba51d0713d2b0448 mobile iOS app in order to provide relevant restaurant recommendations for diners on the go. Looking for new watering holes in your area or wanting the top recommended dining spots for the city you’re visiting? Zagat now makes it simple and easy using its reliable recipe that looks at the wisdom of the crowds combined with hand-crafted reviews. Check out the Zagat blog for more details.

Author: Laura Slabin, Director, Local Content & Community]]> mobile iOS app in order to provide relevant restaurant recommendations for diners on the go. Looking for new watering holes in your area or wanting the top recommended dining spots for the city you’re visiting? Zagat now makes it simple and easy using its reliable recipe that looks at the wisdom of the crowds combined with hand-crafted reviews. Check out the Zagat blog for more details.

Author: Laura Slabin, Director, Local Content & Community]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/new-zagat-ios-app-tap-into-tailored-trustworthy-dining-recommendations-wherever-you-may-be/feed/ 0 Discover the action around you with the updated Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-the-action-around-you-with-the-updated-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-the-action-around-you-with-the-updated-google-maps/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2016 19:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=23e0acc9435c62ab7a25452b0927d967

A cleaner look 
The world is full of information, which means highlighting necessary info on the map without overcrowding it is a balancing act. So as part of this update, we’ve removed elements that aren’t absolutely required (like road outlines). The result is a cleaner look that makes it easier to see helpful and actionable information like traffic and transit. And we’ve improved the typography of street names, points of interest, transit stations, and more to make them more distinguishable from other things on the map, helping you navigate the world with fewer distractions.


Areas of interest
The cleaner canvas also lets us show local information in entirely new ways. As you explore the new map, you’ll notice areas shaded in orange representing “areas of interest”—places where there’s a lot of activities and things to do. To find an “area of interest” just open Google Maps and look around you. When you’ve found an orange-shaded area, zoom in to see more details about each venue and tap one for more info. Whether you’re looking for a hotel in a hot spot or just trying to determine which way to go after exiting the subway in a new place, “areas of interest” will help you find what you’re looking for with just a couple swipes and a zoom.



We determine “areas of interest” with an algorithmic process that allows us to highlight the areas with the highest concentration of restaurants, bars and shops. In high-density areas like NYC, we use a human touch to make sure we’re showing the most active areas.

A more subtle and balanced color scheme
The new Maps has a subtle color scheme to help you easily differentiate between man-made or natural features, and quickly identify places like hospitals, schools or highways. In case you’re curious, here’s a key showing what each color on the map represents.
Google Maps already provides you everything you need to get around the world in one place —including business information, ratings and reviews, and more than 100+ million distinct places. And with these updates, it's now even easier to navigate to where you want to go.

Posted by Zhou Bailiang, UX Designer, Google Maps and Mark Li, Software Engineer, Google Local






]]>

A cleaner look 
The world is full of information, which means highlighting necessary info on the map without overcrowding it is a balancing act. So as part of this update, we’ve removed elements that aren’t absolutely required (like road outlines). The result is a cleaner look that makes it easier to see helpful and actionable information like traffic and transit. And we’ve improved the typography of street names, points of interest, transit stations, and more to make them more distinguishable from other things on the map, helping you navigate the world with fewer distractions.


Areas of interest
The cleaner canvas also lets us show local information in entirely new ways. As you explore the new map, you’ll notice areas shaded in orange representing “areas of interest”—places where there’s a lot of activities and things to do. To find an “area of interest” just open Google Maps and look around you. When you’ve found an orange-shaded area, zoom in to see more details about each venue and tap one for more info. Whether you’re looking for a hotel in a hot spot or just trying to determine which way to go after exiting the subway in a new place, “areas of interest” will help you find what you’re looking for with just a couple swipes and a zoom.



We determine “areas of interest” with an algorithmic process that allows us to highlight the areas with the highest concentration of restaurants, bars and shops. In high-density areas like NYC, we use a human touch to make sure we’re showing the most active areas.

A more subtle and balanced color scheme
The new Maps has a subtle color scheme to help you easily differentiate between man-made or natural features, and quickly identify places like hospitals, schools or highways. In case you’re curious, here’s a key showing what each color on the map represents.
Google Maps already provides you everything you need to get around the world in one place —including business information, ratings and reviews, and more than 100+ million distinct places. And with these updates, it's now even easier to navigate to where you want to go.

Posted by Zhou Bailiang, UX Designer, Google Maps and Mark Li, Software Engineer, Google Local






]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-the-action-around-you-with-the-updated-google-maps/feed/ 0 More ways to share your street smarts in Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/more-ways-to-share-your-street-smarts-in-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/more-ways-to-share-your-street-smarts-in-google-maps/#comments Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=9ed62cdd957c6de4ed43ca12f411a7e7
Easily add places or suggest edits
First, we’ve expanded the ability to add missing places and edit existing business or landmark information worldwide on both the Google Maps app (Android, iOS) and through Google Search. This lets people contribute new and updated information to Google Maps from more places—whether they’re searching for a new restaurant on Google.com or looking for a nearby convenience store while on the go.

Share more details about a place
There’s more to a place than its business hours or address—you might want to know if a place has a romantic vibe, serves vegetarian food or offers outdoor seating. Now on Google Maps for Android and when searching on your mobile phone, you can contribute what you know about a place so that others can benefit from the info as well. Knowing these types of details helps us build a deeper understanding of a place so we can better help users find the places most relevant to them.
Verify suggested edits from others
We’ve also introduced a new way for users to help approve edits suggested by others, ultimately reducing the amount of time it takes for edits to appear on the map. For places that have pending suggestions, you’ll see a notification stating that “Someone suggested new info.” If you click or tap that notification, you’ll have the option to verify whether the suggestion is accurate. Once enough votes are received to be confident that the suggestion is accurate, it’s published to the map. This feature is available to Android users on the Google Maps app and both Android and iOS users on mobile Google Search.


Together, these new changes let people who are familiar with their neighborhoods help provide accurate, reliable information about their favorite haunts and hidden gems. So now when searching for useful information about a place on Google Maps or Search, you’ll get an even better representation of the ever-changing world around us.

Posted by Nirav Mehta, Product Manager, Google Maps and Local Search




]]>
Easily add places or suggest edits
First, we’ve expanded the ability to add missing places and edit existing business or landmark information worldwide on both the Google Maps app (Android, iOS) and through Google Search. This lets people contribute new and updated information to Google Maps from more places—whether they’re searching for a new restaurant on Google.com or looking for a nearby convenience store while on the go.

Share more details about a place
There’s more to a place than its business hours or address—you might want to know if a place has a romantic vibe, serves vegetarian food or offers outdoor seating. Now on Google Maps for Android and when searching on your mobile phone, you can contribute what you know about a place so that others can benefit from the info as well. Knowing these types of details helps us build a deeper understanding of a place so we can better help users find the places most relevant to them.
Verify suggested edits from others
We’ve also introduced a new way for users to help approve edits suggested by others, ultimately reducing the amount of time it takes for edits to appear on the map. For places that have pending suggestions, you’ll see a notification stating that “Someone suggested new info.” If you click or tap that notification, you’ll have the option to verify whether the suggestion is accurate. Once enough votes are received to be confident that the suggestion is accurate, it’s published to the map. This feature is available to Android users on the Google Maps app and both Android and iOS users on mobile Google Search.


Together, these new changes let people who are familiar with their neighborhoods help provide accurate, reliable information about their favorite haunts and hidden gems. So now when searching for useful information about a place on Google Maps or Search, you’ll get an even better representation of the ever-changing world around us.

Posted by Nirav Mehta, Product Manager, Google Maps and Local Search




]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/more-ways-to-share-your-street-smarts-in-google-maps/feed/ 0 Kick off your summer travels with these new Google Maps features https://googledata.org/google-maps/kick-off-your-summer-travels-with-these-new-google-maps-features/ https://googledata.org/google-maps/kick-off-your-summer-travels-with-these-new-google-maps-features/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=002c431d55dfbffeaaba9a583230fd54 The weather’s heating up, kids are out of school, and that means only one thing: summer’s officially here. Summer brings weekend road trips, faraway escapes and all kinds of getaways in between. And with the latest update to Google Maps, we're introducing two new features to get you where you’re going and help you remember your travels in a brand new way.

Road trip warriors can now get multi-stop directions in Google Maps on Android (coming soon to iOS). Just open the app, enter a destination, tap the corner menu, and then click “Add a stop”. To rearrange the order of your stops, tap and hold the three dot menu to the left of “Add stop” and drag it to the position you want – you can even search for types of places like gas stations or restaurants like you normally would. Once you’ve added all your stops, tap “Done” and your multi-stop route is complete. When you enter navigation mode you’ll have the same seamless driving experience you’re used to, whether you’re going from errand to errand or hitting scenic spots along Route 66.


A lot of the fun of traveling is the memories created while exploring new places with friends, family or even solo. Pictures are a traditional way to remember those moments, but now Your Timeline users on Android can preserve their travel memories and info in a new way. Google Maps users with Location History enabled can open Your Timeline, select a date from their recent vacation or everyday life and add notes to help remember what they did that day—or save important notes for later.



No matter where your travels take you this summer and beyond, these new Google Maps features will get you there and help keep track of all the memories you make along the way.

Posted by Liz Davidoff, Communications Manager, Google Maps


]]> The weather’s heating up, kids are out of school, and that means only one thing: summer’s officially here. Summer brings weekend road trips, faraway escapes and all kinds of getaways in between. And with the latest update to Google Maps, we're introducing two new features to get you where you’re going and help you remember your travels in a brand new way.

Road trip warriors can now get multi-stop directions in Google Maps on Android (coming soon to iOS). Just open the app, enter a destination, tap the corner menu, and then click “Add a stop”. To rearrange the order of your stops, tap and hold the three dot menu to the left of “Add stop” and drag it to the position you want – you can even search for types of places like gas stations or restaurants like you normally would. Once you’ve added all your stops, tap “Done” and your multi-stop route is complete. When you enter navigation mode you’ll have the same seamless driving experience you’re used to, whether you’re going from errand to errand or hitting scenic spots along Route 66.


A lot of the fun of traveling is the memories created while exploring new places with friends, family or even solo. Pictures are a traditional way to remember those moments, but now Your Timeline users on Android can preserve their travel memories and info in a new way. Google Maps users with Location History enabled can open Your Timeline, select a date from their recent vacation or everyday life and add notes to help remember what they did that day—or save important notes for later.



No matter where your travels take you this summer and beyond, these new Google Maps features will get you there and help keep track of all the memories you make along the way.

Posted by Liz Davidoff, Communications Manager, Google Maps


]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/kick-off-your-summer-travels-with-these-new-google-maps-features/feed/ 0 Keeping Earth up to date and looking great https://googledata.org/google-earth/keeping-earth-up-to-date-and-looking-great/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/keeping-earth-up-to-date-and-looking-great/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=8b47858848ff419dd17a888081b13b23 Three years ago we introduced a cloud-free mosaic of the world in Google Earth. Today we’re rolling out an even more beautiful and seamless version, with fresh imagery from Landsat 8 satellite and new processing techniques for sharper images than ever before. Satellite images are often cloudy, but not always over the same place, so we looked at millions of images and took the clearest pixels to stitch together this cloud-free and seamless image.
Columbia Glacier, Alaska
Detroit, Michigan
Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Higher Quality Imagery
Landsat 8, which launched into orbit in 2013, is the newest sensor in the USGS/NASA Landsat Program—superior to its predecessors in many ways. Landsat 8 captures images with greater detail, truer colors, and at an unprecedented frequency—capturing twice as many images as Landsat 7 does every day. This new rendition of Earth uses the most recent data available -- mostly from Landsat 8 -- making it our freshest global mosaic to date.


In the new view of New York City, details like skyscrapers, building shadows, and baseball and softball fields in Central Park shine through.


Our previous mosaic used imagery from Landsat 7 only, which at the time was the best imagery of its kind. Unfortunately, Landsat 7 images captured after 2003 were affected by a hardware failure, resulting in large diagonal gaps of missing data You can see this effect in the subsets of two Landsat 7 images captured over Oklahoma City, OK, in 2000 and 2003.

July 9, 2000

September 20, 2003
Processing imagery with Earth Engine
To produce this new imagery, we used the same publicly available Earth Engine APIs that scientists use to do things like track global tree cover, loss, and gain; predict Malaria outbreaks; and map global surface water over a 30 year period.


Like our previous mosaic, we mined data from nearly a petabyte of Landsat imagery—that’s more than 700 trillion individual pixels—to choose the best cloud-free pixels. To put that in perspective, 700 trillion pixels is 7,000 times more pixels than the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, or 70 times more pixels than the estimated number of galaxies in the Universe.
Lake Balkhash, Kazakhstan


Screen Shot 2016-06-23 at 3.31.37 PM.jpg
Brasilia, Brazil
Open data is good for everyone
This update was made possible in a large part thanks to the Landsat program and its commitment to free and accessible open data. Landsat, a joint program of the USGS and NASA, has observed the Earth continuously from 1972 to the present day and offers a wealth of information on the changes to the Earth's surface over time. And it's all available in Earth Engine!

The new imagery is now available across all our mapping products. To check it out, open up Google Earth, or turn on the satellite layer in Google Maps.

Post authored by: Chris Herwig, Program Manager, Google Earth Engine]]> Three years ago we introduced a cloud-free mosaic of the world in Google Earth. Today we’re rolling out an even more beautiful and seamless version, with fresh imagery from Landsat 8 satellite and new processing techniques for sharper images than ever before. Satellite images are often cloudy, but not always over the same place, so we looked at millions of images and took the clearest pixels to stitch together this cloud-free and seamless image.
Columbia Glacier, Alaska
Detroit, Michigan
Swiss Alps, Switzerland
Higher Quality Imagery
Landsat 8, which launched into orbit in 2013, is the newest sensor in the USGS/NASA Landsat Program—superior to its predecessors in many ways. Landsat 8 captures images with greater detail, truer colors, and at an unprecedented frequency—capturing twice as many images as Landsat 7 does every day. This new rendition of Earth uses the most recent data available -- mostly from Landsat 8 -- making it our freshest global mosaic to date.


In the new view of New York City, details like skyscrapers, building shadows, and baseball and softball fields in Central Park shine through.


Our previous mosaic used imagery from Landsat 7 only, which at the time was the best imagery of its kind. Unfortunately, Landsat 7 images captured after 2003 were affected by a hardware failure, resulting in large diagonal gaps of missing data You can see this effect in the subsets of two Landsat 7 images captured over Oklahoma City, OK, in 2000 and 2003.

July 9, 2000

September 20, 2003
Processing imagery with Earth Engine
To produce this new imagery, we used the same publicly available Earth Engine APIs that scientists use to do things like track global tree cover, loss, and gain; predict Malaria outbreaks; and map global surface water over a 30 year period.


Like our previous mosaic, we mined data from nearly a petabyte of Landsat imagery—that’s more than 700 trillion individual pixels—to choose the best cloud-free pixels. To put that in perspective, 700 trillion pixels is 7,000 times more pixels than the estimated number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, or 70 times more pixels than the estimated number of galaxies in the Universe.
Lake Balkhash, Kazakhstan


Screen Shot 2016-06-23 at 3.31.37 PM.jpg
Brasilia, Brazil
Open data is good for everyone
This update was made possible in a large part thanks to the Landsat program and its commitment to free and accessible open data. Landsat, a joint program of the USGS and NASA, has observed the Earth continuously from 1972 to the present day and offers a wealth of information on the changes to the Earth's surface over time. And it's all available in Earth Engine!

The new imagery is now available across all our mapping products. To check it out, open up Google Earth, or turn on the satellite layer in Google Maps.

Post authored by: Chris Herwig, Program Manager, Google Earth Engine]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/keeping-earth-up-to-date-and-looking-great/feed/ 0 Going #SolarforSolstice with Project Sunroof and the Sierra Club https://googledata.org/google-earth/going-solarforsolstice-with-project-sunroof-and-the-sierra-club/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/going-solarforsolstice-with-project-sunroof-and-the-sierra-club/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2016 18:57:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=70b7dab2145cf3a6607dde759b6da277
The sun delivers more energy to Earth in one hour than civilization uses in a whole year. On this long Summer Solstice day, solar panels on your roof could generate enough energy to run your refrigerator for almost two weeks—that’s 50 percent more energy than the average day. Yet globally only about 1 percent of our energy comes from solar. So today, Project Sunroof teamed up with the Sierra Club to share some tips on how you can better use the sun to generate energy and protect our Earth.

sunroof-gif-1.gif

Solar energy is one of the cleanest energy sources available, and the U.S. has abundant solar resources. Project Sunroof is our attempt to make going solar a little easier. Homeowners can search their property and get a solar recommendation based on roof size, the amount of sun that hits it throughout the year, weather, applicable government incentives, and electricity rates and bill.

sunroof-gif-2.gif

Whether or not solar is an option for you, the Sierra Club has some additional tips on how to use the power of the sun and other forms of clean energy to slow the impacts of climate change. Check out Ready for 100 to learn more about how you can help us achieve 100% clean, renewable energy across the United States.
SUN-6.gif



Posted by Carl Elkin, Founder of Sunroof]]>
The sun delivers more energy to Earth in one hour than civilization uses in a whole year. On this long Summer Solstice day, solar panels on your roof could generate enough energy to run your refrigerator for almost two weeks—that’s 50 percent more energy than the average day. Yet globally only about 1 percent of our energy comes from solar. So today, Project Sunroof teamed up with the Sierra Club to share some tips on how you can better use the sun to generate energy and protect our Earth.

sunroof-gif-1.gif

Solar energy is one of the cleanest energy sources available, and the U.S. has abundant solar resources. Project Sunroof is our attempt to make going solar a little easier. Homeowners can search their property and get a solar recommendation based on roof size, the amount of sun that hits it throughout the year, weather, applicable government incentives, and electricity rates and bill.

sunroof-gif-2.gif

Whether or not solar is an option for you, the Sierra Club has some additional tips on how to use the power of the sun and other forms of clean energy to slow the impacts of climate change. Check out Ready for 100 to learn more about how you can help us achieve 100% clean, renewable energy across the United States.
SUN-6.gif



Posted by Carl Elkin, Founder of Sunroof]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/going-solarforsolstice-with-project-sunroof-and-the-sierra-club/feed/ 0 Now you can use Explore to discover the flavors of Brazil https://googledata.org/google-earth/now-you-can-use-explore-to-discover-the-flavors-of-brazil/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/now-you-can-use-explore-to-discover-the-flavors-of-brazil/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2016 20:57:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=1bd76c057fa7ca44eaf60ccd9d7cfd47


The Explore experience in Brazil is very much like the experience here in the US and is available on both iPhone and Android. Simply open Google Maps on your mobile phone and tap “explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen. Depending on where you are and time of day, a category (breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks) is preselected for you. Google Maps will share lists of food and drink locations around you, ranging from “best breakfasts” to “waterside dining”. Once you find a list that fits your needs, just tap on the list to see suggested locations. Then swipe right or left to see more options and tap “read more” or the arrow at the bottom of the screen to select a venue and get more details. Of course you'll see these on-screen prompts like "explore food & drinks near you" in the language you’ve set as primary on your mobile phone.

For those of you not heading to Rio this summer, you can still use Explore to discover new places around the world. Explore is also available on Android and iPhone in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. And it was just recently made available in Australia and Canada as well.

Posted by Bryan Cheng, Product Manager, Google Maps ]]>


The Explore experience in Brazil is very much like the experience here in the US and is available on both iPhone and Android. Simply open Google Maps on your mobile phone and tap “explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen. Depending on where you are and time of day, a category (breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks) is preselected for you. Google Maps will share lists of food and drink locations around you, ranging from “best breakfasts” to “waterside dining”. Once you find a list that fits your needs, just tap on the list to see suggested locations. Then swipe right or left to see more options and tap “read more” or the arrow at the bottom of the screen to select a venue and get more details. Of course you'll see these on-screen prompts like "explore food & drinks near you" in the language you’ve set as primary on your mobile phone.

For those of you not heading to Rio this summer, you can still use Explore to discover new places around the world. Explore is also available on Android and iPhone in the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. And it was just recently made available in Australia and Canada as well.

Posted by Bryan Cheng, Product Manager, Google Maps ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/now-you-can-use-explore-to-discover-the-flavors-of-brazil/feed/ 0 Take in the Sites of Rio de Janeiro Before the Games Begin https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-in-the-sites-of-rio-de-janeiro-before-the-games-begin/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-in-the-sites-of-rio-de-janeiro-before-the-games-begin/#comments Fri, 27 May 2016 20:57:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=02f2c4fabc9dc9ca3e9e21cf3fe1c266 the magic of Rio de Janeiro – whether planning to attend in person or watch the excitement from afar.


Google Street View engineer takes pictures from the inside of Rio’s Olympic Park

Starting today, a quick visit to Street View will give you a preview of the places where the world's most talented athletes will make history. Barrel down the Olympic mountain bike trail and take a stroll on the track where runners will sprint as fast as their legs will carry them in an attempt to bring home the gold.


Olympic Mountain Bike Trail

We’re also releasing indoor imagery of more than 200 hotels, restaurants and bars across the city. Take a peek at the pink carpeted Copacabana Palace or the breathtaking poolside ocean views at the Fasano Hotel. If you’ll be in Rio for the Games, check out the vibe before you make restaurant reservations or the local bar to ensure there’s ample room on the dancefloor to bust out your Samba moves.


Suite in the Fasano Hotel, famous for its celebrity guests in Rio

Step outside to take in some of the most iconic sites of Rio including Christ the Redeemer, The Dona Marta Hilltop, and Arpoador Beach. We’ve captured imagery of every main tourist attraction in Rio including the famous Selarón Steps.


View from Arpoador Beach

In addition to the many beautiful sites, we’ve collected up-to-date Street View imagery of Rio's streets and neighborhoods so you can get a feel for the area around your accommodation ahead of time. Check out the bus stops to familiarize yourself with local transportation - or pick the perfect people watching Juice bar to enjoy an Acai bowl on the way from the hotel to the beach.

Whether you’re preparing to visit in person or simply enjoying the sites from afar, make yourself a caipirinha or have a Pão de Queijo (delicious Brazilian cheese bread) while you explore.


Posted by Marcus Leal, Google Maps manager in Brazil]]> the magic of Rio de Janeiro – whether planning to attend in person or watch the excitement from afar.


Google Street View engineer takes pictures from the inside of Rio’s Olympic Park

Starting today, a quick visit to Street View will give you a preview of the places where the world's most talented athletes will make history. Barrel down the Olympic mountain bike trail and take a stroll on the track where runners will sprint as fast as their legs will carry them in an attempt to bring home the gold.


Olympic Mountain Bike Trail

We’re also releasing indoor imagery of more than 200 hotels, restaurants and bars across the city. Take a peek at the pink carpeted Copacabana Palace or the breathtaking poolside ocean views at the Fasano Hotel. If you’ll be in Rio for the Games, check out the vibe before you make restaurant reservations or the local bar to ensure there’s ample room on the dancefloor to bust out your Samba moves.


Suite in the Fasano Hotel, famous for its celebrity guests in Rio

Step outside to take in some of the most iconic sites of Rio including Christ the Redeemer, The Dona Marta Hilltop, and Arpoador Beach. We’ve captured imagery of every main tourist attraction in Rio including the famous Selarón Steps.


View from Arpoador Beach

In addition to the many beautiful sites, we’ve collected up-to-date Street View imagery of Rio's streets and neighborhoods so you can get a feel for the area around your accommodation ahead of time. Check out the bus stops to familiarize yourself with local transportation - or pick the perfect people watching Juice bar to enjoy an Acai bowl on the way from the hotel to the beach.

Whether you’re preparing to visit in person or simply enjoying the sites from afar, make yourself a caipirinha or have a Pão de Queijo (delicious Brazilian cheese bread) while you explore.


Posted by Marcus Leal, Google Maps manager in Brazil]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-in-the-sites-of-rio-de-janeiro-before-the-games-begin/feed/ 0 Bring the world’s changing forests inside the classroom https://googledata.org/google-earth/bring-the-worlds-changing-forests-inside-the-classroom/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/bring-the-worlds-changing-forests-inside-the-classroom/#comments Wed, 25 May 2016 21:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=026b029a439aab1ae2672a8c9d331596 Science in the Classroom, Dr. Matt Hansen of the University of Maryland, and Google Earth Engine are presenting Global Forest Change Explorer to help engage young people in forest conservation.


The Global Forest Change Explorer website contains maps that are available for interactive analysis as well as an accompanying activity worksheet. The Explorer Tool allows students to quickly visualize trends in forest loss and gain, compare different countries and ecoregions, and apply the forest data to try to predict underlying causes where there is significant change in forest density. The Explorer Tool relies on open data that is used by remote sensing and GIS professionals in their work.

Fly to different parts of the world and compare data.

A number of years ago, Dr. Matt Hansen and a team of researchers at the University of Maryland turned to Google Earth Engine to map high-resolution global forest cover with Earth Engine's cloud-based image processing and computing. The team mapped global forest loss and gain from 2000 to 2012 at 30-meter resolution for the entire globe. In 2013, the methods and results were published in Science Magazine and online for everyone to explore. These findings are now an important part of the website Global Forest Watch, which gives governments and decision makers free access to the data and tools required to monitor and manage their forests.

Screen Shot 2016-05-11 at 9.06.46 PM.png
Dr. Matt Hansen presenting at the World Economic Forum

Science in the Classroom (SitC) thought this was great research to bring into the classroom and make available to anyone online. SitC packages annotated research papers with supplemental teaching materials to help pre-college and college students understand the structure and workings of scientific research. SitC and Google Earth Engine built the Global Forest Change Explorer to make Dr. Hansen’s data accessible to a younger audience.

Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 12.38.38 PM.png

We live in a dynamic world where the pressures of population growth increasingly impact and threaten our forests. However, as technology, open data, and people continue to mobilize, we are given more tools to research the health of our planet. Educators can easily flip their classrooms into science labs by combining SitC materials with Global Forest Change Explorer. With these tools, students will leave sessions with richer understanding of environmental change, more curiosity, and a desire to actively participate in protecting our forests.

Get started with Global Forest Change Explorer today!


Posted by Emily Henderson, Google Geo Education Outreach]]> Science in the Classroom, Dr. Matt Hansen of the University of Maryland, and Google Earth Engine are presenting Global Forest Change Explorer to help engage young people in forest conservation.


The Global Forest Change Explorer website contains maps that are available for interactive analysis as well as an accompanying activity worksheet. The Explorer Tool allows students to quickly visualize trends in forest loss and gain, compare different countries and ecoregions, and apply the forest data to try to predict underlying causes where there is significant change in forest density. The Explorer Tool relies on open data that is used by remote sensing and GIS professionals in their work.

Fly to different parts of the world and compare data.

A number of years ago, Dr. Matt Hansen and a team of researchers at the University of Maryland turned to Google Earth Engine to map high-resolution global forest cover with Earth Engine's cloud-based image processing and computing. The team mapped global forest loss and gain from 2000 to 2012 at 30-meter resolution for the entire globe. In 2013, the methods and results were published in Science Magazine and online for everyone to explore. These findings are now an important part of the website Global Forest Watch, which gives governments and decision makers free access to the data and tools required to monitor and manage their forests.

Screen Shot 2016-05-11 at 9.06.46 PM.png
Dr. Matt Hansen presenting at the World Economic Forum

Science in the Classroom (SitC) thought this was great research to bring into the classroom and make available to anyone online. SitC packages annotated research papers with supplemental teaching materials to help pre-college and college students understand the structure and workings of scientific research. SitC and Google Earth Engine built the Global Forest Change Explorer to make Dr. Hansen’s data accessible to a younger audience.

Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 12.38.38 PM.png

We live in a dynamic world where the pressures of population growth increasingly impact and threaten our forests. However, as technology, open data, and people continue to mobilize, we are given more tools to research the health of our planet. Educators can easily flip their classrooms into science labs by combining SitC materials with Global Forest Change Explorer. With these tools, students will leave sessions with richer understanding of environmental change, more curiosity, and a desire to actively participate in protecting our forests.

Get started with Global Forest Change Explorer today!


Posted by Emily Henderson, Google Geo Education Outreach]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/bring-the-worlds-changing-forests-inside-the-classroom/feed/ 0 Get away for Memorial Day with Google Maps’ road trip-friendly features and tips https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-away-for-memorial-day-with-google-maps-road-trip-friendly-features-and-tips/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-away-for-memorial-day-with-google-maps-road-trip-friendly-features-and-tips/#comments Thu, 19 May 2016 22:31:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=2dd121bbd1c49ad5cecb4bb29cb2fe54
Searching within Navigation: Make quick pit stops without long detours. Search for places along your route without ever leaving navigation mode. Once in navigation mode, just tap the magnifying glass and then tap a category like “gas stations” and see real-time gas prices or “restaurants” to see dining options close to you. Tap “search for more places” to search for a venue outside the preset categories. And no matter what you search for, you’re alerted to how much detour time the stop will add to your trip. Available on iPhone and Android
Offline Maps: Search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation even when you hit a dead zone. Before you leave and still have a wifi connection, just download the region you’ll be traveling within for an uninterrupted navigation experience once you hit the road. Available on Android and iPhone
Real-time Traffic Alerts and Dynamic Rerouting: Google Maps gives you the best and fastest route based on current and historic traffic conditions. When you Input a destination, you get alerted about upcoming traffic conditions. And while on the road, Google Maps gives you a heads up if congestion lies ahead along with an estimate of how long the delay will be. You’ll also get suggestions for an alternative route (if a faster one is available) with an explanation for why it’s recommended. Available on Android and iPhone



Toll and Ferry Notifications: Never get caught without exact change again. You’ll see a toll icon when your route includes toll roads and you’ll see a ferry icon if your route requires you to take a ferry. To avoid tolls and ferries completely, select “Route options” when you search for driving directions and check off the categories you want to avoid. Available on Android and iPhone

Explore: Once you get to your destination, open Google Maps and tap “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen. Based on the time of day, you’ll see relevant lists of food and drink locations nearby. Available on Android and rolling out to iPhone users in the US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain now




Now that you’ve got the scoop on road trip-friendly features, get familiar with some time-saving tips. Master these simple hacks and you’ll practically be a Google Maps ninja.
  • Shift into navigation mode faster: You can access navigation mode in Maps (turn-by-turn directions and dictation) by tapping and holding the car, bike, or walk icon in the bottom right corner of your phone screen. Available on Android and iPhone
  • Get oriented with one tap: Tap the compass in the top right corner of your screen, and the map will shift to match the direction you’re facing. Available on Android and iPhone
  • Try the one-handed zoom: If you've only got one hand free, you can still zoom into your map—just double tap the screen and swipe up or down to zoom in and out. Available on Android and iPhone
  • Quickly access Street View on the go: On your phone, long press somewhere on the map to drop a pin, search for a place, or select a location already shown. Tap the bar at the bottom of the screen and then tap again on the image with the 360 degree arrow in the bottom left hand corner to enter Street View mode. To take a look around your destination just swipe around the Street View image. Available on Android and iPhone
Posted by Amanda Leicht Moore, Google Maps Product Manager]]>
Searching within Navigation: Make quick pit stops without long detours. Search for places along your route without ever leaving navigation mode. Once in navigation mode, just tap the magnifying glass and then tap a category like “gas stations” and see real-time gas prices or “restaurants” to see dining options close to you. Tap “search for more places” to search for a venue outside the preset categories. And no matter what you search for, you’re alerted to how much detour time the stop will add to your trip. Available on iPhone and Android
Offline Maps: Search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation even when you hit a dead zone. Before you leave and still have a wifi connection, just download the region you’ll be traveling within for an uninterrupted navigation experience once you hit the road. Available on Android and iPhone
Real-time Traffic Alerts and Dynamic Rerouting: Google Maps gives you the best and fastest route based on current and historic traffic conditions. When you Input a destination, you get alerted about upcoming traffic conditions. And while on the road, Google Maps gives you a heads up if congestion lies ahead along with an estimate of how long the delay will be. You’ll also get suggestions for an alternative route (if a faster one is available) with an explanation for why it’s recommended. Available on Android and iPhone



Toll and Ferry Notifications: Never get caught without exact change again. You’ll see a toll icon when your route includes toll roads and you’ll see a ferry icon if your route requires you to take a ferry. To avoid tolls and ferries completely, select “Route options” when you search for driving directions and check off the categories you want to avoid. Available on Android and iPhone

Explore: Once you get to your destination, open Google Maps and tap “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen. Based on the time of day, you’ll see relevant lists of food and drink locations nearby. Available on Android and rolling out to iPhone users in the US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain now




Now that you’ve got the scoop on road trip-friendly features, get familiar with some time-saving tips. Master these simple hacks and you’ll practically be a Google Maps ninja.
  • Shift into navigation mode faster: You can access navigation mode in Maps (turn-by-turn directions and dictation) by tapping and holding the car, bike, or walk icon in the bottom right corner of your phone screen. Available on Android and iPhone
  • Get oriented with one tap: Tap the compass in the top right corner of your screen, and the map will shift to match the direction you’re facing. Available on Android and iPhone
  • Try the one-handed zoom: If you've only got one hand free, you can still zoom into your map—just double tap the screen and swipe up or down to zoom in and out. Available on Android and iPhone
  • Quickly access Street View on the go: On your phone, long press somewhere on the map to drop a pin, search for a place, or select a location already shown. Tap the bar at the bottom of the screen and then tap again on the image with the 360 degree arrow in the bottom left hand corner to enter Street View mode. To take a look around your destination just swipe around the Street View image. Available on Android and iPhone
Posted by Amanda Leicht Moore, Google Maps Product Manager ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-away-for-memorial-day-with-google-maps-road-trip-friendly-features-and-tips/feed/ 0 Your trip to Argentina awaits in Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/your-trip-to-argentina-awaits-in-street-view/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/your-trip-to-argentina-awaits-in-street-view/#comments Tue, 10 May 2016 03:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=1a356c58bdd3096672ba93720ccb3d4e Argentina’s most breathtaking national parks right from your Google Maps app for Android or iOS.

Standing at the foot of breathtaking falls in the Parque Nacional Iguazú, you can almost feel the mist swirling around you. Not to be missed, the Iguazú waterfalls are one of the New7Wonders of Nature.


No trip to Argentina is complete without gazing at the glorious Perito Moreno Glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park. The ice is 30 km in length and is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field—the world's third largest reserve of fresh water.


This is only the tip of the iceberg (or should we say glacier?). Experience even more of Argentina in Street View in Google Maps in our Street View Gallery.

Posted by Maite Iturria Arrospide, Program Manager for Google Maps]]> Argentina’s most breathtaking national parks right from your Google Maps app for Android or iOS.

Standing at the foot of breathtaking falls in the Parque Nacional Iguazú, you can almost feel the mist swirling around you. Not to be missed, the Iguazú waterfalls are one of the New7Wonders of Nature.


No trip to Argentina is complete without gazing at the glorious Perito Moreno Glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park. The ice is 30 km in length and is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field—the world's third largest reserve of fresh water.


This is only the tip of the iceberg (or should we say glacier?). Experience even more of Argentina in Street View in Google Maps in our Street View Gallery.

Posted by Maite Iturria Arrospide, Program Manager for Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/your-trip-to-argentina-awaits-in-street-view/feed/ 0 Get around Rio with indoor maps of 2016 Olympic venues https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-around-rio-with-indoor-maps-of-2016-olympic-venues/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-around-rio-with-indoor-maps-of-2016-olympic-venues/#comments Tue, 03 May 2016 19:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f868bcc4461f73e7e6d2e788cf6356d5
A few weeks ago we launched real-time transit in Rio de Janeiro. Now for the first time ever, you’ll be able to see indoor maps for 25 official indoor venues and enhanced outdoor maps of 12 official outdoor venues of the upcoming Olympic Games on Google Maps for desktop, Android and iOS.

Using indoor maps is easy. Just open Google Maps on your computer or mobile phone, search for a place that has indoor maps, zoom into the place, and click on it. At the bottom right side of the screen, choose among the floors and levels of the building. Points of interest like concessions, restrooms, information desks, and ATM machines are highlighted for easy identification.

Whether planning to attend the Games or just daydreaming about an Olympic getaway, you can view indoor maps of the venues on Google Maps. Here’s a sneak peek:



The opening ceremony will kick off the Games at the iconic Maracanã, where matches for one of the most popular events will take place—fútbol.


The new Future Arena will house handball games. Eventually, it will be taken apart and repurposed to build four public schools.


Golf is back at the Olympics after a 112-year hiatus. The competition will take place at the custom made 18-hole Olympic Golf Course.

Not heading to the Olympics? Don’t worry. With more than 3 billion square feet of indoor maps globally, Google Maps can help you get around the venues you're visiting this summer—whether you're cheering on the athletes in Rio, or closer to home.

Posted by Marcus Leal, Google Maps Product Manager, Latin America]]>
A few weeks ago we launched real-time transit in Rio de Janeiro. Now for the first time ever, you’ll be able to see indoor maps for 25 official indoor venues and enhanced outdoor maps of 12 official outdoor venues of the upcoming Olympic Games on Google Maps for desktop, Android and iOS.

Using indoor maps is easy. Just open Google Maps on your computer or mobile phone, search for a place that has indoor maps, zoom into the place, and click on it. At the bottom right side of the screen, choose among the floors and levels of the building. Points of interest like concessions, restrooms, information desks, and ATM machines are highlighted for easy identification.

Whether planning to attend the Games or just daydreaming about an Olympic getaway, you can view indoor maps of the venues on Google Maps. Here’s a sneak peek:



The opening ceremony will kick off the Games at the iconic Maracanã, where matches for one of the most popular events will take place—fútbol.


The new Future Arena will house handball games. Eventually, it will be taken apart and repurposed to build four public schools.


Golf is back at the Olympics after a 112-year hiatus. The competition will take place at the custom made 18-hole Olympic Golf Course.

Not heading to the Olympics? Don’t worry. With more than 3 billion square feet of indoor maps globally, Google Maps can help you get around the venues you're visiting this summer—whether you're cheering on the athletes in Rio, or closer to home.

Posted by Marcus Leal, Google Maps Product Manager, Latin America]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-around-rio-with-indoor-maps-of-2016-olympic-venues/feed/ 0 A Street View salute to travel and tourism in the US https://googledata.org/google-earth/a-street-view-salute-to-travel-and-tourism-in-the-us/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/a-street-view-salute-to-travel-and-tourism-in-the-us/#comments Tue, 03 May 2016 16:30:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=88329ddb891dfede732f28a880643897 National Travel and Tourism Week, Google Maps is releasing some new scenic Street View sights across the US collected with our partners in the Trekker Loan Program. In anticipation of the warm summer months ahead, discover and explore botanical gardens tours, historic boardwalks cruises and stunning city views all in your Google Maps app for Android and iOS.

Beginning our tour in Texas, working with our partners at the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, you can take a summer dip in the pristine Hamilton Pool, a popular swimming hole for tourists and residents alike. Heading west to El Paso with our partners at Visit El Paso, you can take a breathtaking walk through Hueco Tanks State Park, where rock climbers and hikers delight in the winding trails through canyons filled with unique bird species and botanicals. And for those in Houston, a stroll through Hermann Park thanks to Houston Parks Board, provides a scenic getaway in the heart of the city where visitors can enjoy a bit of recreation and relaxation.


Heading east, you’ll find Mississippi's scenic summer offerings from our partners at Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. First you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, where the endangered sandhill cranes hail during their migration patterns. You can also enjoy the afternoon sun at the Pascagoula Beach Park and Recreation Area.


End your tour in the northwest, where national parks are plentiful and the natural views will leave you breathless. In Oregon, with our partners at Travel Lane County, you can see the Heceta Head Lighthouse, the most photographed lighthouse on the West Coast. Then see if you can uncover the winding trail to Salt Creek Falls, Oregon’s second tallest waterfall.


America’s unique history and beauty make it a great destination. To see more sites, explore our U.S. Highlights Gallery.

Posted by Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Communications Manager]]> National Travel and Tourism Week, Google Maps is releasing some new scenic Street View sights across the US collected with our partners in the Trekker Loan Program. In anticipation of the warm summer months ahead, discover and explore botanical gardens tours, historic boardwalks cruises and stunning city views all in your Google Maps app for Android and iOS.

Beginning our tour in Texas, working with our partners at the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, you can take a summer dip in the pristine Hamilton Pool, a popular swimming hole for tourists and residents alike. Heading west to El Paso with our partners at Visit El Paso, you can take a breathtaking walk through Hueco Tanks State Park, where rock climbers and hikers delight in the winding trails through canyons filled with unique bird species and botanicals. And for those in Houston, a stroll through Hermann Park thanks to Houston Parks Board, provides a scenic getaway in the heart of the city where visitors can enjoy a bit of recreation and relaxation.


Heading east, you’ll find Mississippi's scenic summer offerings from our partners at Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. First you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, where the endangered sandhill cranes hail during their migration patterns. You can also enjoy the afternoon sun at the Pascagoula Beach Park and Recreation Area.


End your tour in the northwest, where national parks are plentiful and the natural views will leave you breathless. In Oregon, with our partners at Travel Lane County, you can see the Heceta Head Lighthouse, the most photographed lighthouse on the West Coast. Then see if you can uncover the winding trail to Salt Creek Falls, Oregon’s second tallest waterfall.


America’s unique history and beauty make it a great destination. To see more sites, explore our U.S. Highlights Gallery.

Posted by Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Communications Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/a-street-view-salute-to-travel-and-tourism-in-the-us/feed/ 0 Sydney Opera House sets sail on Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/sydney-opera-house-sets-sail-on-street-view/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/sydney-opera-house-sets-sail-on-street-view/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2016 01:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=82df4cf02099bf2bbe4ee33616f2d642 by millions of people each year, this architectural masterpiece can now be explored right from your Android or iPhone in Google Maps with the launch of the Sydney Opera House on Street View.

With this new collection, you can stand on the steps of the Opera House and gaze at the white sails, look out at Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, or take in the hustle and bustle of Circular Quay in 360-degree panoramic imagery from wherever you are.

Feel what it’s like to stand on the stage of the Concert Hall and look up at the acoustic clouds.


And go behind-the-scenes to spaces rarely seen by the public, like the stage of the Joan Sutherland Theatre.


Or see the impressive tapestry designed by the Sydney Opera House’s architect Jørn Utzon, which hangs in the room now named after him and overlooking Sydney Harbour.


Today’s new Street View collection is part of the opening of the Sydney Opera House on the Google Cultural Institute. To access this imagery, search for Sydney Opera House in Google Maps for mobile (available for both Android and iOS), and select the Street View option to enter your own 360-degree tour. We hope you enjoy exploring this Heritage listed site with Street View.

Posted by Cynthia Wei, Street View Program Manager Asia Pacific]]> by millions of people each year, this architectural masterpiece can now be explored right from your Android or iPhone in Google Maps with the launch of the Sydney Opera House on Street View.

With this new collection, you can stand on the steps of the Opera House and gaze at the white sails, look out at Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, or take in the hustle and bustle of Circular Quay in 360-degree panoramic imagery from wherever you are.

Feel what it’s like to stand on the stage of the Concert Hall and look up at the acoustic clouds.


And go behind-the-scenes to spaces rarely seen by the public, like the stage of the Joan Sutherland Theatre.


Or see the impressive tapestry designed by the Sydney Opera House’s architect Jørn Utzon, which hangs in the room now named after him and overlooking Sydney Harbour.


Today’s new Street View collection is part of the opening of the Sydney Opera House on the Google Cultural Institute. To access this imagery, search for Sydney Opera House in Google Maps for mobile (available for both Android and iOS), and select the Street View option to enter your own 360-degree tour. We hope you enjoy exploring this Heritage listed site with Street View.

Posted by Cynthia Wei, Street View Program Manager Asia Pacific]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/sydney-opera-house-sets-sail-on-street-view/feed/ 0 How technology can help us become more sustainable https://googledata.org/google-earth/how-technology-can-help-us-become-more-sustainable-2/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/how-technology-can-help-us-become-more-sustainable-2/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=8ee370f2cd3b3f5b26df7969a1faaaed understand our changing world and live more sustainably—whether it’s connecting people with public transit routes, or using the data that powers Google Earth to help you see if your roof is good for solar panels. In honor of Earth Day this month, we’ve gathered together some of the ways Google can help you reduce your everyday emissions and learn more about preserving our world.

Monitoring forests and wildlife
Google Earth satellite technology gives scientists and environmentalists a way to measure and visualize changes of the world on both land and water. This technology can have great impact on monitoring endangered animal populations around the world. For example, with the help of Global Forest Watch, powered by Google Earth Engine, scientists at the University of Minnesota are suggesting that wild tiger populations may rebound by 2022, due to the efforts to restore tiger habitats in key regions.

Anyone can now view tiger conservation areas (in orange and yellow above) using Global Forest Watch

Going solar
Looking to generate clean energy savings with solar power on your home? Check out Project Sunroof, a solar calculator that estimates the impact and potential savings of installing solar on the roof of your home. Taking Google Earth imagery and overlaying annual sun exposure and weather patterns, Sunroof is able to assess viable roof space for solar panel installation, estimate the value of solar and savings based on local energy costs, and connect you with providers of solar panels in your area.

As of this week, Sunroof expanded to 42 states across the U.S. (from 10 states in December), which makes imagery and data available for a solar analysis to 43 million rooftops. We’re also working with organizations like Sierra Club and their Ready for 100 campaign to help analyze the solar potential of cities across the US.


Project Sunroof shows you the solar potential of your home and city, allowing you to realize its renewable potential. The image on the right shows how much sunshine Denver, CO residents can capture with solar.
Measuring air pollutants
For the past few years, Google Earth Outreach and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have been working together to map methane leaks from natural gas pipelines under our streets. Since methane is a very potent greenhouse gas (GHG), even small leaks can add up to big emissions that can hurt our climate. By attaching methane analyzers to select Street View cars, we’ve driven more than 7,500 miles and have mapped 4,200+ leaks in 10 cities. What we found ranges from an average of one leak per mile (in Boston) to one leak every 200 miles (in Indianapolis), demonstrating the effectiveness of techniques like using plastic piping instead of steel for pipeline construction. We hope utilities can use this data to prioritize the replacement of gas mains and service lines (like New Jersey’s PSE&G announced last fall). We’re also partnering with Aclima to measure many more pollutants with Street View cars in California communities through this year.


Anyone can explore the maps at www.edf.org/methanemaps

Technology is crucial to increasing energy efficiency, raising climate change awareness, and sustainability efforts. To learn more about what you can do to help, take a moment to explore our Google Earth Outreach site, where these tools and more are described in depth.

Posted by Rebecca Moore, Engineering Director, Google Earth, Earth Engine & Outreach]]> understand our changing world and live more sustainably—whether it’s connecting people with public transit routes, or using the data that powers Google Earth to help you see if your roof is good for solar panels. In honor of Earth Day this month, we’ve gathered together some of the ways Google can help you reduce your everyday emissions and learn more about preserving our world.

Monitoring forests and wildlife
Google Earth satellite technology gives scientists and environmentalists a way to measure and visualize changes of the world on both land and water. This technology can have great impact on monitoring endangered animal populations around the world. For example, with the help of Global Forest Watch, powered by Google Earth Engine, scientists at the University of Minnesota are suggesting that wild tiger populations may rebound by 2022, due to the efforts to restore tiger habitats in key regions.

Anyone can now view tiger conservation areas (in orange and yellow above) using Global Forest Watch

Going solar
Looking to generate clean energy savings with solar power on your home? Check out Project Sunroof, a solar calculator that estimates the impact and potential savings of installing solar on the roof of your home. Taking Google Earth imagery and overlaying annual sun exposure and weather patterns, Sunroof is able to assess viable roof space for solar panel installation, estimate the value of solar and savings based on local energy costs, and connect you with providers of solar panels in your area.

As of this week, Sunroof expanded to 42 states across the U.S. (from 10 states in December), which makes imagery and data available for a solar analysis to 43 million rooftops. We’re also working with organizations like Sierra Club and their Ready for 100 campaign to help analyze the solar potential of cities across the US.


Project Sunroof shows you the solar potential of your home and city, allowing you to realize its renewable potential. The image on the right shows how much sunshine Denver, CO residents can capture with solar.
Measuring air pollutants
For the past few years, Google Earth Outreach and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have been working together to map methane leaks from natural gas pipelines under our streets. Since methane is a very potent greenhouse gas (GHG), even small leaks can add up to big emissions that can hurt our climate. By attaching methane analyzers to select Street View cars, we’ve driven more than 7,500 miles and have mapped 4,200+ leaks in 10 cities. What we found ranges from an average of one leak per mile (in Boston) to one leak every 200 miles (in Indianapolis), demonstrating the effectiveness of techniques like using plastic piping instead of steel for pipeline construction. We hope utilities can use this data to prioritize the replacement of gas mains and service lines (like New Jersey’s PSE&G announced last fall). We’re also partnering with Aclima to measure many more pollutants with Street View cars in California communities through this year.


Anyone can explore the maps at www.edf.org/methanemaps

Technology is crucial to increasing energy efficiency, raising climate change awareness, and sustainability efforts. To learn more about what you can do to help, take a moment to explore our Google Earth Outreach site, where these tools and more are described in depth.

Posted by Rebecca Moore, Engineering Director, Google Earth, Earth Engine & Outreach]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/how-technology-can-help-us-become-more-sustainable-2/feed/ 0 Explore the wonders of Thailand with Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-wonders-of-thailand-with-street-view/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-wonders-of-thailand-with-street-view/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2016 01:03:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=4b8ce8edb1b9032f9b9fbdc05baeb30d
Nestled in northern Thailand, Sukhothai Historical Park was once the capital of ancient Siam. Sukhothai means “dawn of happiness”, and now you too can explore this happy place from the palm of your hand with Google Maps. Today, the park joins over 150 new places and national treasures that are now available in 360-degree panoramic imagery on Google Street View.

From ancient temples, to tropical beaches, to strawberry plantations and rice terraces, this new Street View collection showcases the beauty and diversity of The Kingdom. Our intrepid trekker walked 500 kilometers with a heavy backpack across the length and breadth of the country to capture images of places like this:
Trekking around the Chai Watthanaram Temple at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Central Thailand
Temple visits are a must for any visitor to Thailand.
Now you can wander virtually through the ruins of the Chai Watthanaram Temple and pay your virtual respects to Buddha peaking out from behind ancient tree roots at the Ayutthaya Historical Park. See ancient Khmer ruins at Phanom Rung National Park, or get up close to the intricate Buddhist and Hindu sculptures at the The Sanctuary of Truth — a temple made entirely of wood, just outside Bangkok.

You can also explore the Chinese architecture of the Viharn Sien Chinese Cultural and Religion Museum.


Or take a whirlwind tour around Thailand’s most famous monuments and architectural attractions all in one place at Ancient Siam. Dubbed the world's largest outdoor museum, the park is shaped like Thailand and is home to monuments of The Old Market Town and The Pavilion of the Enlightened.

For good fortune, why not head over to the Erawan Museum just outside the capital? There you’ll find a giant Erawan statue, a mythological three-headed elephant, filled with antiquities and artifacts.


Our trekker also found some real elephants on his travels, too. As well as bringing the 'retirement home' for elephants to Street View, we also had a chance to say hi to this big feller while capturing the Thai Thani Art & Culture Village in Eastern Thailand.
Trekker says hi to the elephants at the Thai Thani Art & Culture Village
For something a little cooler, head north to Chiang Mai where you can see mist rolling over the 2000 Tea Plantation and the Ban Nor Lae Village Strawberry Fields.


Those strawberry fields really do feel like forever when you’re carrying the trekker:

No trip to Thailand is complete without a tour of The Kingdom’s stunning southern beaches. You can laze around Koh Samui’s white stretches of sand, take in the lagoons, cliffs and islets of Hin Ta Hin Yai and Koh Nang Yuan, or find a quiet grotto to watch the boats go by. There’s no shortage of inspiration for your next diving or beach get away.
Taking in the views at Koh Nang Yuan

Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy exploring the wonders of Thailand. We hope that visiting The Kingdom with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country.

Posted by Cynthia Wei, Program Manager, Google Street View
]]>
Nestled in northern Thailand, Sukhothai Historical Park was once the capital of ancient Siam. Sukhothai means “dawn of happiness”, and now you too can explore this happy place from the palm of your hand with Google Maps. Today, the park joins over 150 new places and national treasures that are now available in 360-degree panoramic imagery on Google Street View.

From ancient temples, to tropical beaches, to strawberry plantations and rice terraces, this new Street View collection showcases the beauty and diversity of The Kingdom. Our intrepid trekker walked 500 kilometers with a heavy backpack across the length and breadth of the country to capture images of places like this:
Trekking around the Chai Watthanaram Temple at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Central Thailand
Temple visits are a must for any visitor to Thailand.
Now you can wander virtually through the ruins of the Chai Watthanaram Temple and pay your virtual respects to Buddha peaking out from behind ancient tree roots at the Ayutthaya Historical Park. See ancient Khmer ruins at Phanom Rung National Park, or get up close to the intricate Buddhist and Hindu sculptures at the The Sanctuary of Truth — a temple made entirely of wood, just outside Bangkok.

You can also explore the Chinese architecture of the Viharn Sien Chinese Cultural and Religion Museum.


Or take a whirlwind tour around Thailand’s most famous monuments and architectural attractions all in one place at Ancient Siam. Dubbed the world's largest outdoor museum, the park is shaped like Thailand and is home to monuments of The Old Market Town and The Pavilion of the Enlightened.

For good fortune, why not head over to the Erawan Museum just outside the capital? There you’ll find a giant Erawan statue, a mythological three-headed elephant, filled with antiquities and artifacts.


Our trekker also found some real elephants on his travels, too. As well as bringing the 'retirement home' for elephants to Street View, we also had a chance to say hi to this big feller while capturing the Thai Thani Art & Culture Village in Eastern Thailand.
Trekker says hi to the elephants at the Thai Thani Art & Culture Village
For something a little cooler, head north to Chiang Mai where you can see mist rolling over the 2000 Tea Plantation and the Ban Nor Lae Village Strawberry Fields.


Those strawberry fields really do feel like forever when you’re carrying the trekker:

No trip to Thailand is complete without a tour of The Kingdom’s stunning southern beaches. You can laze around Koh Samui’s white stretches of sand, take in the lagoons, cliffs and islets of Hin Ta Hin Yai and Koh Nang Yuan, or find a quiet grotto to watch the boats go by. There’s no shortage of inspiration for your next diving or beach get away.
Taking in the views at Koh Nang Yuan

Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy exploring the wonders of Thailand. We hope that visiting The Kingdom with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country.

Posted by Cynthia Wei, Program Manager, Google Street View
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-the-wonders-of-thailand-with-street-view/feed/ 0 Ayubowan Sri Lanka! https://googledata.org/google-earth/ayubowan-sri-lanka/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/ayubowan-sri-lanka/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2016 03:37:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=38bb27a7adf0513c48b53a0083afa9a8

When the explorer Marco Polo visited Sri Lanka in 1265, he described it as “the finest island of its size in all the world.” Tourists from around the world agree, as it’s become an increasingly popular travel destination, especially for those who want to explore the country’s rich history and natural beauty. Now even more people around the world will be able to discover some of the jewels that this fine island has to offer — minus the treacherous sea voyage — with Street View.

From the hustle and bustle of downtown Colombo, to the cool tea plantation hills, and onwards to the sandy white beaches, Sri Lanka is as beautiful as it is diverse. To capture this imagery, we drove close to 50,000 kilometers across every state and province so that you can virtually explore this beautiful landscape from coast to coast.

Start your tour — perhaps with a cup of Ceylon tea in hand — on the winding Beragala-Hali Ela Highway. Home to many of the world’s best brews, you’ll be able to see people growing, picking and packing tea among the lush rolling hills along the way.

The Bergala tea estates on the Beragala-Hali Ela Highway

For even more majestic jungle and some mountain views, take a tour along the country’s first modern highway — the Colombo-Kandy road. Starting in Sri Lanka’s biggest city, you will journey through some spectacular scenery as you head inland to Kandy where you can see the relic of the tooth of Buddha.

You’ll see hills, jungle and many a three-wheeler on the Colombo-Kandy road

You can then take virtual leap across the island to the Kandy-Jaffna highway, which heads out to the coast and down to the Elephant Pass Causeway. While you may not see any elephants, this stretch of road connecting North and South Sri Lanka gives you a 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean on either side of the road.

The Elephant Pass Causeway is surrounded by the Indian Ocean

While you’re on the coast why not check out Arugum Bay? This popular surfing spot in the country’s southeast is renowned for its amazing point break. If you prefer spending time on the sand rather than on a board, the sleepy little fishing village of Point Pedro on the northern tip of the island has some pristine beaches to explore.

Point Pedro is home to many remote beaches

Once you’ve taken in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, you might be ready to take in some culture. Head north to Anuradhapura, and catch a glimpse of the ancient Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. Believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself, it was built in 140 B.C. and today remains one of the world’s tallest monuments, standing at over 100 meters.

 The ancient Ruwanwelisaya Stupa peaks out from behind the trees

Why not complete your tour by heading back to Colombo where you can see Old Parliament House. Built during the British colonial era, it is home to the first democratic parliament, and the Independence Memorial Hall which commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule 1948.

Street View cars parked at the Independence Avenue

We hope that visiting Sri Lanka with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy the Land of Lions.

Posted by Nishant Nair, Program Manager, APAC Street View Operations

]]>

When the explorer Marco Polo visited Sri Lanka in 1265, he described it as “the finest island of its size in all the world.” Tourists from around the world agree, as it’s become an increasingly popular travel destination, especially for those who want to explore the country’s rich history and natural beauty. Now even more people around the world will be able to discover some of the jewels that this fine island has to offer — minus the treacherous sea voyage — with Street View.

From the hustle and bustle of downtown Colombo, to the cool tea plantation hills, and onwards to the sandy white beaches, Sri Lanka is as beautiful as it is diverse. To capture this imagery, we drove close to 50,000 kilometers across every state and province so that you can virtually explore this beautiful landscape from coast to coast.

Start your tour — perhaps with a cup of Ceylon tea in hand — on the winding Beragala-Hali Ela Highway. Home to many of the world’s best brews, you’ll be able to see people growing, picking and packing tea among the lush rolling hills along the way.

The Bergala tea estates on the Beragala-Hali Ela Highway

For even more majestic jungle and some mountain views, take a tour along the country’s first modern highway — the Colombo-Kandy road. Starting in Sri Lanka’s biggest city, you will journey through some spectacular scenery as you head inland to Kandy where you can see the relic of the tooth of Buddha.

You’ll see hills, jungle and many a three-wheeler on the Colombo-Kandy road

You can then take virtual leap across the island to the Kandy-Jaffna highway, which heads out to the coast and down to the Elephant Pass Causeway. While you may not see any elephants, this stretch of road connecting North and South Sri Lanka gives you a 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean on either side of the road.

The Elephant Pass Causeway is surrounded by the Indian Ocean

While you’re on the coast why not check out Arugum Bay? This popular surfing spot in the country’s southeast is renowned for its amazing point break. If you prefer spending time on the sand rather than on a board, the sleepy little fishing village of Point Pedro on the northern tip of the island has some pristine beaches to explore.

Point Pedro is home to many remote beaches

Once you’ve taken in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty, you might be ready to take in some culture. Head north to Anuradhapura, and catch a glimpse of the ancient Ruwanwelisaya Stupa. Believed to have been visited by the Buddha himself, it was built in 140 B.C. and today remains one of the world’s tallest monuments, standing at over 100 meters.

 The ancient Ruwanwelisaya Stupa peaks out from behind the trees

Why not complete your tour by heading back to Colombo where you can see Old Parliament House. Built during the British colonial era, it is home to the first democratic parliament, and the Independence Memorial Hall which commemorates Sri Lanka’s independence from British rule 1948.

Street View cars parked at the Independence Avenue

We hope that visiting Sri Lanka with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty and history of this beautiful country. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or are inspired to visit in person, we invite you to enjoy the Land of Lions.

Posted by Nishant Nair, Program Manager, APAC Street View Operations

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/ayubowan-sri-lanka/feed/ 0 Home Sweet Treehouse https://googledata.org/google-earth/home-sweet-treehouse/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/home-sweet-treehouse/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:45:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=2d9771560957d1392fb8c8b49c837727
There are many benefits to saving your home and work addresses in Google Maps. You can use the new driving mode for one-tap access to driving directions from your home screen. If you use public transportation to commute, you can stop guessing when the train will arrive with quick access to real-time transportation information.

Home and work are not the only places you can label in Google Maps. For example, if you look up the best route to avoid traffic on your way to your kid’s school, or to see when the next bus is coming to get to your friend’s house for your favorite sitcom every Thursday, or the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can now label these places for quick access to directions, traffic conditions, best routes and more.

To save home and work addresses and other destinations, just make sure you’re signed into your Google account. Then visit the Your Places tab or type an address, then label it. Once setup, you can just type "home", "work" or "gym" in the search bar to get directions and navigate quickly and easily from wherever you are.

What’s your dream home? If you’re a prince or princess, your castle awaits you.







 Posted By: Beth Findley, Software Engineer Google Map]]>
There are many benefits to saving your home and work addresses in Google Maps. You can use the new driving mode for one-tap access to driving directions from your home screen. If you use public transportation to commute, you can stop guessing when the train will arrive with quick access to real-time transportation information.

Home and work are not the only places you can label in Google Maps. For example, if you look up the best route to avoid traffic on your way to your kid’s school, or to see when the next bus is coming to get to your friend’s house for your favorite sitcom every Thursday, or the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can now label these places for quick access to directions, traffic conditions, best routes and more.

To save home and work addresses and other destinations, just make sure you’re signed into your Google account. Then visit the Your Places tab or type an address, then label it. Once setup, you can just type "home", "work" or "gym" in the search bar to get directions and navigate quickly and easily from wherever you are.

What’s your dream home? If you’re a prince or princess, your castle awaits you.







 Posted By: Beth Findley, Software Engineer Google Map]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/home-sweet-treehouse/feed/ 0 Your car has arrived on iOS and Android: More ways to get around with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/your-car-has-arrived-more-ways-to-get-around-with-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/your-car-has-arrived-more-ways-to-get-around-with-google-maps/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=827fccc245f3f6dec70d8f2db6e9e701
In addition to our existing global ride service partner Uber, with this update we've added new providers across five countries: 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, Hailo in the UK and Spain, mytaxi in Germany and Spain, and Gett in the UK.


If you have a provider’s app installed and tap on the ride service tab, you’ll be able to see fare estimates and pick up times if a car is available near you. Select a service, and we’ll take you directly to their app for you to book your ride with one tap. When it makes sense, we’ll also show ride service availability when viewing the map in walking and transit directions, and multiple ride services options for each provider—where they exist. For example, if you’re using Uber, starting today, we’ll now show uberX, uberXL and UberBLACK for an easy and quick comparison.


UPDATED 3/24/16: The feature is now available on both Android and iOS. So next time you’re looking to move around a city, open Google Maps on your phone to figure out your fastest mode of transport to get where you’re headed.

Posted by Holger Flier, Software Engineer

]]>
In addition to our existing global ride service partner Uber, with this update we've added new providers across five countries: 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, Hailo in the UK and Spain, mytaxi in Germany and Spain, and Gett in the UK.


If you have a provider’s app installed and tap on the ride service tab, you’ll be able to see fare estimates and pick up times if a car is available near you. Select a service, and we’ll take you directly to their app for you to book your ride with one tap. When it makes sense, we’ll also show ride service availability when viewing the map in walking and transit directions, and multiple ride services options for each provider—where they exist. For example, if you’re using Uber, starting today, we’ll now show uberX, uberXL and UberBLACK for an easy and quick comparison.


UPDATED 3/24/16: The feature is now available on both Android and iOS. So next time you’re looking to move around a city, open Google Maps on your phone to figure out your fastest mode of transport to get where you’re headed.

Posted by Holger Flier, Software Engineer

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/your-car-has-arrived-more-ways-to-get-around-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 The Mzansi Experience: Discover South Africa on Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-mzansi-experience-discover-south-africa-on-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-mzansi-experience-discover-south-africa-on-google-maps/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2016 09:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=e2aebda46521223d0d47a31e4299374f South Africa awaits you in Google Maps.

South Africa is known for its unique array of wildlife. Visiting Kruger National Park in Google Maps, you can see some of its majestic creatures as if you were there in real life. Catch a glimpse of a rhinoceros grazing the plains, an elephant enjoying a grassy snack, and a herd of buffalo charging against the wind. You may even spot a leopard, who often remain elusive to tourists and locals alike.


Climbing atop Table Mountain, even on a cloudy day, gives you a breathtaking view of where civilization and nature collide in Cape Town. Feeling like you’re on top of the world has never been so easy as it is at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve in the Western Cape.


For the beach bums out there, South Africa is a must. With Street View, you can watch the waves break at Sandy Bay, gaze at the clear blue sky and water at Clifton Beach, go parasailing at Sunset Beach or just take a long walk along Durban’s Golden Mile.


This South African Street View tour is just a taste of these vast plains. We hope that visiting South Africa with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the country, its wildlife and show the beauty of the African continent. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or in person, we invite you to enjoy the views and landscapes of the Rainbow Nation.

Posted by Sven Tresp, Street View Special Collections Program Manager]]> South Africa awaits you in Google Maps.

South Africa is known for its unique array of wildlife. Visiting Kruger National Park in Google Maps, you can see some of its majestic creatures as if you were there in real life. Catch a glimpse of a rhinoceros grazing the plains, an elephant enjoying a grassy snack, and a herd of buffalo charging against the wind. You may even spot a leopard, who often remain elusive to tourists and locals alike.


Climbing atop Table Mountain, even on a cloudy day, gives you a breathtaking view of where civilization and nature collide in Cape Town. Feeling like you’re on top of the world has never been so easy as it is at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve in the Western Cape.


For the beach bums out there, South Africa is a must. With Street View, you can watch the waves break at Sandy Bay, gaze at the clear blue sky and water at Clifton Beach, go parasailing at Sunset Beach or just take a long walk along Durban’s Golden Mile.


This South African Street View tour is just a taste of these vast plains. We hope that visiting South Africa with Google Maps (available on iOS and Android) will inspire a deeper appreciation for the country, its wildlife and show the beauty of the African continent. Whether you continue your journey in Google Maps or in person, we invite you to enjoy the views and landscapes of the Rainbow Nation.

Posted by Sven Tresp, Street View Special Collections Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-mzansi-experience-discover-south-africa-on-google-maps/feed/ 0 Tōhoku in pictures: Five years after the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami https://googledata.org/google-earth/tohoku-in-pictures-five-years-after-the-great-east-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/tohoku-in-pictures-five-years-after-the-great-east-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2016 01:05:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=a9cae0a20e360ecafb7e9bf70c4df52f This week marks the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. The most powerful quake recorded in Japan’s history, it devastated coastal areas across northeastern parts of the country. For the last five years, Google Maps has been capturing 360-degree, panoramic imagery of these areas with Street View cameras, as well as aerial photographs. These snapshots show what has changed in the aftermath of the disaster—and what hasn’t.

You can now see updated Street View imagery from 59 cities, 19 towns and 4 villages from the Ibaraki, Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, which was collected between June 2015 and January 2016. Part of the “Great East Japan Earthquake Digital Archive Project," this is the third Street View imagery update since the disaster.

By using Street View technology to record, exhibit and archive the damage, we hope to give people—both those who used to live there, and those who have never been—a way to see and understand the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami. It may also give future generations a vivid way to understand and remember what happened.



One of the areas most affected by the disaster was Fukushima prefecture. Naraha in Fukushima was an evacuation zone until September of last year, but is now being rebuilt and repopulated. The people of Naraha wanted to capture this rebuilding process, so they borrowed the Street View Trekker as part of the Trekker loan program so they could show the world what Naraha looks like today and share their hopes for the future.

In addition to the updated Street View imagery, we also have satellite and aerial imagery of the coast stretching from Hachinohe to Iwaki from before and after the disaster. As this timelapse with scenes from the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures shows, the road to recovery is a long one.




Miyako was one of the areas most devastated by the tsunami, with waters reaching at least 37.9 meters above sea level. As this timelapse shows, the seaside town was filled with homes and businesses before the earthquake struck in 2011. Everything was swept away by the tsunami. Clearing the rubble from the disaster took years; today, most of the new houses are being built on top of the mountain, not by the sea, in case of a future tsunami.
View of Miyako from 2009 to 2016
You can see all this imagery, as well as Street View images of these areas from before the disaster on the Google Maps "Memories for the Future" page.

Posted by Wakaba Ohkura, Google Street View Program Manager

]]> This week marks the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. The most powerful quake recorded in Japan’s history, it devastated coastal areas across northeastern parts of the country. For the last five years, Google Maps has been capturing 360-degree, panoramic imagery of these areas with Street View cameras, as well as aerial photographs. These snapshots show what has changed in the aftermath of the disaster—and what hasn’t.

You can now see updated Street View imagery from 59 cities, 19 towns and 4 villages from the Ibaraki, Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, which was collected between June 2015 and January 2016. Part of the “Great East Japan Earthquake Digital Archive Project," this is the third Street View imagery update since the disaster.

By using Street View technology to record, exhibit and archive the damage, we hope to give people—both those who used to live there, and those who have never been—a way to see and understand the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami. It may also give future generations a vivid way to understand and remember what happened.



One of the areas most affected by the disaster was Fukushima prefecture. Naraha in Fukushima was an evacuation zone until September of last year, but is now being rebuilt and repopulated. The people of Naraha wanted to capture this rebuilding process, so they borrowed the Street View Trekker as part of the Trekker loan program so they could show the world what Naraha looks like today and share their hopes for the future.

In addition to the updated Street View imagery, we also have satellite and aerial imagery of the coast stretching from Hachinohe to Iwaki from before and after the disaster. As this timelapse with scenes from the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures shows, the road to recovery is a long one.




Miyako was one of the areas most devastated by the tsunami, with waters reaching at least 37.9 meters above sea level. As this timelapse shows, the seaside town was filled with homes and businesses before the earthquake struck in 2011. Everything was swept away by the tsunami. Clearing the rubble from the disaster took years; today, most of the new houses are being built on top of the mountain, not by the sea, in case of a future tsunami.
View of Miyako from 2009 to 2016
You can see all this imagery, as well as Street View images of these areas from before the disaster on the Google Maps "Memories for the Future" page.

Posted by Wakaba Ohkura, Google Street View Program Manager

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/tohoku-in-pictures-five-years-after-the-great-east-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami/feed/ 0 The Last Great Race in Street View https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-last-great-race-in-street-view/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-last-great-race-in-street-view/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=4d4a3570e76d8778b2144b75956dd02d west coast city of Nome. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race requires the sled drivers or “mushers” to safely guide their dogs across the wilderness of Alaska through steep mountainous terrain, extremes of weather, and days of sleep deprivation. A British reporter covering the 1978 Iditarod tagged it “The Last Great Race on Earth.”


The Iditarod Trail is a National Historic trail that evolved as busy winter highway as people flocked to Alaska during the gold rush of the 1890s and 1900s. During the months that ocean access to western communities was frozen, dog sleds delivered groceries, mail, and even the preacher. On their return trip, they hauled gold and furs all the way to Anchorage or Fairbanks. On some days more than a hundred sleds headed over the Alaska Range, traveling 50 or more miles a day. Like the stagecoaches of the Old West, the mushers would stop at roadhouses along the route to rest and feed the dogs, and themselves.

At the checkpoint the musher’s first responsibility is to make sure his sled team is fed and rested. Straw is used to provide insulation from the cold ground and special wraps help keep the dogs warm.

Despite the long history of mushing in Alaska, the development of snow machines in the 1960s removed its role as a major mode of transportation, and it became primarily a recreational activity. The Iditarod Race evolved as a way to save both sled dog culture and the heritage of the Iditarod Trail. Competitors and their dog sled teams travel from checkpoint to checkpoint, just like the freight sleds did in years past. And just like those times, it’s not always an easy ride—the terrain and variable weather conditions present real challenges for the mushers, which the Google Trekker camera discovered for itself during the 2015 Iditarod.

The Google Street View Trekker wanders free near the Galena checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail

Due to unseasonably warm weather conditions over Anchorage and the Alaska Range, the route of the 2015 race was switched to begin in Fairbanks, Alaska. At the traditional “ceremonial start” (held in Anchorage), a special sled #80 driven by Dean Osmar, the 1984 Iditarod Champion, towed a second sled with a Googler wearing the trekker. The slushy conditions led to an 11-mile adventure complete with frozen puddles, cheering spectators, crashes, pink flamingos and a man-sized penguin. Sometimes our mission to map the whole world is harder than it looks!

Learning from this experience, we later successfully navigated the first 60-mile leg of the official 2015 route. Now you can follow our mushing adventures in Anchorage and Fairbanks, explore the rural Alaska communities of Galena, Unalakleet and Nome, and see the race checkpoints and finish line—all in Google Street View. This cold-weather adventure is literally at your fingertips directly from your mobile device when you download the Google Map for Mobile app on iOS and Android. And if you’re in the area in person, you can also explore and navigate to other popular spots across Anchorage and Fairbanks. Hike!

Posted by John Bailey, Program Manager for Google Geo Education]]> west coast city of Nome. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race requires the sled drivers or “mushers” to safely guide their dogs across the wilderness of Alaska through steep mountainous terrain, extremes of weather, and days of sleep deprivation. A British reporter covering the 1978 Iditarod tagged it “The Last Great Race on Earth.”


The Iditarod Trail is a National Historic trail that evolved as busy winter highway as people flocked to Alaska during the gold rush of the 1890s and 1900s. During the months that ocean access to western communities was frozen, dog sleds delivered groceries, mail, and even the preacher. On their return trip, they hauled gold and furs all the way to Anchorage or Fairbanks. On some days more than a hundred sleds headed over the Alaska Range, traveling 50 or more miles a day. Like the stagecoaches of the Old West, the mushers would stop at roadhouses along the route to rest and feed the dogs, and themselves.

At the checkpoint the musher’s first responsibility is to make sure his sled team is fed and rested. Straw is used to provide insulation from the cold ground and special wraps help keep the dogs warm.

Despite the long history of mushing in Alaska, the development of snow machines in the 1960s removed its role as a major mode of transportation, and it became primarily a recreational activity. The Iditarod Race evolved as a way to save both sled dog culture and the heritage of the Iditarod Trail. Competitors and their dog sled teams travel from checkpoint to checkpoint, just like the freight sleds did in years past. And just like those times, it’s not always an easy ride—the terrain and variable weather conditions present real challenges for the mushers, which the Google Trekker camera discovered for itself during the 2015 Iditarod.

The Google Street View Trekker wanders free near the Galena checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail

Due to unseasonably warm weather conditions over Anchorage and the Alaska Range, the route of the 2015 race was switched to begin in Fairbanks, Alaska. At the traditional “ceremonial start” (held in Anchorage), a special sled #80 driven by Dean Osmar, the 1984 Iditarod Champion, towed a second sled with a Googler wearing the trekker. The slushy conditions led to an 11-mile adventure complete with frozen puddles, cheering spectators, crashes, pink flamingos and a man-sized penguin. Sometimes our mission to map the whole world is harder than it looks!

Learning from this experience, we later successfully navigated the first 60-mile leg of the official 2015 route. Now you can follow our mushing adventures in Anchorage and Fairbanks, explore the rural Alaska communities of Galena, Unalakleet and Nome, and see the race checkpoints and finish line—all in Google Street View. This cold-weather adventure is literally at your fingertips directly from your mobile device when you download the Google Map for Mobile app on iOS and Android. And if you’re in the area in person, you can also explore and navigate to other popular spots across Anchorage and Fairbanks. Hike!

Posted by John Bailey, Program Manager for Google Geo Education]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-last-great-race-in-street-view/feed/ 0 Easily add pit stops to your trips – all over the world, on Android and iPhone https://googledata.org/google-earth/easily-add-pit-stops-to-your-trips-all-over-the-world-on-android-and-iphone/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/easily-add-pit-stops-to-your-trips-all-over-the-world-on-android-and-iphone/#comments Mon, 29 Feb 2016 14:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b1e756473b9eb0a6b17cc6c8688fa5c1
That changed last October with an update to Google Maps for Android that lets you add detours to your route, without ever leaving navigation mode. And starting today, this feature will start rolling out on iOS as well, in any country where we offer navigation—more than 100 worldwide. So no matter where you’re from, where you are, or whether you use Android or iPhone, making a pit stop is now a breeze. Here’s how it works on the iPhone:


When you're in navigation mode, simply tap the magnifying glass at the top right corner of the screen to see a menu of helpful options for places you might need to stop at, like gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants. If the drop-down options aren’t what you need, you can tap the search icon or use voice commands to search by specific name or category to find what you’re looking for. Search results include ratings and the estimated amount of time the detour will add to your trip, so you can choose the one that’s best for you.

Whether you're running an errand in your own backyard or roadtripping through a foreign land, Google Maps helps you get where you’re going, even if you have to make some stops along the way.

Posted by: Aditya Dhanrajani, Google Maps Product Manager ]]>
That changed last October with an update to Google Maps for Android that lets you add detours to your route, without ever leaving navigation mode. And starting today, this feature will start rolling out on iOS as well, in any country where we offer navigation—more than 100 worldwide. So no matter where you’re from, where you are, or whether you use Android or iPhone, making a pit stop is now a breeze. Here’s how it works on the iPhone:


When you're in navigation mode, simply tap the magnifying glass at the top right corner of the screen to see a menu of helpful options for places you might need to stop at, like gas stations, grocery stores, or restaurants. If the drop-down options aren’t what you need, you can tap the search icon or use voice commands to search by specific name or category to find what you’re looking for. Search results include ratings and the estimated amount of time the detour will add to your trip, so you can choose the one that’s best for you.

Whether you're running an errand in your own backyard or roadtripping through a foreign land, Google Maps helps you get where you’re going, even if you have to make some stops along the way.

Posted by: Aditya Dhanrajani, Google Maps Product Manager ]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/easily-add-pit-stops-to-your-trips-all-over-the-world-on-android-and-iphone/feed/ 0 And the winner is….#MapsAtTheMovies https://googledata.org/google-earth/and-the-winner-is-mapsatthemovies/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/and-the-winner-is-mapsatthemovies/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=85275ddb8a2d03650a4f599ed8dd7ff9
This tale of a remarkable man may remind you of your childhood sweetheart, inspire you to take a good, long run or eat a box of chocolates. That’s all we have to say about that.



What does it take to win 20 million rupees? Just ask this millionaire! Pro-tip: a mapping app with train schedules might come in handy.



Feeling like a washed up superhero? This Oscar winner proves Batman can still fly and is sure to please movie and theater critics alike.



Maybe through the journey of these characters you learned a little more about Google Maps, or maybe you were able to see their stories from a different perspective. Either way, grab a bowl of popcorn because SHHH . . . it’s starting!

Posted by Megan Stevenson, Google Maps Marketing Manager]]>
This tale of a remarkable man may remind you of your childhood sweetheart, inspire you to take a good, long run or eat a box of chocolates. That’s all we have to say about that.



What does it take to win 20 million rupees? Just ask this millionaire! Pro-tip: a mapping app with train schedules might come in handy.



Feeling like a washed up superhero? This Oscar winner proves Batman can still fly and is sure to please movie and theater critics alike.



Maybe through the journey of these characters you learned a little more about Google Maps, or maybe you were able to see their stories from a different perspective. Either way, grab a bowl of popcorn because SHHH . . . it’s starting!

Posted by Megan Stevenson, Google Maps Marketing Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/and-the-winner-is-mapsatthemovies/feed/ 0 Street View gets you off the sidelines and into the game https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-gets-you-off-the-sidelines-and-into-the-game/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-gets-you-off-the-sidelines-and-into-the-game/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f1d1b54415bcb0455dc1fb266d690f37
Start by revving your engines, now for the first time, NASCAR fans can zip around the Homestead Miami Speedway. Looping around the track, you can imagine driving at high speed, burning rubber along the way. More interested in tossing around a pigskin? No sweat. Just step out on the field of Century Link Stadium in Seattle, home to the Seattle Seahawks.

Homestead Miami Speedway, Miami, Florida

If futbol (not football) is what you have in mind, Google Maps can take you out on the big green. Stop by Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park, where the Colorado Rapids play, or the MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, where you can step out on the field like you’re on the Columbus Crew SC. Goallllll!

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado

Shoot some virtual hoops on the court of the Verizon Center in DC, where Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Georgetown Hoyas fans all root on their home teams. You can also hit the paint at the AT&T Center in Texas, where the San Antonio Spurs and the San Antonio Rampage take home court advantage.

Verizon Center, Washington DC

All these collections and more are also available on your mobile device, so download the Google Map for Mobile app on iOS or Android to preview can't miss spots and get simple directions, no matter which team you're rooting for.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]>
Start by revving your engines, now for the first time, NASCAR fans can zip around the Homestead Miami Speedway. Looping around the track, you can imagine driving at high speed, burning rubber along the way. More interested in tossing around a pigskin? No sweat. Just step out on the field of Century Link Stadium in Seattle, home to the Seattle Seahawks.

Homestead Miami Speedway, Miami, Florida

If futbol (not football) is what you have in mind, Google Maps can take you out on the big green. Stop by Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park, where the Colorado Rapids play, or the MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, where you can step out on the field like you’re on the Columbus Crew SC. Goallllll!

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado

Shoot some virtual hoops on the court of the Verizon Center in DC, where Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics and Georgetown Hoyas fans all root on their home teams. You can also hit the paint at the AT&T Center in Texas, where the San Antonio Spurs and the San Antonio Rampage take home court advantage.

Verizon Center, Washington DC

All these collections and more are also available on your mobile device, so download the Google Map for Mobile app on iOS or Android to preview can't miss spots and get simple directions, no matter which team you're rooting for.

Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-gets-you-off-the-sidelines-and-into-the-game/feed/ 0 “Explore around you” in five new countries…delicious discoveries await! https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-around-you-in-five-new-countries-delicious-discoveries-await/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-around-you-in-five-new-countries-delicious-discoveries-await/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2016 08:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c145c4151434983d6a972d3ddc8b7395 Already available in the U.S. and U.K, whether you’re a tourist looking for a top-rated dinner spot or a local trying to find a new neighborhood watering hole, Google Maps can help you make a delicious, timely discovery while you’re on the go.

Say you're in Milan looking for a quick bite between meetings, or you want a great spot for dinner with kids in Berlin. Tap the “Explore around you” icon at the bottom of Google Maps for mobile for a quick look at what's nearby. Options are organized by category, and once you pick the one that catches your eye (and stomach), you can easily swipe through photos and check out ratings and reviews from Google and previous diners. And for select spots, you may see information on why it’s particularly relevant to you: for example, Google Maps may recommend a place that’s popular with other diners who visited a place you’ve been to in the past.


Finally, if you’re in Tokyo or Paris, you’re in for a treat: an expanded list of categories for your taste buds are available. For Parisians, categories like Lieux mythiques; Brasseries classiques and Un verre avec une vue; En vue de la Tour Eiffel may surprise and delight. While in Tokyo, jazzy spots listed in the オールドスクール ジャズ レトロなジャズバーとクラブ might pique your interest. Pro tip for tourists: Google Translate may also come in handy when exploring these categories!

Whatever flavor you’re searching for, we hope Google Maps gets you there.

Posted by Bryan Cheng, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> Already available in the U.S. and U.K, whether you’re a tourist looking for a top-rated dinner spot or a local trying to find a new neighborhood watering hole, Google Maps can help you make a delicious, timely discovery while you’re on the go.

Say you're in Milan looking for a quick bite between meetings, or you want a great spot for dinner with kids in Berlin. Tap the “Explore around you” icon at the bottom of Google Maps for mobile for a quick look at what's nearby. Options are organized by category, and once you pick the one that catches your eye (and stomach), you can easily swipe through photos and check out ratings and reviews from Google and previous diners. And for select spots, you may see information on why it’s particularly relevant to you: for example, Google Maps may recommend a place that’s popular with other diners who visited a place you’ve been to in the past.


Finally, if you’re in Tokyo or Paris, you’re in for a treat: an expanded list of categories for your taste buds are available. For Parisians, categories like Lieux mythiques; Brasseries classiques and Un verre avec une vue; En vue de la Tour Eiffel may surprise and delight. While in Tokyo, jazzy spots listed in the オールドスクール ジャズ レトロなジャズバーとクラブ might pique your interest. Pro tip for tourists: Google Translate may also come in handy when exploring these categories!

Whatever flavor you’re searching for, we hope Google Maps gets you there.

Posted by Bryan Cheng, Product Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/explore-around-you-in-five-new-countries-delicious-discoveries-await/feed/ 0 Let Google Maps be your game day guide https://googledata.org/google-earth/let-google-maps-be-your-game-day-guide/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/let-google-maps-be-your-game-day-guide/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2016 16:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=ee160d27e5dee031a264c7913e6ab2e2
Starting today on Google Maps for Android in select cities across the U.S., you can discover the spots near you where you can get a great seat for kickoff. Just open Google Maps, tap on “explore food & drinks in this area” and select “Best Spots for the Big Game - Where to eat, drink & watch.” You’ll see a curated list of bars and restaurants around you where you can go to watch the biggest game (and best commercials) of the season. The experience is available in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver and Charlotte.


If you’re attending the festivities in person in the Bay Area, explore a My Map highlighting the locations of all the key events. Public transit is the recommended form of transportation, but if you must drive, use the Google Maps app to get around. We covered all the local road closures and transit schedule changes so you can get where you’re going without missing a play.




For those wanting to explore more of what the Bay Area has to offer, Google Maps Local Guide and foodie expert Kristin Rimbach has used My Maps to put together an insider’s guide for you to experience the best of the East Bay, the South Bay, and the city itself. East Bay highlights include some Latin love at Brazil Cafe and unmissable mac and cheese at Homeroom. If you’re going to stay within SF’s 49 square miles, she recommends stopping by Suppenkuche for hearty German fare and Smitten Ice Cream for a sweet treat.


To access these recommendations on the go, visit Kristin’s My Map and tap the star toward the top left of the map. That’ll save the My Map in Your Places in Google Maps so you can pull it up when you’re ready to explore.

Whether you’re sporting orange or blue this Sunday, we’ll help make your big game a touchdown, not a toss up.

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Water Girl



]]>
Starting today on Google Maps for Android in select cities across the U.S., you can discover the spots near you where you can get a great seat for kickoff. Just open Google Maps, tap on “explore food & drinks in this area” and select “Best Spots for the Big Game - Where to eat, drink & watch.” You’ll see a curated list of bars and restaurants around you where you can go to watch the biggest game (and best commercials) of the season. The experience is available in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Denver and Charlotte.


If you’re attending the festivities in person in the Bay Area, explore a My Map highlighting the locations of all the key events. Public transit is the recommended form of transportation, but if you must drive, use the Google Maps app to get around. We covered all the local road closures and transit schedule changes so you can get where you’re going without missing a play.




For those wanting to explore more of what the Bay Area has to offer, Google Maps Local Guide and foodie expert Kristin Rimbach has used My Maps to put together an insider’s guide for you to experience the best of the East Bay, the South Bay, and the city itself. East Bay highlights include some Latin love at Brazil Cafe and unmissable mac and cheese at Homeroom. If you’re going to stay within SF’s 49 square miles, she recommends stopping by Suppenkuche for hearty German fare and Smitten Ice Cream for a sweet treat.


To access these recommendations on the go, visit Kristin’s My Map and tap the star toward the top left of the map. That’ll save the My Map in Your Places in Google Maps so you can pull it up when you’re ready to explore.

Whether you’re sporting orange or blue this Sunday, we’ll help make your big game a touchdown, not a toss up.

Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Water Girl



]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/let-google-maps-be-your-game-day-guide/feed/ 0 Reach new heights with Street View of Mont Blanc in Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/reach-new-heights-with-street-view-of-mont-blanc-in-google-maps-2/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/reach-new-heights-with-street-view-of-mont-blanc-in-google-maps-2/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b3ec9df383a61c49fa0bb5b965657dcf Mont Blanc massif is shrouded in mystery, rolling clouds and imposing snowfields. One of Europe’s highest peaks, the wild terrain of the famed mountain range is reserved for ardent mountaineers and intrepid explorers. Starting today in Google Maps, you can get an up-close, 360-degree look at the breathtaking beauty of Mont Blanc. Following last year’s first-ever vertical imagery collection of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, we partnered with world-renowned alpine photographers, skiers, mountaineers, climbers, and runners to collect Street View of Western Europe’s highest peak.


By working with legendary adventurers, the Street View team was able to capture the spirit of the massif in a way few witness firsthand. Run on the summit with Kilian Jornet—he holds the speed record for ascending and descending Mont Blanc in just 4 hours 57 minutes! Ice climb up a serac with record-setting alpine climber Ueli Steck, or go knee deep in powder alongside 14-time ski mountaineering champion Laetitia Roux and famed guide Patrick Gabarrou.

Ueli Steck ice climbing on Mont Blanc

You can also join French climbing legend Catherine Destivelle on the imposing yet beautiful Aiguille du Midi, the 3842-meter peak near the Mont Blanc. Or, crouch below innovative filmmaker and free skier Candide Thovex as he soars through the air or has fun as only he can—by taking his skis from the snow to the grass.


Renan Ozturk, acclaimed cinematographer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, alpine photographer Jonathan Griffith, and Sender Films joined Google on Mont Blanc as part of the team.

If reaching the top is what you care about, elite guide Korra Pesce joined the troupe by carrying the Street View Trekker up and down the Goûter Route of Mont Blanc. Click through the Street View to get his first-person perspective of each step to the summit.

Climb the entire Goûter Route of the Mont Blanc massif

Unfortunately, Mont Blanc’s glaciers are receding due to climate change. You can learn more about how the rising temperatures are directly affecting the mountain from legendary guide Patrick Gabarrou, who describes the the glacial melt on the Mer de Glace. So this Street View imagery also serves as a digital record of Mont Blanc as it appears today, so future outdoor enthusiasts and scientists can look back at this time capsule to see how the mountain has changed.

Kilian Jornet on the summit of Mont Blanc

Whether you choose to run up the Mont Blanc with Kilian Jornet or ski down with Laetitia Roux, we hope you enjoy reaching new heights in Europe’s beautiful and endangered mountain range.

 Posted by Sandy Russell, Project Lead, Mont Blanc Street View]]> Mont Blanc massif is shrouded in mystery, rolling clouds and imposing snowfields. One of Europe’s highest peaks, the wild terrain of the famed mountain range is reserved for ardent mountaineers and intrepid explorers. Starting today in Google Maps, you can get an up-close, 360-degree look at the breathtaking beauty of Mont Blanc. Following last year’s first-ever vertical imagery collection of El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, we partnered with world-renowned alpine photographers, skiers, mountaineers, climbers, and runners to collect Street View of Western Europe’s highest peak.


By working with legendary adventurers, the Street View team was able to capture the spirit of the massif in a way few witness firsthand. Run on the summit with Kilian Jornet—he holds the speed record for ascending and descending Mont Blanc in just 4 hours 57 minutes! Ice climb up a serac with record-setting alpine climber Ueli Steck, or go knee deep in powder alongside 14-time ski mountaineering champion Laetitia Roux and famed guide Patrick Gabarrou.

Ueli Steck ice climbing on Mont Blanc

You can also join French climbing legend Catherine Destivelle on the imposing yet beautiful Aiguille du Midi, the 3842-meter peak near the Mont Blanc. Or, crouch below innovative filmmaker and free skier Candide Thovex as he soars through the air or has fun as only he can—by taking his skis from the snow to the grass.


Renan Ozturk, acclaimed cinematographer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, alpine photographer Jonathan Griffith, and Sender Films joined Google on Mont Blanc as part of the team.

If reaching the top is what you care about, elite guide Korra Pesce joined the troupe by carrying the Street View Trekker up and down the Goûter Route of Mont Blanc. Click through the Street View to get his first-person perspective of each step to the summit.

Climb the entire Goûter Route of the Mont Blanc massif

Unfortunately, Mont Blanc’s glaciers are receding due to climate change. You can learn more about how the rising temperatures are directly affecting the mountain from legendary guide Patrick Gabarrou, who describes the the glacial melt on the Mer de Glace. So this Street View imagery also serves as a digital record of Mont Blanc as it appears today, so future outdoor enthusiasts and scientists can look back at this time capsule to see how the mountain has changed.

Kilian Jornet on the summit of Mont Blanc

Whether you choose to run up the Mont Blanc with Kilian Jornet or ski down with Laetitia Roux, we hope you enjoy reaching new heights in Europe’s beautiful and endangered mountain range.

 Posted by Sandy Russell, Project Lead, Mont Blanc Street View]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/reach-new-heights-with-street-view-of-mont-blanc-in-google-maps-2/feed/ 0 Do I stay or do I go now? Google Maps has the answer in one tap. https://googledata.org/google-earth/do-i-stay-or-do-i-go-now-google-maps-has-the-answer-in-one-tap/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/do-i-stay-or-do-i-go-now-google-maps-has-the-answer-in-one-tap/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2016 21:22:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f523e162e615c8bf1d4083dc52d8ce0d
Well, Google Maps has good news for you. Now with just one tap on Android, you can find out whether you should hit the road or put in some gym time while you wait out the gridlock. Get information like ETAs, traffic updates, nearby gas prices and quickest routes to familiar places–like home, work and recently searched destinations–all without entering a destination.



To add a driving shortcut, press on your homescreen until Android widgets appear, then select the Google Maps driving shortcut icon.



You can also access this feature through the sidebar menu in Google Maps. Tap the sidebar menu and select the “Start Driving” option.



If you’ve preset home and work in Google Maps, you’ll see ETAs at times when you’re likely to be heading to these destinations. If you have location history enabled, we base these suggestions on location data, time of day and day of week. And if you’re logged in, we’ll suggest destinations based on recent Google Maps and Google searches when you open driving mode.

Why join the masses in bumper-to-bumper chaos when your time could be spent doing something else? With quick access to traffic info, it's now easier to make the call.


Posted By: Brian Ferris, Google Maps Software Engineer]]>
Well, Google Maps has good news for you. Now with just one tap on Android, you can find out whether you should hit the road or put in some gym time while you wait out the gridlock. Get information like ETAs, traffic updates, nearby gas prices and quickest routes to familiar places–like home, work and recently searched destinations–all without entering a destination.



To add a driving shortcut, press on your homescreen until Android widgets appear, then select the Google Maps driving shortcut icon.



You can also access this feature through the sidebar menu in Google Maps. Tap the sidebar menu and select the “Start Driving” option.



If you’ve preset home and work in Google Maps, you’ll see ETAs at times when you’re likely to be heading to these destinations. If you have location history enabled, we base these suggestions on location data, time of day and day of week. And if you’re logged in, we’ll suggest destinations based on recent Google Maps and Google searches when you open driving mode.

Why join the masses in bumper-to-bumper chaos when your time could be spent doing something else? With quick access to traffic info, it's now easier to make the call.


Posted By: Brian Ferris, Google Maps Software Engineer]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/do-i-stay-or-do-i-go-now-google-maps-has-the-answer-in-one-tap/feed/ 0 The best things come in small (Street View!) packages https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-best-things-come-in-small-street-view-packages/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-best-things-come-in-small-street-view-packages/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2016 10:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=5c66a32d0e6c6e385ca1a1e271bf61eb Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway, has come to Google Maps. Boasting 13,000 meters of track and more than 200,000 tiny citizens, the museum includes tiny replicas of a variety of German provinces, famous places in America and even a fully-functioning airport!


Street View cameras have floated on gondolas in Venice, ridden on camels in the Liwa Desert and soared on snowmobiles on Canadian slopes. But to capture the nooks and crannies in Miniatur Wunderland, we worked with our partner at Ubilabs to build an entirely new—and much smaller—device. Tiny cameras were mounted on tiny vehicles that were able to drive the roads and over the train tracks, weaving through the Wunderland’s little worlds to capture their hidden treasures.
Google Maps’ miniature Street View devices cruising the railways and streets of Miniatur Wunderland

Touring the marvels of Wunderland, you must first begin in its oldest section: Knuffingen, a fictional town situated squarely between the Alps and Harz. Become one of this tiny city’s 10,000 inhabitants: Stop by the city’s rustic farmer’s market, witness the local fire department spring into action when a building catches fire and even see a plane lift off from Knuffingen’s airport.

Farmers market in Knuffingen, Miniatur Wunderland with the Street View car driving by

You can also see a variety of real places designed with an eye for accuracy: a soccer match in Hamburg’s stadium, a traditional town center in central Germany, a rowdy Oktoberfest celebration and a replica of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, and even the ski slopes of Austria. You can also glimpse the everyday lives of thousands of miniature citizens, as they bike, camp and dance their way around the Wunderland.

Wunderland figurines enjoying a parade in Hamburg

Then it’s a (very) short hop over to the U.S., where you can zoom through the valleys of the Grand Canyon, gambol down the strip in Las Vegas, and even stop by Mount Rushmore to salute past U.S. Presidents. Because we captured this imagery at “street level” within the Wunderland itself, you can observe many tiny details in Street View that are not visible even to visitors to the museum -- deep sea divers at a county fair, farmers riding a broomstick, a newly-married couple on the steps of the courthouse and the dancing crowds at an outdoor concert.

See the bright lights in Las Vegas in Miniatur Wunderland

To see more of Miniatur Wunderland, including a miniature Street View car built to commemorate this joint project, explore our Street View gallery. As you navigate through this truly wonderful Wunderland, we think you’ll agree: when it comes to great views, size doesn’t matter!
Posted by Sven Tresp, Street View Program Manager]]> Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway, has come to Google Maps. Boasting 13,000 meters of track and more than 200,000 tiny citizens, the museum includes tiny replicas of a variety of German provinces, famous places in America and even a fully-functioning airport!


Street View cameras have floated on gondolas in Venice, ridden on camels in the Liwa Desert and soared on snowmobiles on Canadian slopes. But to capture the nooks and crannies in Miniatur Wunderland, we worked with our partner at Ubilabs to build an entirely new—and much smaller—device. Tiny cameras were mounted on tiny vehicles that were able to drive the roads and over the train tracks, weaving through the Wunderland’s little worlds to capture their hidden treasures.
Google Maps’ miniature Street View devices cruising the railways and streets of Miniatur Wunderland

Touring the marvels of Wunderland, you must first begin in its oldest section: Knuffingen, a fictional town situated squarely between the Alps and Harz. Become one of this tiny city’s 10,000 inhabitants: Stop by the city’s rustic farmer’s market, witness the local fire department spring into action when a building catches fire and even see a plane lift off from Knuffingen’s airport.

Farmers market in Knuffingen, Miniatur Wunderland with the Street View car driving by

You can also see a variety of real places designed with an eye for accuracy: a soccer match in Hamburg’s stadium, a traditional town center in central Germany, a rowdy Oktoberfest celebration and a replica of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, and even the ski slopes of Austria. You can also glimpse the everyday lives of thousands of miniature citizens, as they bike, camp and dance their way around the Wunderland.

Wunderland figurines enjoying a parade in Hamburg

Then it’s a (very) short hop over to the U.S., where you can zoom through the valleys of the Grand Canyon, gambol down the strip in Las Vegas, and even stop by Mount Rushmore to salute past U.S. Presidents. Because we captured this imagery at “street level” within the Wunderland itself, you can observe many tiny details in Street View that are not visible even to visitors to the museum -- deep sea divers at a county fair, farmers riding a broomstick, a newly-married couple on the steps of the courthouse and the dancing crowds at an outdoor concert.

See the bright lights in Las Vegas in Miniatur Wunderland

To see more of Miniatur Wunderland, including a miniature Street View car built to commemorate this joint project, explore our Street View gallery. As you navigate through this truly wonderful Wunderland, we think you’ll agree: when it comes to great views, size doesn’t matter!
Posted by Sven Tresp, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-best-things-come-in-small-street-view-packages/feed/ 0 A look back at Google Maps in 2015 https://googledata.org/google-maps/a-look-back-at-google-maps-in-2015/ https://googledata.org/google-maps/a-look-back-at-google-maps-in-2015/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2016 01:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=ce2c661eea23102d236a2e377b1bd4f2 2016 is just around the corner. Before we pop champagne and ring in the New Year, let’s take a look back at the enhancements we’ve made to Google Maps over the past year. From using Google Maps offline to discovering new places with Explore, we’re proud to not only get you from point A to point B quickly and easily, but to also help you explore the world around you with confidence.

Below is a list of the new features you might’ve missed, along with a handy chart showing you where you’ll find them. If you got a new phone this holiday season, now’s the time to give the Google Maps app a go.

2015 Google Maps New Features
  1. 2015 is ticking away, but you can take a look back at the places you’ve traveled with Your Timeline.
  2. Always know when your favorite stores are open with up-to-date holiday hours and alerts.
  3. Whether you’re in a parking garage with no signal or traveling in country with expensive data, search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline.
  4. Always stay on the fastest route and beat bumper-to-bumper traffic with real-time traffic updates and dynamic re-routing.
  5. Never run low on fuel with up-to-date gas prices in search results and on the map.
  6. Make quick pit stops without long detours–search for places along your route without leaving navigation mode.
  7. Find the best local spots to eat and drink with curated recommendations.
  8. Get all your travel options and compare ETAs across driving, walking, biking and transit–all on one screen.
  9. Get the scoop on when the lines are shortest and shops least crowded by checking businesses’ most popular times–by day, by hour.
  10. Get the lay of the land before you arrive by using Street View thumbnail.
  11. Never miss a bus or train with real-time transit information (schedules, fares, updates) in more than 18,000 cities across 64 countries.
  12. Get directions, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic updates from your wrist with the Google Maps app on Android Wear and Apple Watch.
To see these new features in action, take a look back at our Maps Minutes Holiday Hacks series.


2015 New Features by iOS and Android Availability


Join us in a virtual toast to a New Year of helping you explore and navigate your far away travels as well as your everyday life.


Posted by the Google Maps team





]]> 2016 is just around the corner. Before we pop champagne and ring in the New Year, let’s take a look back at the enhancements we’ve made to Google Maps over the past year. From using Google Maps offline to discovering new places with Explore, we’re proud to not only get you from point A to point B quickly and easily, but to also help you explore the world around you with confidence.

Below is a list of the new features you might’ve missed, along with a handy chart showing you where you’ll find them. If you got a new phone this holiday season, now’s the time to give the Google Maps app a go.

2015 Google Maps New Features
  1. 2015 is ticking away, but you can take a look back at the places you’ve traveled with Your Timeline.
  2. Always know when your favorite stores are open with up-to-date holiday hours and alerts.
  3. Whether you’re in a parking garage with no signal or traveling in country with expensive data, search for places, get directions, and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline.
  4. Always stay on the fastest route and beat bumper-to-bumper traffic with real-time traffic updates and dynamic re-routing.
  5. Never run low on fuel with up-to-date gas prices in search results and on the map.
  6. Make quick pit stops without long detours–search for places along your route without leaving navigation mode.
  7. Find the best local spots to eat and drink with curated recommendations.
  8. Get all your travel options and compare ETAs across driving, walking, biking and transit–all on one screen.
  9. Get the scoop on when the lines are shortest and shops least crowded by checking businesses’ most popular times–by day, by hour.
  10. Get the lay of the land before you arrive by using Street View thumbnail.
  11. Never miss a bus or train with real-time transit information (schedules, fares, updates) in more than 18,000 cities across 64 countries.
  12. Get directions, turn-by-turn navigation and real-time traffic updates from your wrist with the Google Maps app on Android Wear and Apple Watch.
To see these new features in action, take a look back at our Maps Minutes Holiday Hacks series.


2015 New Features by iOS and Android Availability


Join us in a virtual toast to a New Year of helping you explore and navigate your far away travels as well as your everyday life.


Posted by the Google Maps team





]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/a-look-back-at-google-maps-in-2015/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #9: Get home quickly and safely on New Year’s Eve https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-9-get-home-quickly-and-safely-on-new-years-eve/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-9-get-home-quickly-and-safely-on-new-years-eve/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2015 17:24:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=5ab26d6ec6b57dc83f1173a52a574d05 Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Whether you’re heading to a friend’s house for a cozy gathering, going to watch the ball drop in Times Square or attending an extravagant masquerade ball, the last thing you want to worry about on New Year’s Eve is driving.

With the Google Maps app, you can get where you’re going without ever getting behind the wheel. Earlier this year we launched a new feature that allows you to see various transportation options and compare travel times–all on one screen.

Once you enter your destination in the Google Maps app, you’ll see four options to get there: driving, walking, biking or transit (bus/train). You can quickly compare ETAs and switch between the transportation modes for more details and up-to-date information for each option.



If you’re heading to a casual celebration not so far from home, walking or public transit might be your best option. The Google Maps app will give your walk time ETA along with a few transit route options with real-time schedules, updates and fares.



Google Maps can also help you grab an Uber, if arriving by bus or train isn’t your holiday style. You can see the estimated trip duration, pickup time and estimated cost once you scroll down to the bottom of the app's transit option screen.

Stay safe with Maps Minutes Hacks and enjoy your New Year’s celebrations wherever they take you.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing]]> Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Whether you’re heading to a friend’s house for a cozy gathering, going to watch the ball drop in Times Square or attending an extravagant masquerade ball, the last thing you want to worry about on New Year’s Eve is driving.

With the Google Maps app, you can get where you’re going without ever getting behind the wheel. Earlier this year we launched a new feature that allows you to see various transportation options and compare travel times–all on one screen.

Once you enter your destination in the Google Maps app, you’ll see four options to get there: driving, walking, biking or transit (bus/train). You can quickly compare ETAs and switch between the transportation modes for more details and up-to-date information for each option.



If you’re heading to a casual celebration not so far from home, walking or public transit might be your best option. The Google Maps app will give your walk time ETA along with a few transit route options with real-time schedules, updates and fares.



Google Maps can also help you grab an Uber, if arriving by bus or train isn’t your holiday style. You can see the estimated trip duration, pickup time and estimated cost once you scroll down to the bottom of the app's transit option screen.

Stay safe with Maps Minutes Hacks and enjoy your New Year’s celebrations wherever they take you.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-9-get-home-quickly-and-safely-on-new-years-eve/feed/ 0 ‘Tis the season for Santa Tracker https://googledata.org/google-earth/tis-the-season-for-santa-tracker-2/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/tis-the-season-for-santa-tracker-2/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2015 13:43:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b557e8f5dfa2ad89a2590f6a596f11b4 And all through Santa’s Village it’s almost time to roll!
The elves have been working hard for this night
Santa’s village is abuzz—tonight’s the big flight!

Google’s Santa Tracker launches today—
And it’s time to follow the jolly man's sleigh.
He’s off on his trip ‘round the world
Delivering toys to all good boys and girls.
SantaTracker2015_Tracker-on-all-devices.png
You’ve got a front-row seat to the show
Just fire up Google Maps to see where he goes.
Thanks to the elves’ precisely coded route
Santa and his reindeer will fly swiftly—look out!
SantaTracker2015_Code-Boogie_on-devices (2).png
Now the sleigh tuning’s done,
Tales of global traditions spun,
Every gift in the sleigh gently placed,
Wrapped with care, without haste.

The reindeer are prancing and eager to fly,
Ready for Santa’s trip through the sky.
With so little time to get their job done—
They may need your help on this gift-giving run.

So keep the translation tool handy;
Geography trivia would also be dandy.
There’s no telling what Santa might need
Traveling from Brisbane to Lima to Leeds.
SantaTracker2015_World-Trivia_on-devices.png
Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
Join in on the fun—find out what you’re missin’!
On Maps! On Android, Chromecast and Google.com!
There’s something for everyone, from kids to mom.

So watch that sleigh as it takes to the air,
And wherever you are, St. Nick will soon be there.
To borrow a phrase, as Santa takes flight—
"Happy holidays to all, and to all a good-night!"


Posted by Luke Mahé, Chief Excitement Officer]]> And all through Santa’s Village it’s almost time to roll!
The elves have been working hard for this night
Santa’s village is abuzz—tonight’s the big flight!

Google’s Santa Tracker launches today—
And it’s time to follow the jolly man's sleigh.
He’s off on his trip ‘round the world
Delivering toys to all good boys and girls.
SantaTracker2015_Tracker-on-all-devices.png
You’ve got a front-row seat to the show
Just fire up Google Maps to see where he goes.
Thanks to the elves’ precisely coded route
Santa and his reindeer will fly swiftly—look out!
SantaTracker2015_Code-Boogie_on-devices (2).png
Now the sleigh tuning’s done,
Tales of global traditions spun,
Every gift in the sleigh gently placed,
Wrapped with care, without haste.

The reindeer are prancing and eager to fly,
Ready for Santa’s trip through the sky.
With so little time to get their job done—
They may need your help on this gift-giving run.

So keep the translation tool handy;
Geography trivia would also be dandy.
There’s no telling what Santa might need
Traveling from Brisbane to Lima to Leeds.
SantaTracker2015_World-Trivia_on-devices.png
Now Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
Join in on the fun—find out what you’re missin’!
On Maps! On Android, Chromecast and Google.com!
There’s something for everyone, from kids to mom.

So watch that sleigh as it takes to the air,
And wherever you are, St. Nick will soon be there.
To borrow a phrase, as Santa takes flight—
"Happy holidays to all, and to all a good-night!"


Posted by Luke Mahé, Chief Excitement Officer]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/tis-the-season-for-santa-tracker-2/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #8: Set your home and work addresses for easy navigation https://googledata.org/google-maps/maps-minutes-hack-8-set-your-home-and-work-addresses-for-easy-navigation/ https://googledata.org/google-maps/maps-minutes-hack-8-set-your-home-and-work-addresses-for-easy-navigation/#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2015 00:32:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=78b06f90ebc224f4b08f1b7e69920693 Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

It’s crunch time. There are holiday parties to attend and last-minute gifts to be bought and wrapped. When the holidays are only days away even the small things can make a difference. So here’s another helpful trick for how you can save a few extra minutes every time you use Google Maps for directions or navigation.

You can save your home and work addresses in Google Maps, and then select “home” or “work” rather than typing the locations every single time. Just go to “your places” on the side menu and you’ll see “home” and “work” under “labeled places”. Enter the address for each and next time you’re navigating to or from home or work, you can get your directions a little quicker and easier than before.



Every minute matters. Save more every day with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get home fast and safe on New Year’s Eve.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

It’s crunch time. There are holiday parties to attend and last-minute gifts to be bought and wrapped. When the holidays are only days away even the small things can make a difference. So here’s another helpful trick for how you can save a few extra minutes every time you use Google Maps for directions or navigation.

You can save your home and work addresses in Google Maps, and then select “home” or “work” rather than typing the locations every single time. Just go to “your places” on the side menu and you’ll see “home” and “work” under “labeled places”. Enter the address for each and next time you’re navigating to or from home or work, you can get your directions a little quicker and easier than before.



Every minute matters. Save more every day with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get home fast and safe on New Year’s Eve.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/maps-minutes-hack-8-set-your-home-and-work-addresses-for-easy-navigation/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #7: No signal, no problem. Navigate your holiday travels with Google Maps offline https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-7-no-signal-no-problem-navigate-your-holiday-travels-with-google-maps-offline/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-7-no-signal-no-problem-navigate-your-holiday-travels-with-google-maps-offline/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2015 17:44:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=3310e5215e2c6576d34f0c2032ded3f3 series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

This time of year, millions take a road trip home for the holidays or adventure to faraway places all over the world. Whether you’re traveling abroad or rediscovering your own hometown, it helps to be able to navigate quickly and easily, even with limited mobile data or a spotty internet connection.

Google Maps offline, now available on iOS and Android, can help you get the most out of your holiday travels. You can browse pre-downloaded map areas, search for places, get directions and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline. Because exploring the world shouldn’t require a data connection or excessive roaming charges.

To navigate offline, simply open the Google Maps app and save any area on the map while you have a connection. Search for a place like San Francisco or Mexico City, open the place card and tap the download button. You can adjust the size of the map area you want to download and name it. Once downloaded, that area will be automatically added to your Offline areas in the side menu.



Once you’ve saved a map area, you can search for places and get directions offline. Looking for that famous art gallery or a neighborhood watering hole? You can check out addresses, opening hours, phone numbers and even navigate there–all without internet access.

To explore and navigate the world offline, install the Google Maps app on your iPhone before your holiday journey, or open it on Android along the way.

Get the most of your holiday time with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get around faster and safer.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing
]]> series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

This time of year, millions take a road trip home for the holidays or adventure to faraway places all over the world. Whether you’re traveling abroad or rediscovering your own hometown, it helps to be able to navigate quickly and easily, even with limited mobile data or a spotty internet connection.

Google Maps offline, now available on iOS and Android, can help you get the most out of your holiday travels. You can browse pre-downloaded map areas, search for places, get directions and turn-by-turn navigation–all offline. Because exploring the world shouldn’t require a data connection or excessive roaming charges.

To navigate offline, simply open the Google Maps app and save any area on the map while you have a connection. Search for a place like San Francisco or Mexico City, open the place card and tap the download button. You can adjust the size of the map area you want to download and name it. Once downloaded, that area will be automatically added to your Offline areas in the side menu.



Once you’ve saved a map area, you can search for places and get directions offline. Looking for that famous art gallery or a neighborhood watering hole? You can check out addresses, opening hours, phone numbers and even navigate there–all without internet access.

To explore and navigate the world offline, install the Google Maps app on your iPhone before your holiday journey, or open it on Android along the way.

Get the most of your holiday time with Maps Minutes Hacks. Next up: how to get around faster and safer.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-7-no-signal-no-problem-navigate-your-holiday-travels-with-google-maps-offline/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #6: Find holiday hot spots with Explore on Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-6-find-holiday-hot-spots-with-explore-on-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-6-find-holiday-hot-spots-with-explore-on-google-maps/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2015 23:49:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=f75c857c19503eb82c2fdf1443150c60 Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

If you're headed out on vacation, visiting friends and family in a new city or re-discovering your old favorite places over the holidays, this one's for you. With the Explore feature, available on both Android and iOS, you’ll feel like a local no matter where you are this holiday season.

Android experience
Android users in the U.S. can simply open Google Maps and tap “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen to see local recommendations. You can get results for breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks among curated lists like “Where the locals go” or “Best spots for dinner with kids.” Once you’ve tapped on a list, you can swipe through place cards with more details like ratings, review snippets and distance from your location. Pick a place to see the address, up-to-date open hours, popular times, Street View imagery and more.



iOS experience
On iOS, just open the Google Maps app and tap on “Explore around you” at the bottom of the map to see recommendations of places to indulge and imbibe along with places to see and things to do. iPhone users can sort their options by how long it would take to walk or drive to the destinations as well as time of day. Curated lists range from “Local favorites” to “Quick bites” to a special “Featured by Zagat” option. The “Play & see” list will show you places to go like museums, historical monuments, live music venues and more. Simply scroll through the place cards to see abbreviated info and tap on your favorite to get more details.


Whether you’re using Android or iOS, save time this holiday season by checking the up-to-date open hours to make sure you don’t arrive to find a closed sign in the window and reviewing the popular times to avoid holiday crowds.

Make the most of your time with Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: searching for places and getting turn-by-turn directions—all while offline.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

If you're headed out on vacation, visiting friends and family in a new city or re-discovering your old favorite places over the holidays, this one's for you. With the Explore feature, available on both Android and iOS, you’ll feel like a local no matter where you are this holiday season.

Android experience
Android users in the U.S. can simply open Google Maps and tap “Explore food & drinks near you” at the bottom of the screen to see local recommendations. You can get results for breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and drinks among curated lists like “Where the locals go” or “Best spots for dinner with kids.” Once you’ve tapped on a list, you can swipe through place cards with more details like ratings, review snippets and distance from your location. Pick a place to see the address, up-to-date open hours, popular times, Street View imagery and more.



iOS experience
On iOS, just open the Google Maps app and tap on “Explore around you” at the bottom of the map to see recommendations of places to indulge and imbibe along with places to see and things to do. iPhone users can sort their options by how long it would take to walk or drive to the destinations as well as time of day. Curated lists range from “Local favorites” to “Quick bites” to a special “Featured by Zagat” option. The “Play & see” list will show you places to go like museums, historical monuments, live music venues and more. Simply scroll through the place cards to see abbreviated info and tap on your favorite to get more details.


Whether you’re using Android or iOS, save time this holiday season by checking the up-to-date open hours to make sure you don’t arrive to find a closed sign in the window and reviewing the popular times to avoid holiday crowds.

Make the most of your time with Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: searching for places and getting turn-by-turn directions—all while offline.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-6-find-holiday-hot-spots-with-explore-on-google-maps/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #5: Make your holiday detours easier with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-maps/maps-minutes-hack-5-make-your-holiday-detours-easier-with-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-maps/maps-minutes-hack-5-make-your-holiday-detours-easier-with-google-maps/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2015 19:59:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=92d394e90b60b72e19526f9ababc0dca series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Forget the eggnog for a holiday party? On the road to grandma's and need to gas up along the way? Or maybe you need to pick up a last-minute gift on the way to your in-laws’ house?

One poorly planned pit stop can add a lot of time to your trip – especially during the holidays when crowds can be bigger and traffic heavier. The good news is that Google Maps can help you make quick pit stops without long detours.

On Google Maps for Android, you can now search for places like a gas station, grocery store or coffee shop, navigate there, and then pick back up on your original route—all without leaving navigation mode (coming soon to iOS).



Here’s how it works: When you’re in navigation mode, simply tap the magnifying glass at the top right corner in the app. Pick a category from the drop down menu and you'll see a few options, along with ratings of businesses, prices at gas stations, and how much time the detour will add to your trip. Once you choose a place, the stop is automatically incorporated into your route. Can’t type and tap while driving? You can use voice commands instead.



Every minute counts. Save more time with Google Maps hacks. Next up: turn-by-turn navigation even when you’re offline.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing]]> series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Forget the eggnog for a holiday party? On the road to grandma's and need to gas up along the way? Or maybe you need to pick up a last-minute gift on the way to your in-laws’ house?

One poorly planned pit stop can add a lot of time to your trip – especially during the holidays when crowds can be bigger and traffic heavier. The good news is that Google Maps can help you make quick pit stops without long detours.

On Google Maps for Android, you can now search for places like a gas station, grocery store or coffee shop, navigate there, and then pick back up on your original route—all without leaving navigation mode (coming soon to iOS).



Here’s how it works: When you’re in navigation mode, simply tap the magnifying glass at the top right corner in the app. Pick a category from the drop down menu and you'll see a few options, along with ratings of businesses, prices at gas stations, and how much time the detour will add to your trip. Once you choose a place, the stop is automatically incorporated into your route. Can’t type and tap while driving? You can use voice commands instead.



Every minute counts. Save more time with Google Maps hacks. Next up: turn-by-turn navigation even when you’re offline.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/maps-minutes-hack-5-make-your-holiday-detours-easier-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #4: Get a Street View snapshot of your holiday travel and shopping destinations https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-4-get-a-street-view-snapshot-of-your-holiday-travel-and-shopping-destinations/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-4-get-a-street-view-snapshot-of-your-holiday-travel-and-shopping-destinations/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2015 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=27fe83d8b586a41836fe3319d673eba2 Venice, gazed in wonder at the ice fjords in Greenland, or gone on a virtual safari in Samburu. But did you know Street View can also be a useful sidekick for travel and shopping this holiday season? Now, airports and shopping malls may not be as dramatic to look at as the Pyramids of Giza, but using Street View in your Google Maps app for Android or iOS, gives you a preview of your journey or shopping destination before you head out, reducing some holiday season anxiety. Just check out this map of global airports, transit stations and shopping malls so you can know before you go.

Whether you’re hopping on a flight in Mexico City, managing a tight layover in Madrid, navigating through check-in in San Jose, experiencing a delay in Osaka, or trying to find the quickest exit route to bask in the glorious sun in Bali, Street View gives you a look at the corridors, check-in counters, baggage claims, airport terminals and shops before you land. Pro tip: it’s also a great way to scope out nearby bathrooms if you’re traveling with kids!


If you’re planning to take the train, navigate through Victoria Station in London, Keikyu Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, Milano Centrale in Italy, and Seoul Station in Korea (to name a few!), so you can be one step ahead, whether you’re with a group of friends, family or a baby stroller.


Navigating holiday shopping crowds is never easy. Getting a preview of your shopping destination can save you some time. See the shops before you hit the road, and decide which end of the mall you want to visit, whether you’re picking up gifts at the Strand Arcade in Sydney, Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi or Westgate Center in San Jose, California.


Don’t let seasonal stress get you down during holidays. With Street View in Google Maps on your Android or iOS device, whether you’re trying to navigate smooth travels or tackling shopping madness, you can see how to get where you’re going faster and easier, and hopefully save a little time. Happy holidays!

  Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> Venice, gazed in wonder at the ice fjords in Greenland, or gone on a virtual safari in Samburu. But did you know Street View can also be a useful sidekick for travel and shopping this holiday season? Now, airports and shopping malls may not be as dramatic to look at as the Pyramids of Giza, but using Street View in your Google Maps app for Android or iOS, gives you a preview of your journey or shopping destination before you head out, reducing some holiday season anxiety. Just check out this map of global airports, transit stations and shopping malls so you can know before you go.

Whether you’re hopping on a flight in Mexico City, managing a tight layover in Madrid, navigating through check-in in San Jose, experiencing a delay in Osaka, or trying to find the quickest exit route to bask in the glorious sun in Bali, Street View gives you a look at the corridors, check-in counters, baggage claims, airport terminals and shops before you land. Pro tip: it’s also a great way to scope out nearby bathrooms if you’re traveling with kids!


If you’re planning to take the train, navigate through Victoria Station in London, Keikyu Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, Milano Centrale in Italy, and Seoul Station in Korea (to name a few!), so you can be one step ahead, whether you’re with a group of friends, family or a baby stroller.


Navigating holiday shopping crowds is never easy. Getting a preview of your shopping destination can save you some time. See the shops before you hit the road, and decide which end of the mall you want to visit, whether you’re picking up gifts at the Strand Arcade in Sydney, Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi or Westgate Center in San Jose, California.


Don’t let seasonal stress get you down during holidays. With Street View in Google Maps on your Android or iOS device, whether you’re trying to navigate smooth travels or tackling shopping madness, you can see how to get where you’re going faster and easier, and hopefully save a little time. Happy holidays!

  Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-4-get-a-street-view-snapshot-of-your-holiday-travel-and-shopping-destinations/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #3: Save time with up-to-date holiday business hours https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-3-save-time-with-up-to-date-holiday-business-hours/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-3-save-time-with-up-to-date-holiday-business-hours/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2015 20:06:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c466d6cdc36371e79a2f9b792e58cbbc Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Whether you’re looking for restaurants open on Christmas Eve, trying to avoid crowds at the gym for a year-end workout, or wondering if you’ll make it before the store closes to grab that last minute gift–Google Maps has you covered.

This year we launched a few updates to the Google Maps app on both Android and iOS that give you up-to-date information about millions of businesses, saving you time both on your holiday to-do list and in your everyday tasks.



Here are some of our favorites:

  • Holiday hours. Not only does Google Maps provide up-to-date open hours for businesses, but it also now shows special holiday hours. When you search for a place and a major holiday is within the next seven days, Google Maps tells you whether it has a special schedule.


  • Popular times. Avoid long lines at the store by checking out how busy it is before you leave. For many businesses–from restaurants to shops to museums–you can scroll down on the business information page to find the days a place is most popular, and the busiest times on those days.


  • “Closing soon” alerts. Google Maps can help save you a wasted trip. When you search for and navigate to a place, Google Maps will show an alert if your destination is closed, or will be by the time you arrive.




Make the most of your time with Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: finding your way through the crowds with Street View by just dropping a pin.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

Whether you’re looking for restaurants open on Christmas Eve, trying to avoid crowds at the gym for a year-end workout, or wondering if you’ll make it before the store closes to grab that last minute gift–Google Maps has you covered.

This year we launched a few updates to the Google Maps app on both Android and iOS that give you up-to-date information about millions of businesses, saving you time both on your holiday to-do list and in your everyday tasks.



Here are some of our favorites:

  • Holiday hours. Not only does Google Maps provide up-to-date open hours for businesses, but it also now shows special holiday hours. When you search for a place and a major holiday is within the next seven days, Google Maps tells you whether it has a special schedule.


  • Popular times. Avoid long lines at the store by checking out how busy it is before you leave. For many businesses–from restaurants to shops to museums–you can scroll down on the business information page to find the days a place is most popular, and the busiest times on those days.


  • “Closing soon” alerts. Google Maps can help save you a wasted trip. When you search for and navigate to a place, Google Maps will show an alert if your destination is closed, or will be by the time you arrive.




Make the most of your time with Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: finding your way through the crowds with Street View by just dropping a pin.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-3-save-time-with-up-to-date-holiday-business-hours/feed/ 0 Take a snowmobile with Google Maps to the sea ice habitats of the Arctic Eider duck https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-snowmobile-with-google-maps-to-the-sea-ice-habitats-of-the-arctic-eider-duck/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-snowmobile-with-google-maps-to-the-sea-ice-habitats-of-the-arctic-eider-duck/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=2cda57a15b573ac5d4cddfa8dd022415 Editor’s note: Today’s post is guest authored by Joel Heath, Executive Director of the Arctic Eider Society.

The Arctic Eider isn’t just any duck. The feather of this sea-ice dweller is the warmest in the world—a marvel of nature that allows the Eider duck to spend its winters in one of the most remote and frozen habitats on the planet. And now—thanks to Google Maps, the Inuit community of Sanikiluaq and our small environmental charity the Arctic Eider Society—people from around the world can explore this extraordinary and fragile part of Canadian geography that the Arctic Eider calls home.
The Trekker collects Street View imagery of a Polynya

Last winter, in -50 degree celsius winds, the Google Maps team traveled to the Belcher Islands in Hudson’s Bay and helped the Arctic Eider Society mount the Trekker on a snowmobile to collect stunning Street View imagery from nearby “polynyas”—bodies of open water that form in the sea ice. The polynyas act as an oasis of sorts, providing a habitat for wildlife like eiders who dive under the ice to feed on shellfish and sea urchins.

You’ll see from the images that it’s not just ducks up here in the cold. The Inuit of the Belcher Islands have also lived here for centuries. This community, a hamlet of just 850 people, has an important relationship with the eider duck—aside from providing them a traditional source of warmth and food, the bird’s feathers are ingrained in their history, used to create traditional parkas unique to the Inuit of this region.

The Arctic Eider duck takes flight in Street View

But this is an ecosystem under threat. The region has suffered from a lack of environmental stewardship, and the sensitive sea-ice—critical to the eiders and Inuit– is suffering as a result of hydroelectric development around Hudson Bay. Large die-off events of eiders and beluga whales have been occurring as changing ice conditions trap the animals until they starve or run out of air.

Our partnership with Google Maps is helping to support research programs designed to preserve these winter sea ice habitats. We’re combining imagery captured by the Trekker with data and knowledge from the local Inuit and Cree communities and mapping by the Arctic Eider Society to create a platform where we can all track and report on the local wildlife, together. This mix of new and old, combining indigenous knowledge with Google Street View and the Arctic Eider Society’s mapping, may be just what’s needed to address the impacts hydroelectricity heating is having on the bird that produces winter’s warmest feather.

Take a moment to visit Google Maps to better understand this amazing bird and the community who relies on it. Take an icy walk down the streets of Sanikiluaq, climb onto a snowmobile and explore the amazing sea-ice the Arctic Eider calls home. Eider down parka not required.

Posted by Joel Heath, Arctic Eider Society

To learn more about the unique relationship between the community of Sanikiluaq and the Arctic Eider, be sure to watch the critically acclaimed award winning film People of a Feather that started it all.]]> Editor’s note: Today’s post is guest authored by Joel Heath, Executive Director of the Arctic Eider Society.

The Arctic Eider isn’t just any duck. The feather of this sea-ice dweller is the warmest in the world—a marvel of nature that allows the Eider duck to spend its winters in one of the most remote and frozen habitats on the planet. And now—thanks to Google Maps, the Inuit community of Sanikiluaq and our small environmental charity the Arctic Eider Society—people from around the world can explore this extraordinary and fragile part of Canadian geography that the Arctic Eider calls home.
The Trekker collects Street View imagery of a Polynya

Last winter, in -50 degree celsius winds, the Google Maps team traveled to the Belcher Islands in Hudson’s Bay and helped the Arctic Eider Society mount the Trekker on a snowmobile to collect stunning Street View imagery from nearby “polynyas”—bodies of open water that form in the sea ice. The polynyas act as an oasis of sorts, providing a habitat for wildlife like eiders who dive under the ice to feed on shellfish and sea urchins.

You’ll see from the images that it’s not just ducks up here in the cold. The Inuit of the Belcher Islands have also lived here for centuries. This community, a hamlet of just 850 people, has an important relationship with the eider duck—aside from providing them a traditional source of warmth and food, the bird’s feathers are ingrained in their history, used to create traditional parkas unique to the Inuit of this region.

The Arctic Eider duck takes flight in Street View

But this is an ecosystem under threat. The region has suffered from a lack of environmental stewardship, and the sensitive sea-ice—critical to the eiders and Inuit– is suffering as a result of hydroelectric development around Hudson Bay. Large die-off events of eiders and beluga whales have been occurring as changing ice conditions trap the animals until they starve or run out of air.

Our partnership with Google Maps is helping to support research programs designed to preserve these winter sea ice habitats. We’re combining imagery captured by the Trekker with data and knowledge from the local Inuit and Cree communities and mapping by the Arctic Eider Society to create a platform where we can all track and report on the local wildlife, together. This mix of new and old, combining indigenous knowledge with Google Street View and the Arctic Eider Society’s mapping, may be just what’s needed to address the impacts hydroelectricity heating is having on the bird that produces winter’s warmest feather.

Take a moment to visit Google Maps to better understand this amazing bird and the community who relies on it. Take an icy walk down the streets of Sanikiluaq, climb onto a snowmobile and explore the amazing sea-ice the Arctic Eider calls home. Eider down parka not required.

Posted by Joel Heath, Arctic Eider Society

To learn more about the unique relationship between the community of Sanikiluaq and the Arctic Eider, be sure to watch the critically acclaimed award winning film People of a Feather that started it all.]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/take-a-snowmobile-with-google-maps-to-the-sea-ice-habitats-of-the-arctic-eider-duck/feed/ 0 Maps Minutes Hack #2: Save time navigating inside, not just outside https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-2-save-time-navigating-inside-not-just-outside/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-2-save-time-navigating-inside-not-just-outside/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:11:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=d5a72c00a9eba55986e1e1af42ea7b24 Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

The holiday season often means rushing around—both out on the roads and inside malls, airports and stores. Did you know that Google Maps can help you navigate both? Many malls, airports, museums and stadiums have indoor maps and floorplans in Google Maps so you can quickly find your way around and get to where you want to go.

Whether you want to locate that toy store in the mall, find the men's shoe section in a department store, or track down a coffee shop on the way to your gate at the airport, indoor maps can help save you precious minutes.

Just zoom in to see the indoor floor plan of a building and search for places inside. Use the level switcher in the bottom left-hand corner to move from floor to floor.



During the hectic holiday season, indoor Google Maps can help you get the lay of the land and save time and hassle inside airports, malls, museums and sports venues. Check out locations with indoor floor plans, available on Android and iOS.

Minutes count. Save more with Google Maps hacks. Next up: running errands in no time with up-to-date information about businesses.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing]]> Part of our series on how to save time this holiday season with Google Maps.

The holiday season often means rushing around—both out on the roads and inside malls, airports and stores. Did you know that Google Maps can help you navigate both? Many malls, airports, museums and stadiums have indoor maps and floorplans in Google Maps so you can quickly find your way around and get to where you want to go.

Whether you want to locate that toy store in the mall, find the men's shoe section in a department store, or track down a coffee shop on the way to your gate at the airport, indoor maps can help save you precious minutes.

Just zoom in to see the indoor floor plan of a building and search for places inside. Use the level switcher in the bottom left-hand corner to move from floor to floor.



During the hectic holiday season, indoor Google Maps can help you get the lay of the land and save time and hassle inside airports, malls, museums and sports venues. Check out locations with indoor floor plans, available on Android and iOS.

Minutes count. Save more with Google Maps hacks. Next up: running errands in no time with up-to-date information about businesses.

Posted by Dai Pham, Head of Geo and Google Maps Marketing]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/maps-minutes-hack-2-save-time-navigating-inside-not-just-outside/feed/ 0 Walk the ruins of Peru’s most historic site: Machu Picchu https://googledata.org/google-earth/walk-the-ruins-of-perus-most-historic-site-machu-picchu/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/walk-the-ruins-of-perus-most-historic-site-machu-picchu/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2015 11:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=7385b10b6e5c1204a3dc37b16f277eeb Take a train ride through the Andes, above the sacred valley and atop the mist of the mountains, to the most historic site of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is one of the most famous, mythical and spiritual sites in the world. Now for the first time, in partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, people across the globe can go on a journey to Machu Picchu directly in Google Maps, uncovering its temples, terraces and plazas that have remained intact since the 15th century. People can also explore rare Inca artifacts and expert insights on the Google Cultural Institute.

Gazing at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu more than 2,400 meters above sea level, the site below is a lasting tribute to the power of the Inca Empire. It’s still unclear how the structure composed of behemoth stones was so precisely built without the use of mortar or modern day machinery, but its walls, terraces and stairways weave effortlessly into the mountainside and natural landscape.
Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 3.23.38 PM.png
Standing in the Templo Principal, you can imagine how many people have stood at this central gathering place before you. Located at the highest position of the city, this site holds great spiritual meaning to the people of the Citadel. And touring the vast Plaza Principal allows you to virtually walk one of the most sacred ceremonial grounds on the site, which once hosted social and religious celebrations for the Inca.

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 3.31.47 PM.png
Within the long and narrow compounds, called kanchas, you can also explore the Observatorio Astronómico (Intiwatana), Templo del Sol, and Templo de las Tres Ventanas—sites dedicated to Inti, the Inca Sun god—or marvel at the architectural complexity of structures like the Grupo de las Tres Puertas, whose doors lead to the main square.
Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 11.00.30 PM.png
After virtually touring these sacred and ceremonial spaces, discover more Wonders of Machu Picchu on the Google Cultural Institute. You can explore more than 130 Inca artifacts online thanks to the Museo Macchupicchu at Casa Concha. In three new online exhibits, the museum's curators share their expert insights on the Inca's daily life and rituals - which are still a subject of great mystery and fascination over 500 years later.

Highlights include a perfectly preserved pair of plates decorated with butterflies, and an ingenious device of strings and cords used for record keeping and accounting. We invite you to see these rare objects in the context of the museum by taking a virtual tour.

Whether you visit Machu Picchu via a train or hike up the Inca Trail, we’d be honored to be your virtual guide through this sacred space. And while in the area, enjoy exploring still more archaeological treasures from this ancient civilization at the Museo Machupicchu at Casa Concha, which holds the largest collection of Inca artifacts in the world.
Machu Picchu, a true wonder of the world, is now just a click away.

Posted by Daniel Filip, Google Maps Tech Lead
]]> Take a train ride through the Andes, above the sacred valley and atop the mist of the mountains, to the most historic site of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is one of the most famous, mythical and spiritual sites in the world. Now for the first time, in partnership with the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, people across the globe can go on a journey to Machu Picchu directly in Google Maps, uncovering its temples, terraces and plazas that have remained intact since the 15th century. People can also explore rare Inca artifacts and expert insights on the Google Cultural Institute.

Gazing at the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu more than 2,400 meters above sea level, the site below is a lasting tribute to the power of the Inca Empire. It’s still unclear how the structure composed of behemoth stones was so precisely built without the use of mortar or modern day machinery, but its walls, terraces and stairways weave effortlessly into the mountainside and natural landscape.
Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 3.23.38 PM.png
Standing in the Templo Principal, you can imagine how many people have stood at this central gathering place before you. Located at the highest position of the city, this site holds great spiritual meaning to the people of the Citadel. And touring the vast Plaza Principal allows you to virtually walk one of the most sacred ceremonial grounds on the site, which once hosted social and religious celebrations for the Inca.

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 3.31.47 PM.png
Within the long and narrow compounds, called kanchas, you can also explore the Observatorio Astronómico (Intiwatana), Templo del Sol, and Templo de las Tres Ventanas—sites dedicated to Inti, the Inca Sun god—or marvel at the architectural complexity of structures like the Grupo de las Tres Puertas, whose doors lead to the main square.
Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 11.00.30 PM.png
After virtually touring these sacred and ceremonial spaces, discover more Wonders of Machu Picchu on the Google Cultural Institute. You can explore more than 130 Inca artifacts online thanks to the Museo Macchupicchu at Casa Concha. In three new online exhibits, the museum's curators share their expert insights on the Inca's daily life and rituals - which are still a subject of great mystery and fascination over 500 years later.

Highlights include a perfectly preserved pair of plates decorated with butterflies, and an ingenious device of strings and cords used for record keeping and accounting. We invite you to see these rare objects in the context of the museum by taking a virtual tour.

Whether you visit Machu Picchu via a train or hike up the Inca Trail, we’d be honored to be your virtual guide through this sacred space. And while in the area, enjoy exploring still more archaeological treasures from this ancient civilization at the Museo Machupicchu at Casa Concha, which holds the largest collection of Inca artifacts in the world.
Machu Picchu, a true wonder of the world, is now just a click away.

Posted by Daniel Filip, Google Maps Tech Lead
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/walk-the-ruins-of-perus-most-historic-site-machu-picchu/feed/ 0 Jingle all the way to Santa’s Village https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-north-pole-is-back-in-session/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-north-pole-is-back-in-session/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=c01667d26a4e05ed2fbe8acf56a5ce44 Santa’s Village is a hub of activity as the elves code algorithms to tune Santa’s sleigh, translate “Happy Holidays” into Elvish and Danish, and practice their cartography with Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Vixen... all to get Santa ready for his trip around the world on December 24.

And you can join in. Visit the brand-new Santa’s Village every day to prep alongside the elves, test weather conditions with Rudolph, skydive with Santa, learn about holiday traditions like kallikántzari—little creatures from Greece that eat Christmas cookies—and much more. A new experience will appear each morning leading up to December 24. Here’s a peek at what you’ll unwrap in Santa’s Village:


Join the elves on all screens as they get ready for Santa’s big night—with Chromecast, Wear, App for Android, and more


Brush up on your computer skills with new coding games throughout the month


Get into the spirit of giving - learn about charitable organizations and discover how SolarAid is working to make the season brighter with renewable energy

Take a study break to jam out with friends to elf-made holiday tunes
For those on the ho-ho-go, get the Santa Tracker App for Android to check out new games on the phone or through Cardboard

Now before Santa flies like the dawn of a thistle, pay his village a visit—and help him and his elves get ready for the day Santa hits the clouds.


Posted by Sandy Russell, Santa Launch Strategist]]> Santa’s Village is a hub of activity as the elves code algorithms to tune Santa’s sleigh, translate “Happy Holidays” into Elvish and Danish, and practice their cartography with Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Vixen... all to get Santa ready for his trip around the world on December 24.

And you can join in. Visit the brand-new Santa’s Village every day to prep alongside the elves, test weather conditions with Rudolph, skydive with Santa, learn about holiday traditions like kallikántzari—little creatures from Greece that eat Christmas cookies—and much more. A new experience will appear each morning leading up to December 24. Here’s a peek at what you’ll unwrap in Santa’s Village:


Join the elves on all screens as they get ready for Santa’s big night—with Chromecast, Wear, App for Android, and more


Brush up on your computer skills with new coding games throughout the month


Get into the spirit of giving - learn about charitable organizations and discover how SolarAid is working to make the season brighter with renewable energy

Take a study break to jam out with friends to elf-made holiday tunes
For those on the ho-ho-go, get the Santa Tracker App for Android to check out new games on the phone or through Cardboard

Now before Santa flies like the dawn of a thistle, pay his village a visit—and help him and his elves get ready for the day Santa hits the clouds.


Posted by Sandy Russell, Santa Launch Strategist]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/the-north-pole-is-back-in-session/feed/ 0 Holiday Maps Minutes Hack #1: Save time beating bumper-to-bumper traffic https://googledata.org/google-maps/holiday-maps-minutes-hack-1-save-time-beating-bumper-to-bumper-traffic/ https://googledata.org/google-maps/holiday-maps-minutes-hack-1-save-time-beating-bumper-to-bumper-traffic/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:28:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=760361c1e5b0c87746b177be617e53ca This post is the first in a series about how you can use Google Maps to save time this holiday season.

Your time is finite. But what if you could save all the minutes you waste in traffic, standing in lines, or shopping and spend them on what you love?

In December when things sometimes get a tad bit crazier, make the most of the time you do have. In the next few weeks we’ll share simple Google Maps hacks you can use to save time during the holidays.

We’re starting with…traffic. Why? Because no one likes traffic. Whether you’re driving to your once-a-year family gathering or trying to get to the mall in time for last-minute shopping, beating bumper-to-bumper traffic just might be one of the best holiday gifts you receive this year.



Google Maps gives you the best route, based on real-time traffic and historic traffic information. All you need to do is hit the navigation button and Google Maps takes care of the rest. You’ll even get an explanation for why it's the fastest route and updates when your ETA changes.

If you find yourself in a jam caused by an accident or construction, Google Maps lets you know how long you'll be at a standstill and automatically re-routes you if there’s a faster path.

Every minute counts, so hit the road and enjoy the ride—Google Maps has your back this holiday season.

Stay tuned for more Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: flying through airports with indoor Google Maps.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> This post is the first in a series about how you can use Google Maps to save time this holiday season.

Your time is finite. But what if you could save all the minutes you waste in traffic, standing in lines, or shopping and spend them on what you love?

In December when things sometimes get a tad bit crazier, make the most of the time you do have. In the next few weeks we’ll share simple Google Maps hacks you can use to save time during the holidays.

We’re starting with…traffic. Why? Because no one likes traffic. Whether you’re driving to your once-a-year family gathering or trying to get to the mall in time for last-minute shopping, beating bumper-to-bumper traffic just might be one of the best holiday gifts you receive this year.



Google Maps gives you the best route, based on real-time traffic and historic traffic information. All you need to do is hit the navigation button and Google Maps takes care of the rest. You’ll even get an explanation for why it's the fastest route and updates when your ETA changes.

If you find yourself in a jam caused by an accident or construction, Google Maps lets you know how long you'll be at a standstill and automatically re-routes you if there’s a faster path.

Every minute counts, so hit the road and enjoy the ride—Google Maps has your back this holiday season.

Stay tuned for more Maps Minutes hacks. Next up: flying through airports with indoor Google Maps.

Posted by Olga Suvorova, Product Marketing Manager, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-maps/holiday-maps-minutes-hack-1-save-time-beating-bumper-to-bumper-traffic/feed/ 0 Street View gives you a window into climate change https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-gives-you-a-window-into-climate-change/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-gives-you-a-window-into-climate-change/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2015 08:01:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=e0a5bad0834d5c80639dbe35fc5232ff From polar bears in the Canadian Arctic, to communities in the Brazilian Amazon, to blue oak trees in Central California, the impacts of climate change are being felt by plants, animals and people across the planet. As world leaders gather for the COP21 conference in Paris this week to discuss our changing climate, we want to take this opportunity to show you how to explore its impact yourself. With Street View, you can get a window into some of our world’s changing ecosystems, and learn how nonprofit and other organizations are working to keep our planet healthy.

Polar bears are in trouble because of the melting sea ice, on which they depend to survive. That’s why Polar Bears International (PBI) borrowed the Street View Trekker to map polar bears in their fragile sea ice habitat around Churchill, Manitoba, to share the remote ecosystem with people all over the world. And to educate classrooms, PBI created a lesson plan and activity for schools to do their own exploration of this precious habitat.


PBI.png
Polar bear on the edge of Hudson Bay, waiting for the sea ice to freeze (see more here)


Ever wonder how plants are faring in a changing climate? Scientists at the Nature Conservancy-California do, too. To help them learn more, they borrowed the Trekker earlier this year to monitor the health of blue oak trees in Central California, which have declined due to stress from changing temperatures. Scientists predict that blue oaks may lose up to 41% of their population by 2100 because of climate change, so they plan to capture Street View imagery again in the future so they can keep a digital record, log their changes, and design conservation strategies to protect the life of these blue oak trees.


TNC-CA.png


Experts agree that one way to slow climate change is to protect the standing forests that we have now, as these trees remove and stock carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. The Brazilian nonprofit Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS) borrowed the Trekker to show people exactly what the Amazon forest looks like on the ground and put isolated local communities on the map. They captured imagery from three different reserves in the Brazilian Amazon, including hundreds of kilometers walking through pristine forests and floating down Amazon river tributaries. The nonprofit is using the imagery to educate the world about rainforest protection and sustainable ecosystem management.


FAS.png
Pristine Amazon rainforest in Juma Sustainable Development Reserve (see more here)


Street View is great for visualizing the impacts of climate change, but we’re also using our Street View platform to measure climate data, which can be used by scientists, policymakers, businesses and citizens to drive better decisions.

For the past few years, Google Earth Outreach has worked with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to map thousands of methane leaks from natural gas lines under select U.S. city streets using Street View cars equipped with methane analyzers. Recently, one of the largest U.S. utilities, PSE&G announced that they will use data and maps from our Street View mapping effort to prioritize the replacement of hundreds of miles of gas mains and thousands of service lines for their newly approved multi-million dollar pipeline replacement program.


Google Earth Outreach has also partnered with Aclima to measure many more pollutants with Street View cars, including particulate matter, black carbon, and carbon dioxide—pollutants that are harmful to both our climate and our health. Essentially, we’re turning Street View cars into environmental sensing platforms, and plan to map California communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, and LA regions through 2016.


We hope this post has opened your eyes to the ways the world is being impacted by climate change. If you’re interested in getting involved, consider submitting an application to the Trekker Loan Program, which allows nonprofit and other organizations to borrow the Trekker to capture 360-degree imagery of the places they care about on our changing planet.

Posted by Karin Tuxen-Bettman, Google Earth Outreach Program Manager
]]> From polar bears in the Canadian Arctic, to communities in the Brazilian Amazon, to blue oak trees in Central California, the impacts of climate change are being felt by plants, animals and people across the planet. As world leaders gather for the COP21 conference in Paris this week to discuss our changing climate, we want to take this opportunity to show you how to explore its impact yourself. With Street View, you can get a window into some of our world’s changing ecosystems, and learn how nonprofit and other organizations are working to keep our planet healthy.

Polar bears are in trouble because of the melting sea ice, on which they depend to survive. That’s why Polar Bears International (PBI) borrowed the Street View Trekker to map polar bears in their fragile sea ice habitat around Churchill, Manitoba, to share the remote ecosystem with people all over the world. And to educate classrooms, PBI created a lesson plan and activity for schools to do their own exploration of this precious habitat.


PBI.png
Polar bear on the edge of Hudson Bay, waiting for the sea ice to freeze (see more here)


Ever wonder how plants are faring in a changing climate? Scientists at the Nature Conservancy-California do, too. To help them learn more, they borrowed the Trekker earlier this year to monitor the health of blue oak trees in Central California, which have declined due to stress from changing temperatures. Scientists predict that blue oaks may lose up to 41% of their population by 2100 because of climate change, so they plan to capture Street View imagery again in the future so they can keep a digital record, log their changes, and design conservation strategies to protect the life of these blue oak trees.


TNC-CA.png


Experts agree that one way to slow climate change is to protect the standing forests that we have now, as these trees remove and stock carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. The Brazilian nonprofit Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS) borrowed the Trekker to show people exactly what the Amazon forest looks like on the ground and put isolated local communities on the map. They captured imagery from three different reserves in the Brazilian Amazon, including hundreds of kilometers walking through pristine forests and floating down Amazon river tributaries. The nonprofit is using the imagery to educate the world about rainforest protection and sustainable ecosystem management.


FAS.png
Pristine Amazon rainforest in Juma Sustainable Development Reserve (see more here)


Street View is great for visualizing the impacts of climate change, but we’re also using our Street View platform to measure climate data, which can be used by scientists, policymakers, businesses and citizens to drive better decisions.

For the past few years, Google Earth Outreach has worked with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to map thousands of methane leaks from natural gas lines under select U.S. city streets using Street View cars equipped with methane analyzers. Recently, one of the largest U.S. utilities, PSE&G announced that they will use data and maps from our Street View mapping effort to prioritize the replacement of hundreds of miles of gas mains and thousands of service lines for their newly approved multi-million dollar pipeline replacement program.


Google Earth Outreach has also partnered with Aclima to measure many more pollutants with Street View cars, including particulate matter, black carbon, and carbon dioxide—pollutants that are harmful to both our climate and our health. Essentially, we’re turning Street View cars into environmental sensing platforms, and plan to map California communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, and LA regions through 2016.


We hope this post has opened your eyes to the ways the world is being impacted by climate change. If you’re interested in getting involved, consider submitting an application to the Trekker Loan Program, which allows nonprofit and other organizations to borrow the Trekker to capture 360-degree imagery of the places they care about on our changing planet.

Posted by Karin Tuxen-Bettman, Google Earth Outreach Program Manager
]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/street-view-gives-you-a-window-into-climate-change/feed/ 0 Discover Jordan’s past and present in Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-jordans-past-and-present-in-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-jordans-past-and-present-in-google-maps/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2015 15:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b915fc3bea88f278a3d1e699e7801066 Starting today you can explore more than 30 historical sites throughout Jordan in Google Street View. To tell you more, read today’s guest blog post, by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan. -Ed.
What a great day for Jordan and Jordanians! Thanks to Google Street View, we can now share the rich, proud and varied history of our country with anyone who has an Internet connection. With more than 30 historical sites available to explore virtually, people all over the world now have a window into our beautiful Kingdom in the heart of the Middle East.
Throughout the ages, ancient civilizations have left their footprints in Jordan. Reminders of the Silk Road which linked the regions of the world in commerce. Ancient cities, such as the Romans’ Jerash and the Nabateans’ Petra. Significant religious sites, like Mount Nebo and the River Jordan. And, to this day, we continue to discover such footprints.
With Google Street View, would-be visitors, or those just curious to learn more about our ancient lands, can explore Jordan’s unique historical heritage online. That’s one of the reasons I love this technology. Not only does it connect millions of people from all corners of the world, it provides a lens on the past. And when we understand more about each other’s stories and cultures and histories, we realize that we are more alike than we are different. That’s why we must preserve these treasures for future generations. They’re a doorway to our shared narrative.


To this day, after too many trips to count, Jordan’s ancient archeological site, the Rose-Red city of Petra, still fills me with awe. Concealed in majestic mountain gorges, visitors can wander through the entire city of Petra, imagining what life was like in the thriving trading center and capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Carved by hand into vibrant red, white and pink sandstone cliffs, it has, miraculously, survived earthquakes to withstand the test of time. Film buffs might recognize it from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Harrison Ford and Sean Connery joined forces in their quest to find the Holy Grail. Now, you can step back in time and take a narrated tour of this hidden gem, exploring the tombs, sites and amphitheater that span an area the size of lower Manhattan.
The Treasury in Petra is estimated to be over 2,000 years
Jerash is the second most visited site outside Petra. It’s considered one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture outside Italy. With one click, you can stroll through its ruins, walk its streets, sing in its theaters and contemplate life in its baths and temples. Before you leave, remember to send a message through the city’s ancient whispering columns!
Jerash Roman South Theater can fit more than 3000 people
Colonnaded Street - Jerash, Jordan
Mount Nebo, located 10 km west of the Roman Byzantine town of Madaba, is one of the most revered holy sites in Jordan.. While you’re close to Madaba, step into its historic church to view the Madaba Mosaic Map, the oldest known geographic floor mosaic in art history. The Madaba Mosaic Map, created in 6th century AD, originally contained over two million tesserae!
The Madaba Mosaic Map in church of Saint George - Madaba, Jordan
What could be more relaxing than a float in the world’s saltiest waters? A visit to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, is known to be a very therapeutic experience, thanks to its oxygen-rich water and mineral-mud.
Dead Sea Panorama -  Dead Sea, Jordan
While you’re exploring, don’t be surprised if you find a medieval castle right in the middle of the desert. We’ve got many—from crusader castles like Al Karak, to Ajlun Castle built by Saladin, to Umayyad desert castles Qasr Amra and Qasr Al Kharana.
Qasr Kharana - Jordan
Jordan remains a haven of peace and moderation in the Middle East. So, please, come and visit us. Meet and talk with our warm and hospitable people. Taste our cuisine. Learn some Arabic. Relax in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea and the Ma'in Springs. Marvel at the rich colors of Wadi Rum, the spectacular desert backdrop to "The Martian". Walk in the footsteps of our forebears. There’s so much to see and experience.
There’s something for everyone in Jordan. And I couldn’t be happier that now, thanks to Google Maps, we can share our rich cultural heritage with the world. Visit g.co/JordanHighlights to start your tour. My Jordan is now your Jordan too. As we say to all our visitors: ahlan wa sahlan. Hello and welcome.

Posted by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan

]]> Starting today you can explore more than 30 historical sites throughout Jordan in Google Street View. To tell you more, read today’s guest blog post, by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan. -Ed.
What a great day for Jordan and Jordanians! Thanks to Google Street View, we can now share the rich, proud and varied history of our country with anyone who has an Internet connection. With more than 30 historical sites available to explore virtually, people all over the world now have a window into our beautiful Kingdom in the heart of the Middle East.
Throughout the ages, ancient civilizations have left their footprints in Jordan. Reminders of the Silk Road which linked the regions of the world in commerce. Ancient cities, such as the Romans’ Jerash and the Nabateans’ Petra. Significant religious sites, like Mount Nebo and the River Jordan. And, to this day, we continue to discover such footprints.
With Google Street View, would-be visitors, or those just curious to learn more about our ancient lands, can explore Jordan’s unique historical heritage online. That’s one of the reasons I love this technology. Not only does it connect millions of people from all corners of the world, it provides a lens on the past. And when we understand more about each other’s stories and cultures and histories, we realize that we are more alike than we are different. That’s why we must preserve these treasures for future generations. They’re a doorway to our shared narrative.


To this day, after too many trips to count, Jordan’s ancient archeological site, the Rose-Red city of Petra, still fills me with awe. Concealed in majestic mountain gorges, visitors can wander through the entire city of Petra, imagining what life was like in the thriving trading center and capital of the Nabataean kingdom. Carved by hand into vibrant red, white and pink sandstone cliffs, it has, miraculously, survived earthquakes to withstand the test of time. Film buffs might recognize it from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Harrison Ford and Sean Connery joined forces in their quest to find the Holy Grail. Now, you can step back in time and take a narrated tour of this hidden gem, exploring the tombs, sites and amphitheater that span an area the size of lower Manhattan.
The Treasury in Petra is estimated to be over 2,000 years
Jerash is the second most visited site outside Petra. It’s considered one of the best preserved examples of Roman architecture outside Italy. With one click, you can stroll through its ruins, walk its streets, sing in its theaters and contemplate life in its baths and temples. Before you leave, remember to send a message through the city’s ancient whispering columns!
Jerash Roman South Theater can fit more than 3000 people
Colonnaded Street - Jerash, Jordan
Mount Nebo, located 10 km west of the Roman Byzantine town of Madaba, is one of the most revered holy sites in Jordan.. While you’re close to Madaba, step into its historic church to view the Madaba Mosaic Map, the oldest known geographic floor mosaic in art history. The Madaba Mosaic Map, created in 6th century AD, originally contained over two million tesserae!
The Madaba Mosaic Map in church of Saint George - Madaba, Jordan
What could be more relaxing than a float in the world’s saltiest waters? A visit to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, is known to be a very therapeutic experience, thanks to its oxygen-rich water and mineral-mud.
Dead Sea Panorama -  Dead Sea, Jordan
While you’re exploring, don’t be surprised if you find a medieval castle right in the middle of the desert. We’ve got many—from crusader castles like Al Karak, to Ajlun Castle built by Saladin, to Umayyad desert castles Qasr Amra and Qasr Al Kharana.
Qasr Kharana - Jordan
Jordan remains a haven of peace and moderation in the Middle East. So, please, come and visit us. Meet and talk with our warm and hospitable people. Taste our cuisine. Learn some Arabic. Relax in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea and the Ma'in Springs. Marvel at the rich colors of Wadi Rum, the spectacular desert backdrop to "The Martian". Walk in the footsteps of our forebears. There’s so much to see and experience.
There’s something for everyone in Jordan. And I couldn’t be happier that now, thanks to Google Maps, we can share our rich cultural heritage with the world. Visit g.co/JordanHighlights to start your tour. My Jordan is now your Jordan too. As we say to all our visitors: ahlan wa sahlan. Hello and welcome.

Posted by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan

]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/discover-jordans-past-and-present-in-google-maps/feed/ 0 Get ahead this Thanksgiving with Google Maps https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-ahead-this-thanksgiving-with-google-maps/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-ahead-this-thanksgiving-with-google-maps/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2015 10:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=b7dd5eff10d3e575437d2f3051e0e87a

Tuesday: No travel day leading up to the holiday is going to be a breeze, but if you can, start driving Tuesday rather than Wednesday. Yes, it’s still the second-worst travel day of the week, but according to Google Maps searches, for the last three years Wednesday has been the worst travel day—with the exceptions of Boston (Tuesday), and Honolulu, Providence and San Francisco (all Saturday).


Wednesday: Americans are pretty predictable when it comes to the holidays: for the third year in a row, “ham shop” was the #1 trending destination search on Google Maps the day before Thanksgiving. Whether you’re running out to a ham shop, pie shop (#2), or liquor store (#3), make sure you don’t head all the way there just to find it closed. This year Google Maps and Google Search have added holiday hours, so when you search for a business, you’ll see its updated holiday schedule.


Thanksgiving Day: Maybe folks were put off by the trauma of last year’s burnt turkey? Nationwide, “buffet restaurants” were the #1 trending Google Maps term on Thanksgiving Day. But locally, folks were heading in other directions. In Houston, “doughnut shops” were trending on Thanksgiving. It was “bars” in Chicago— maybe people needed a break from their families. And Miami residents were interested in looking their holiday best—”beauty salons” were among the trending searches by the South Beach crowd.


Black Friday: The top Black Friday Google Maps trends nationwide were predictably of the “electronics store” and “outlet mall” variety—with “Christmas tree farms” not far behind as people looked ahead. Digging into local trends, however, things get more surprising. New Yorkers were on the hunt for tattoo shops, among other things, Angelenos for hookah bars, and people in Detroit spent their Black Friday on the lookout for hamburgers. Whether you’re in the market for a Christmas tree tat or shopping deals, here’s a tip: use the Explore feature on Google Maps to discover the stores, restaurants and local entertainment around you.

The weekend: Traffic patterns show that you’re better off driving home from a long weekend on Sunday rather than Saturday—traffic can be up to 40% worse on Saturday. And Google Maps will be with you all the way home, helping you check out gas prices and add detours to your route, without having to exit out of navigation.



Posted by Pierre Petronin, Google Maps]]>

Tuesday: No travel day leading up to the holiday is going to be a breeze, but if you can, start driving Tuesday rather than Wednesday. Yes, it’s still the second-worst travel day of the week, but according to Google Maps searches, for the last three years Wednesday has been the worst travel day—with the exceptions of Boston (Tuesday), and Honolulu, Providence and San Francisco (all Saturday).


Wednesday: Americans are pretty predictable when it comes to the holidays: for the third year in a row, “ham shop” was the #1 trending destination search on Google Maps the day before Thanksgiving. Whether you’re running out to a ham shop, pie shop (#2), or liquor store (#3), make sure you don’t head all the way there just to find it closed. This year Google Maps and Google Search have added holiday hours, so when you search for a business, you’ll see its updated holiday schedule.


Thanksgiving Day: Maybe folks were put off by the trauma of last year’s burnt turkey? Nationwide, “buffet restaurants” were the #1 trending Google Maps term on Thanksgiving Day. But locally, folks were heading in other directions. In Houston, “doughnut shops” were trending on Thanksgiving. It was “bars” in Chicago— maybe people needed a break from their families. And Miami residents were interested in looking their holiday best—”beauty salons” were among the trending searches by the South Beach crowd.


Black Friday: The top Black Friday Google Maps trends nationwide were predictably of the “electronics store” and “outlet mall” variety—with “Christmas tree farms” not far behind as people looked ahead. Digging into local trends, however, things get more surprising. New Yorkers were on the hunt for tattoo shops, among other things, Angelenos for hookah bars, and people in Detroit spent their Black Friday on the lookout for hamburgers. Whether you’re in the market for a Christmas tree tat or shopping deals, here’s a tip: use the Explore feature on Google Maps to discover the stores, restaurants and local entertainment around you.

The weekend: Traffic patterns show that you’re better off driving home from a long weekend on Sunday rather than Saturday—traffic can be up to 40% worse on Saturday. And Google Maps will be with you all the way home, helping you check out gas prices and add detours to your route, without having to exit out of navigation.



Posted by Pierre Petronin, Google Maps]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-ahead-this-thanksgiving-with-google-maps/feed/ 0 Get your favorite places on the map with Local Guides https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-your-favorite-places-on-the-map-with-local-guides/ https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-your-favorite-places-on-the-map-with-local-guides/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:00:00 +0000 https://googledata.org/?guid=16aa6d9d961532675db2f6649dc8d72d Local Guides program in Google Maps, which gives you the chance to share your discoveries directly to the map, making it more useful for everyone.


Local Guides is a global community that helps you explore the world while earning perks. Once you sign up, every place you contribute to in Google Maps earns you points towards unlocking something new—from early access to new products to exclusive contests and events, bonus Drive storage, and more.

You can earn points and level up by writing reviews, uploading photos, adding new places, fixing outdated information, and answering simple questions. Each contribution type is worth one point, so you can earn up to five points per place.


The more you contribute as a Local Guide, the more benefits you’ll enjoy. Here’s an overview of what you’ll unlock at each level:
  • Level 1 (0 - 4 points): Enter exclusive contests (think new Google devices!) in select countries. 
  • Level 2 (5 - 49 points): Get early access to new Google products and features. 
  • Level 3 (50 - 199 points): Show up in the Google Maps app with your official Local Guides badge. 
  • Level 4 (200 - 499 points): Receive a free 1 TB upgrade of your Drive storage, allowing you to keep all the stories, photos, and videos from your travels in one safe place. 
  • Level 5 (500+ points): The very top Local Guides will become eligible to apply to attend our inaugural summit in 2016, where you’ll be able to meet other top Guides from around the world, explore the Google campus, and get the latest info about Google Maps. Look out for details early next year.


Once you sign-up, download the latest Google Maps update on Android and iPhone to follow your progress on the new Contributions tab. Your total points, level, and to-do list—suggestions for places to contribute to—conveniently appear together in one place. And when you share photos, you'll now see view counts, giving you an idea of how many people your image may have helped. To learn more about how to contribute and unlock benefits, visit our website or Help Center.


Posted by Mara Chomsky, Local Guides Community Management Lead]]> Local Guides program in Google Maps, which gives you the chance to share your discoveries directly to the map, making it more useful for everyone.


Local Guides is a global community that helps you explore the world while earning perks. Once you sign up, every place you contribute to in Google Maps earns you points towards unlocking something new—from early access to new products to exclusive contests and events, bonus Drive storage, and more.

You can earn points and level up by writing reviews, uploading photos, adding new places, fixing outdated information, and answering simple questions. Each contribution type is worth one point, so you can earn up to five points per place.


The more you contribute as a Local Guide, the more benefits you’ll enjoy. Here’s an overview of what you’ll unlock at each level:
  • Level 1 (0 - 4 points): Enter exclusive contests (think new Google devices!) in select countries. 
  • Level 2 (5 - 49 points): Get early access to new Google products and features. 
  • Level 3 (50 - 199 points): Show up in the Google Maps app with your official Local Guides badge. 
  • Level 4 (200 - 499 points): Receive a free 1 TB upgrade of your Drive storage, allowing you to keep all the stories, photos, and videos from your travels in one safe place. 
  • Level 5 (500+ points): The very top Local Guides will become eligible to apply to attend our inaugural summit in 2016, where you’ll be able to meet other top Guides from around the world, explore the Google campus, and get the latest info about Google Maps. Look out for details early next year.


Once you sign-up, download the latest Google Maps update on Android and iPhone to follow your progress on the new Contributions tab. Your total points, level, and to-do list—suggestions for places to contribute to—conveniently appear together in one place. And when you share photos, you'll now see view counts, giving you an idea of how many people your image may have helped. To learn more about how to contribute and unlock benefits, visit our website or Help Center.


Posted by Mara Chomsky, Local Guides Community Management Lead]]> https://googledata.org/google-earth/get-your-favorite-places-on-the-map-with-local-guides/feed/ 0