- Google has updated the maps of Maps to help you view natural landscape features like forests and deserts.
- You can also expect more detailed street info that includes walkways and sidewalks.
Google Maps’ visuals have long been informative, but also a bit lifeless – you would not know a woman’s desert landscape from a desert unless you switched to satellite view. However, Google is ready to fix that, and it improves city navigation in the process.
The internet giant is launching an update to the Maps images that color the terrain based on whether it is dry, lush, icy or mountainous. The darker the shade of green, the denser the forests and plant life. You will know where the green lies along the Moroccan coastline, or just where the ice can be found in Iceland.
The technology relies on computer vision (a form of AI) to scan satellite images and create color coding based on a common model. It’s available in all 220 countries that support Google Maps.
City dwellers, meanwhile, are getting much more help with navigation. Google plans to introduce far more detailed street information that includes pedestrian crossings, sidewalks and pedestrian islands. Road shapes and sizes must also be more accurate. You should have a better idea of where it is safe to cross, and whether you are dealing with a side street or a main road.
The revamped street maps will be available in the coming months in London, New York City and San Francisco with plans for further expansion.
These are welcome additions, but Google also has a strong incentive to make dramatic improvements. The competition has caught up, with Apple Maps recently completing a detailed review and soon adding perks such as advanced bike directions. This could help Google to stand out or stay ahead of travelers who want the most accurate maps possible.
Read more: Google Maps vs Waze vs Apple Maps
